The Coat: A Cautionary Tale
December 6, 2022
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 14:12
I lived in Canada for 10 years before returning home to Jamaica. When I left Canada I disposed of all my warm clothes: coat, scarves, boots etc, happy that I would not need those items anymore. Although I liked Canada I didn’t plan to go back during the winter, ever! While visiting family and friends there one summer, I saw a lovely winter coat on sale in a second-hand store: very high quality and the price was easily affordable. I felt the Spirit’s prompting to purchase the coat. I tried it on, a perfect fit, but then I started to resist the urge, using my ‘logical arguments’: “I’m not going to need this, Lord, I have no plans to travel in the winter time.” So I left the coat behind. I had an inkling that I had done the wrong thing but I stubbornly stuck to my arguments. A few months later, in mid-winter my Aunt who lived in Canada passed away. I attended her funeral and stood at the graveside very inadequately and ridiculously dressed for -10 degree Celsius weather.
God cares about me so much that He had wanted me to be comfortably and beautifully dressed for the occasion but I missed that blessing due to my unwillingness to trust God. I trusted my own silly mind above the Creator of Heaven and Earth.
Actually, this goes far beyond silliness, this is outright disobedience and an insult to God. How could I choose my opinion over His? Who is more likely to be right? Who knows all things and can see the future? (Duh). This was a simple matter but I have done the same in much more serious situations (sigh). I offer this as a cautionary tale.
One cannot enjoy the blessings that come from obedience without actually obeying. Seems obvious, but as fallen humans we are forever trying to get around having to give up our own way and submit to God, even when it’s for our own good. Our actions, even in small things, reveal the state of our hearts and our hearts tend to be in rebellion against God. Not the kind of rebellion that would speak openly against God, but the kind that quietly chooses a ruler other than He. We give our allegiance to someone else – to ourselves. We love to be in control, make our own decisions, obey our emotions. In other words doing what we feel to do. But since we belong to God isn’t this a kind of mutiny?
The Bible uses a different, stronger word to describe this attitude. It names it idolatry, one of the sins most detestable in God’s sight: “Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness (self-rule) as bad as worshiping idols” (1 Sam 15:23).
Thank God for His grace of forgiveness. How kind he is to not hold our sins against us. I am deeply indebted.
May this tale help you to be slower to follow your own inclinations and quicker to obey the Lord you love. The One who gave up all so we could have life, real life.
Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, oh take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
From the hymn ‘Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing’
