As some of you may know, we have a dog, Georgia, that we got 2 1/2 years ago as a puppy. When we moved to Burleson, we found a house with a nice big backyard for Georgia with a six-foot privacy fence all around. But we soon realized Georgia was lonely! So, we did the logical thing to do when we have just moved, both of us have started new jobs, and we have a new house and a new baby — we got another dog! And of course, we named him Texas. Texas is well-trained and very sweet, but he continually got out of our yard! He would walk around the neighborhood and then end up laying in our front yard for us to find when we got home. It didn’t matter that his food, treats, toys, water, and friend were all in the backyard- he thought there was something better!
It struck me this can parallel our spiritual walk. God gives us boundaries and guidelines, much like a fence. Not because He is being mean and trying to keep us from something, but because He knows what’s best for us and what will bring us the most joy and happiness. However, we act like Texas sometimes — constantly trying to see what’s on the outside. And, like Texas learned when he was picked up and taken to the scary place known as “animal control”– what’s out there may be different, but it is most definitely not better. When we live within the plan that God laid out for our lives, we have all we could need, and more. We may not always have physical safety — we may be persecuted or ridiculed for our beliefs, but when we live out our lives the way the Bible tells us to, then we have a Spiritual safety that nothing can take away — even death. And that kind of safety is worth more than anything on the outside of the fence.
