The Other Side of the Fence

By Fred Wikoff

When I was a young, and bragged of the “big changes” I’d make in my life when I grew older, my grandmother would invariably smile and say: “Remember! The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence!”

It was her way of reminding me that sometimes it’s better to accept our circumstances and limitations then to vainly try to change them. I’ve always remembered those words of advice, and at times they have served me well.

But putting a good face on circumstances and accepting them regardless of the pain and suffering has never really been my forte. It’s not that I refuse to accept life’s situations. I’ve learned to accept what I can’t change. Yet I will do everything in my power to change what is not to my liking if I see an option. And I’ve learned that sometimes I can change what I don’t like by simply accepting what I can’t.

I found this to be true when trying to change my sinful life to one of righteousness. No matter how hard I tried I’d eventually backslide and find myself repeating the same sinful acts. My intentions were good, but I was like a river running at the bottom of a deep canyon: “It runs there because it has no power in itself to change its course. Once it drops into darkness it cannot lift itself to once again run on the bright sunny land above.” (Billy Graham in: Peace With God.)

The scriptures tell us that only Christ has the power to overcome sin. But my ego was so big I thought I could defeat sin on my own. Not realizing that my very persistence in trying to overcome sin, not only blocked Christ from changing my sinful condition, but also robbed him of the glory he so richly deserved.

It wasn’t until I accepted my total inability to overcome sin that Christ was able to help me. Suddenly the words Christ died for us while we were “yet sinners;” (See Romans 5:8) and “died to sin, once for all,” took on new meaning. (See Romans 6:10)

Christ literally “became sin” so we sinners might become saints. (See 2 Corinthians 5:21) The job is done. His redemption is absolute and complete. And when we finally accept this and give Him absolute control of our entire being, He comes and “makes his home within us;” filling us with the power of His Spirit to overcome sin. (See John 14:23)

Grandmother would’ve never guessed that I’d actually end up on the other side of the fence by accepting what I couldn’t change. But I think she knew that the grass really is greener on God’s side.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Fred Wikoff writes from Eugene, Oregon. EugeneSpud@msn.com