The Sense God Gave A Goose
By Scott Jones
, What an awesome world God
has made. In six
creative days He created
everything from order, to
light, to vegetation and
all living
creatures. Upon looking
at all His finished work,
God concluded that
it all was very good.
You know, all through
scripture you can find
references made to God’s
creation and the lessons
we can learn from it. We
are told to look to
the lilies, ants, coneys,
locusts, and even spiders
to learn life lessons.
For the sake of this
article I’d like for us
to look at the goose.
There are principles in
the natural instinct that
God implanted in the
goose that we as a
Christians should try and
incorporate.
First, by flying in a “V”
formation the whole flock
adds at least 71%
greater flying range than
if each bird flew on its
own. Now there’s
some good goose sense!
People who share a common
direction and sense
of community can get
where they are going
quicker and easier
because
they are traveling on the
thrust of one another.
Psalm 133:1-3 (NASB95)
Behold, how good and how
pleasant it is for
brothers to dwell
together in unity!
2 It is like the precious
oil upon the head, coming
down upon the
beard, even Aaron’s
beard, coming down upon
the edge of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of
Hermon coming down upon
the mountains of Zion;
for there the Lord
commanded the blessing—
life forever.
The only known recording
of God commanding a
blessing comes when there
is unity.
The second lesson we can
learn is that each bird
flaps its wings, it
creates an uplift for the
bird immediately
following. Did you get
that? By each bird doing
his part it uplifts the
one that is
following. Make no
mistake about it; you
have an affect, positive
or
negative, on others.
There are eyes that have
been fixed upon you,
and they are watching to
see if what you have is
authentic or just a
fake. The life I live
has far greater impact on
others than the
things I say.Whenever a
goose falls out of
formation, it suddenly
feels the drag and
resistance of trying to
go it alone and quickly
gets back into formation
to take advantage of the
lifting power of the
bird immediately in front
of it. If we have as
much sense as a goose,
we will stay in formation
with those who are headed
the same way we
are going.
Notice also that not only
do you help those
following you by doing
your part, but you are
being helped by someone
else. Not one person
has made his spiritual
journey completely on his
own. This is why
faithful attendance to a
local assembly is so
important. Lack of
regular attendance, as
well as attending but not
participating, will
result in a drag and
resistance to your
success.
The third lesson we can
learn is that when the
lead goose gets tired,
he rotates back in the
wing and another goose
flies point. There are
times when we are weak or
just weary in well doing.
It’s at that time
that you need to rely on
your church family. We
must learn to speak
out, and let others help
us when we’re in need.
You have not because
you ask not.
The fourth lesson is that
while flying together,
the geese honk from
behind to encourage those
up front to keep up their
speed. Remember
the bumper stickers,
“Honk if you love Jesus”?
This gives a whole new
meaning to that phrase.
What do others hear when
you honk?
Encouragement or
discouragement?
Constructive criticism or
destructive criticism?
Uplifting praise or a
down-pulling phrase?
The old saying, “If you
don’t have anything good
to say, don’t say
anything at all!” has
some merit. Note this
incredible example of
encouraging words:
Isaiah 41:6-7 (NASB95)
Each one helps his
neighbor and says to his
brother, “Be strong!”
7 So the craftsman
encourages the smelter,
and he who smooths metal
with the hammer
encourages him who beats
the anvil, saying of the
soldering, “It is good
and he fastens it with
nails, so that it will
not totter.
Finally, when a goose
gets sick or is wounded
by gun shot and falls
out, two geese fall out
of formation and follow
him down to help and
protect him. They stay
with him until he is
either able to fly or
until he is dead, and
then they launch out on
their own with another
formation to catch up
with their group. We see
too many casualties in
the Body of Christ now
days. It’s amazing how
quickly we tend to turn
from those in need rather
than run toward them.
You and I have a
mandate to help the
wounded.
Galatians 6:1-2 (NASB95)
Brethren, even if anyone
is caught in any
trespass, you who are
spiritual, restore such a
one in a spirit of
gentleness; each one
looking to yourself, so
that you too will not be
tempted.
2 Bear one another’s
burdens, and thereby
fulfill the law of
Christ.
As the Word instructs us,
look to nature and learn
great lessons for
life. I pray: Lord, give
me the sense you gave the
goose. If we can
learn to live by these
principles I believe it
will make our flight
through this life better
till we all catch our
great flight out of here.
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