I am enclosed within the will of God. It's a sweet thought, isn't it? I have chosen to live within the boundaries of God's will as these have been built for me, to protect me. God has given Scripture and Church teaching to show me these limitations... to fence me in, so to speak. If I remain within this enclosure, I am safe from spiritual harm.
But oh, the world outside God's will can look so appealing. Those who live out there, free of constraints imposed by the 'shalts' and the 'shalt nots,' can look pretty happy. They're choosing their paths without regard to God, living however they wish, indulging their every desire, engaging in behavior that the Bible and the Church clearly assure us is wrong and harmful. They make sport of everything - even of us. Go the way the world goes, they insist. Don't be such a killjoy! Why don't we get with the times?
Whether or not I'm drawn to join in the more obvious out-of-enclosure-frolics happening in the world around me, I definitely encounter temptations. The world outside God's will can look awfully appealing. And after all, I'm not sealed up in a cage There's no lock on my enclosure wall.
Day by day, I have a choice. Not just to enter 'the enclosure of God's will' once and for all, but the ongoing choice to remain within it.
I have, minute after minute, a decision to make.
Shall I stay within the will of God?
Or not.
"Do not conform yourselves to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may judge what is God's will, what is good, pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:2)
(this is a re-written post from our archives)
Text not in quotes
Painting: Escaping Criticism, Pere Borrel Del Caso
