Elsie….the Contented Cow

April 23, 2023 49 Comments

Meet Elsie…….the happiest cow on the planet.

First, let me fill you in on the back story.

About 30 years ago, I was driving down the California coast and I passed a pasture full of cows. What made this memorable was that the pasture was on a prime piece of beachfront property. My first thought was, “what a waste of valuable land……there are people who would spend millions of dollars to live on that pasture”. My second thought was, “those are the luckiest cows in the world”. They have a view to kill for, they enjoy cool ocean breezes day and night, they are well fed, and they have a million dollar view. They are living “the life”. Elsie truly is the most contented cow on earth

Years later, I had an epiphany. Elsie’s future is in fact rather grim. In a year or so, someone will lead her into a truck, take her to a smelly building, hit her on the head with a hammer, grind her up into little pieces and turn her into “quarter-pounders”. Elsie gets up each day, munches on the grass, enjoys the sun and sea breezes, and puts on a few pounds. She doesn’t have a clue. In a word…….Elsie is oblivious.

So…….what’s the point?

In a country like America, there are millions, perhaps hundreds of millions of people who are in the same spot as Elsie. They get up each day, they are well fed, well clothed, and they have good shelter. They can get anything that they need and just about anything that they want.

And yet, just around the corner, a few years down the road, there is a destiny, a fate awaiting them……..a fate that makes Elsie’s fate pale in comparison.

And they give it no thought, they haven’t a clue.

They too are oblivious.

Maybe you are one of them. If you aren’t, then you know dozens of people who are. This post is a plea to those people.

If you have carefully evaluated the facts. If you have decided that human knowledge is complete…….that God, paradise, and hell are a myth, then this post isn’t for you.

If you have given the Bible some thought and decided that you don’t like the philosophy…….it’s narrow minded, judgemental, old fashioned. If you reject it because it tells you that some of the things that you like…….are wrong. Even worse, if you reject it because it conflicts with your politics……or your favorite talking head, then you really need to reconsider. Because, if the Bible is true………then the fact that you disapprove is utterly and completely irrelevant.

Finally, if you just never gave it any thought……if, like Elsie, you have just been enjoying the view……….you really owe it to yourself to carefully study Christianity.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus, ESV

“The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my ybarns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, aeat, drink, be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

Jesus, ESV

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