Where Corn Don't Grow

 

Son I know at your age, it seems like this old world is turning slow

And you think you'll find the answer to it all, where corn don't grow.

Travis Tritt ~ Where Corn Don't Grow 

I followed the notes of my good friend Dennis as he set up for his weekly podcast with one question.  Have you ever had that door of opportunity close in front of you?  It's the sort of question in which everyone could answer in the affirmative.  I, for one, have had numerous occasions where one opportunity has been closed off for another.  We might chase a dream, thinking that it's what was meant to be, only to find out that it wasn't.  One of my favorite scriptures is that of the story Jesus told of the prodigal son we see in Luke 15.  Not only is this a tale of youthful ambition, but of retribution as well.  We have the young so of a wealthy man who chooses to follow his wanderlust, take his inheritance and go where corn don't grow {Luke 15:12}.  That is, the other side of the fence where he obviously felt the grass would be greener.  Of course, that journey wasn't all he had hoped that it would be, and the mans son soon found himself destitute and alone far from home {Luke 15:13}.  So, one day the young man swallows his pride and decides to return to his father and work for him to survive.  Obviously, as one of his fathers servants, he would no longer be hungry and in need {Luke 15:18}.  His youthful ambition wiped away, the boy fully expected to return to a father hell bent on making his son see the error of his ways.  Well, some fathers might do just that, but not this one.  For Jesus tells us that the boys Father was still far off, that he saw his son approaching and ran to him and embraced him {Luke 15:20}.  Personally, although Jesus does not tell us as much, I believe that the boys father had been waiting, longing for his sons return ever since he left home.  We can certainly see this parable as an example of a door in the young mans life closing, but I think it goes deeper than that.  For I believe that in this parable what Jesus was pointing out was the love and patience of the Father for His children.  For we all, each of us, have been led astray of the Father by the lies of the deceiver {Genesis 3:5-6}.  However, it is God who lovingly and patiently awaits the return of His children (us) to Him.  

For this my son was dead and revives, he was lost and was found.  And they began to make merry. 

Luke 15: 24, Concordant New Testament 

I believe that one of the greatest desires of God is the returning of His children to Him {John 17:21}.  Not long ago, I began to delve into the teachings of J Preston Eby.  One of the controversial beliefs which Eby preaches is that God desires ALL His children to be saved.  Yet, if we look at one of the most iconic scriptures we know, we can see that this idea is not so far fetched {John 3:16-17.  For in John 3:17 we see the Lords true desire, "That the world may be saved through Him" {John 3:17}.  Of course, this conflicts with many mainstream church teachings which teach of the upcoming judgement for those who do wickedness.  The thing is, THAT judgement has already occurred.  It is God who, through His love and mercy, declared us innocent through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross.  It's not rocket science, for one of the core beliefs of Christianity is that Christ died for our sins.  Yet the church continues to preach of the coming judgement.  Sounds like a contradiction to me.  The church would have us believe that when we choose to follow our ambitions and wander where that corn don't grow, that we will be judged for what we've done.  Sorry, but I disagree with that.  Eventually, we will all make that choice to follow our own way in life.  There will be doors opened, and doors which will close in front of us.  One closed door does not guarantee a lost opportunity, but perhaps leads to another.  Our question should never be 'What have you done, Lord?'  However, whenever that door in life closes, we should be quick to ask, 'What are you doing through me, Lord?'  

I can't say he didn't warn me, this city life is a hard row to hoe

Ain't it funny how a dream can turn around, where corn don't grow

Travis Tritt ~ Where Corn Don't Grow 

~Scott~