Barefoot Freedom
“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:6-9)
Hello Saints,
There is a day coming when fear and pain will be no more; tears will be wiped away and death will not exist. Come Lord Jesus! The Garden of Eden renewed and a freedom to just be who we were made to be in the care of a loving Creator and Father. Come Lord Jesus! How I long for that day! I won’t care whether it is called the Millennial Reign of Christ or Heaven, or Eternity or the New Jerusalem – theologizing will be no more for our faith will be sight. The only thing that will matter is that I have arrived at my destination…because of Jesus! Praise God!
I spent my Saturday on a trampoline with my cousin’s five-year-old son. This fearless little boy is 100% boy, carries a toy gun, catches bugs of all kinds, has endless energy, and doesn’t know the meaning of danger. He is a pure unadulterated little human who runs and plays barefoot on his 50acre property completely unaware of the potential hazards that lie beneath his feet. For a few hours I laid down my concerns (some of them) and entered his world, on a trampoline, jumping, laying down, peering at the bugs, especially grasshoppers, through the trampoline floor, watching him climb down, catch them and bring them back on the trampoline with him. At one point we had four different little creatures with us on that trampoline floor, observing their behaviors and movements as we bounced them on the canvas. I was told of a bunch of garter snakes that nest in the side of the hill, who come out to sun themselves in the heat of the day. This little boy loves to observe them and stick his face right in the nest holes. He seems to be immune to the potential consequences of his actions. He walks barefoot everywhere, not giving any thought to stones and thistles, nor to what lurks beneath the tall grass he walks through. In the evening he throws big juicy earthworms to the fish in his pond. Is it his childhood innocence, supernatural trust in God, inexperience, naivety, or just freedom to be who he was created to be?
I’ve talked to many around my age and older who love to spend time with their grand-children, nieces and nephews, etc. I believe these ‘youngins’ have a lot to teach us older folk about ‘letting go’ of the cares of this world to simply enjoy the world God created. Simple trust; exploring in awe and wonder; marveling at the creatures around us; feeling the grass between our toes; frolicking and enjoying the freedom of wide-open spaces; imagination and playfulness. Oh, how we take ourselves way to seriously! Anxieties, cares, worries, fears – if you are in Christ, you know where you are going; why fret? Why do we get so worked up about things? Jesus said, ‘live for today…seek the kingdom of God’ (Matt. 6:25-33). Interestingly…Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3). What did He mean? It’s all about humility (18:4) – knowing our littleness and helplessness; knowing we can do nothing without assistance or help from someone greater than us; and trusting that when we need intervention, our parent (God) will be there - is always there to save and deliver. Childhood trust frees the child to enjoy what God has given us.
Isaiah11 speaks of a future time when Christ is ruling and reigning in righteousness and faithfulness (vs. 5). That time will be an incredible time of peace where predators and prey will lie down together in amity, safety and perfect harmony. Little children will have no fear of harm and be able to experience and appreciate the environment in which they are placed. It will be like living as a 5-year-old little boy, barefoot and free to enjoy all that God has put around him. Friends, I believe God wants His children to live, to some extent, like that now - To trust Him fully and enjoy Him and His world completely. There is no need for fear and anxiety…He’s God, our Father, in control and more than able to handle any threat that comes our way. “Fear Not!” is the refrain throughout scripture. Do you know that our Father actually gives us all things richly to enjoy (1Tim. 6:17). So, stop and smell the roses; examine a grasshopper; jump on a trampoline; walk through the grass barefoot. Cast your cares on Him for He cares for you…and be free!
Peace
"Advancing the Kingdom of God by releasing Spirit-filled followers to serve Jesus in freedom and joy."
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