We bought a new puppy three months ago. Puppies do not arrive trained, they pee in the floor for fun and chew on everything. Young dogs require time and consistency if they are to ever become good dogs.
As a part of my puppy training efforts, I’ve done some reading and picked up a book on training bird dogs (He’s a German Shorthaired Pointer) so that I can better understand some of the struggles that come with his particular traits. A very good dog may only know a few commands: “come,” “heel”, “no” (or “leave it”), “sit,” and “whoah.”
The key is not that he knows commands, but that he actually obeys commands. The training process is pretty simple. First you work to teach a dog a particular command and make sure that he knows the command. Once he knows the command, you entice him to follow the command with treats and positive reinforcement. At some point you introduce negative reinforcement as well to show him that obedience is expected.
One important but seemingly difficult command is “whoah.” Dog’s do not naturally respond to “whoah.” they like to go, and stop when they want to, not when you tell them to. Teaching “whoah” requires time and consistency (and maybe in my case paying someone who knows what they are doing).
All of that has me thinking a lot about go and whoah in the Christian life.
If we are honest, there are few questions about what is right and wrong on a daily basis in our lives. Do we cheat or not cheat on our taxes? Do I take that second look at the woman in the restaurant? Do I scream at my wife? Do I cuss the driver in the next lane over? Do I eat that second helping of strawberry cake? Do I take the extra hour at lunch since no one will ever know?
There are ethical dilemmas in life that require careful rumination–just think back to our most recent presidential election. But, most of the decisions you will make today do not require careful reasoning about which way is right and which way is wrong. The primary question you have to answer is whether or not you will be obedient. Most of the time we know if God’s answer to a situation is go or whoah. The real struggle is not knowing right and wrong, but choosing obedience or disobedience.
Just like my puppy, we, by nature, want to go when it seems fun and whoah when we decide it is time. But, our nature is broken and distorted by sin. Obedience is not the act of doing what feels good, it is the act of doing what is right as determined by our master. Honoring God is not the same thing as satisfying myself. We honor God when we trust that our greatest satisfaction is found in satisfying him.
We serve a God who loves us and obedience to him is not a burden that brings despair. Obedience to God and his Christ brings joy and abundance. He is a good Father who delights in giving good gifts to his children.
Pray for God to clearly show you where to go and where to whoah, and then pray for the strength to obey his commands.
