Well Established

When an old farmer was asked about his spiritual well being, he described his Christian experience by saying, "Well, I'm not making much progress, but I'm well-established!" One spring when he was hauling some logs, his wagon wheels sank down to the axles in mud. He tried everything he could, but he couldn't remove the wagon from of the mud. Defeated, he sat atop the logs, viewing the distressing situation. Soon a neighbor who had always felt uncomfortable with the farmer's wornout testimony came along and greeted him, "Well, brother, I see you're not making much progress, but you must be content because you're well-established!

Many Christians dream to be like the wagon and the farmer. They want to be well-established before they allow God to bring about the spiritual progress he desires. The journey God has prepared for them waits while they are content to be stuck in the mud. "Let me establish some order in my life first." "I want to get my family in order." "I am engaged and I want to wait until I've settled down into married life." "I have a new job and I want to settle down in it first." "I want to wait until my children grow up." "I want to wait until I settle down and retire" But the truth of the matter is, they will spend their entire existence settling down into the mud of life until the only time when they are truly settled down - 6 feet under in a grave. But even then, they won't truly be established... because the graves will one day release their dead and all will go before the judgement seat of Christ. "I wonder if we will use the same excuse then... I never served you, never progressed in my Christian life, but I was well established."

"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out -- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." (John 5:28-29)

Author: Copyright 1999 by Ken Sapp - Permission granted for non-commercial use.