The country of Algeria is fighting a losing battle against the desert. Right now, the Sahara occupies 85% of Algeria and only 3% of all their land is cultivable. And the desert is growing. It is getting bigger. It is hungry.
In order to stop it from swallowing up more land, Algeria built a forest 2.5 to 16 miles thick called "the green barrier." It's essentially an army of trees tasked with waging war against the marching sands of the Sahara.
For some reason, this information reminded me of what God told Cain in Genesis 4.
"But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
I like that idea, the need to be aware that sin is crouching at our doors. Sin, like the Sahara is waiting for us. Waiting for our trees to fall and give way to sandstorms of temptation and the steady wear and tear of desert life.
How's your forest? The one in Algeria is failing. They only planted one kind of tree and it looks like that may have been a mistake. That should have planted a dozen different varieties. I think life is the same way. If you only have one plan, one accountability partner, one time during the day you connect with God, one idea for dealing with all of the outside influences that are trying to get in, I think we'll fail.
I pray your forest will be thick with friends. I pray it will grow strong on God's word. I pray it will weather the storms that this life stirs up.
Because the desert is waiting for us, it is crouching at our doors.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
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9 comments:
Hey! I just found your site by accident more or less. I enjoyed reading "The Green Barrier" and will come back for more.
The very idea that sin is crouching at our door is a big idea that comes down to one scary point:
Sin was in my territory - so close he was at door - and I did nothing up to that point to chase him away from where I live.
One of my favorite verses. Glad you used it and glad to find this site too. I'm a fan.
Sometimes, when sin is at my door, I become a hermit instead of facing my problems with sin head on.
For example, I just avoid people that I have a hard time loving instead of praying for a more loving heart and actually trying to love all my neighbors. And yes, I know, that is still totally sin.
Anyway, thats my 2 cents.
I needed that. I'm dealing with a sinful issue I cant seem to get away from and my only defense was willpower. Thats not working so starting today I'm going to up my defenses. Thanks
Wow. How'd you get from Algerian forests to sin barrier? That's a leap even for my ADD brain. I'm awarding you an honorary ADD doctorate. Don't worry, all the really revolutionary minds of our time suffered from ADD. (At least, that's what I keep telling myself.)
Get word picture for me, it makes the sin in my life seems more tangible. I love scl and I have a feeling I'm going to love this site too!
My first thought when you mentioned only having one plan ("how's your forest?")...was the idea that going to church on Sundays was my one plan. I've learned, and know!, that I need more than that... making that happen has been the hard part. Which is why I linked over to this site when you mentioned in on SCL. Thanks.
I appreciate this. God has equipped you to greatly influence others. Thanks for letting him use you.
Another great post.
I was not aware of the barrier/ Sahara problem.
very interesting analogy and I think you hit the nail on the head.
If we focus too much on keeping sin out of our lives at one point, it will just sneak into another. and overtake us easily.
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