The Grass IS Greener

While I was running this morning, a song by Casting Crowns (from their new album called Thrive- it's great) referenced "the grass is greener" phrase. It got me to thinking about that saying and my life now. I have often heard that phrase used in a negative sense. However, I thought about it in a more positive light this morning.

What I realized is that the grass IS "greener on the other side" when you are living on the wrong side of the fence. You may not realize it at the time or know how exactly to get to the "other side," though. I have lived on the "wrong side" before. Now that I am out of that "pasture," I can honestly say the grass is greener and more fulfilling. Thank God for grace, forgiveness, and redemption.

I have lived in the "far country." The grass wasn't green and plush. My soul was miserable. I was selfish and pursuing "comfort" and acceptance and pleasure in "all the wrong places" and in all the wrong ways. Once God brought me out of that life, humbled me to my knees and led me to confession and repentance, I can see more clearly what it means to "taste and see that Lord is good." 

In God's pasture, the grass is green, plush, fulfilling, and brings joy, comfort, and peace. It isn't always easy, free from struggles, or risk free in God's pasture. However, He, the Good Shepherd, is there with us to protect us, care for us, mend us, and guide us - if we would but trust and follow Him and stay close to Him. 

He also will leave the "fold" and come get us, His lost sheep, when we leave the safety of His pasture. He doesn't leave us forever on our own. He may allow all sorts of struggles to occur and consequences to enter our lives, but His promises remain true. He will never leave or forsake His "sheep," and He is faithful even when we are "faithless." 

I want to stay in the safety and joy of God's will and abide in Him. I don't ever want to go back to the "far country." No matter how difficult life gets, nothing can bring peace, joy, relief, courage, hope, and fulfillment like Jesus Christ. In Him, I am a "spiritual bazillionaire." Why would I want to throw all that away for the lies of sin and Satan? It's like "anti freeze to a dog," it may taste sweet for a moment, but soon kills you and destroys your life in the blink of an eye. 
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Luke 15:1-7, Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to Him. ² And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!”

³ So He told them this parable: ⁴ “What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open field^[a] and go after the lost one until he finds it? ⁵ When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, ⁶ and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ ⁷ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance.