Slopping hogs!

Earlier this week I was helping my boy with his 4-H pigs - giving shots, building a new pen, moving the feeder, putting in a new waterer, etc. Remembering my childhood days of raising pigs I was reminded of one thing - a pig is still a pig. Pigs still stink, still love mud, still love to go the wrong way, still love to chew the water hose, still love to cause your blood pressure to rise. Why mess with them anyways? A good question, huh? Reminds me of Matthew 7:6 that says, .."do not throw your pearls to the pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces". In other words, why waste time giving the good stuff to the pigs when they could care a less about the good stuff?

It can feel that way in the church sometimes. We all need the good stuff - to hear and respond to the good news of Jesus Christ in our lives. Yet, so many people could care a less. Many don't want to hear from God's Holy word, much less want to respond to it. Some refuse to listen to what God wants for their lives, in fact intentionally do those things that God deems as sinful. And then they wonder why their lives are a mess, why their marriage is in shambles, why their kids disobey, why shame and guilt consume them.

The reality is that a pig is always going to be a pig. That's just the way it is. The good news for us is that we don't have to remain unholy and unclean before God. We don't have to stomp the things of God under our feet. We have a choice - trample the pearls or accept the riches we can have by virtue of a right relationship with Jesus Christ. The end result will be telling. A pig just becomes bacon or a slice of ham. A cleaned up man or woman ends up living eternity with the risen Lord. ---------------- I never liked pigs that much anyway!