Feature Article
"God's little Acre"

Yesterday, I was completely disobedient to God. I sat on my couch, and I watched a video. An old black-and-white movie, I had rescued from a broken VCR. I can't even guess how old this movie was.

My disobedience began as one of those times when you sit down and begin watching, and then say, "this is so odd, I have to see how it ends." I know I'm not the only one who has been trapped by this trick before... The Jerry Springer Show is still on the air!

What originally drew me to the video was the title, "God's little Acre."

Now, before I even continue, let me say that in no way am I recommending this movie. Actually, I would have to do the complete opposite. It was a horrible movie depicting the ills of a morally bankrupt family, living on a farm in rural Georgia.

After I had watched this movie, and then repented of wasting my time, and being disobedient in the first place, God began to show me spiritual truths from the movie. I can't imagine that this movie was created by a Christian, but some of the things made in this movie do depict moral truths.

The movie is about this cotton farmer who gave up farming when his Father or Grandfather died ( I really don't remember which it was, and I don't want to watch it again to find out). On his death bed, the Grandfather told this man, that there was gold buried somewhere on the property. He gave up cotton farming, and for the next 15 years, dug hole after hole on his land searching for gold.

As the movie progresses, you see the price that has been paid for this man's "gold fever." I can't even describe the dysfunction in this movie, and to be honest, I wouldn't want to soil you with it anyway. The point, that God brought me to, is tied to the title that started me watching it in the first place.

"God's little Acre."

You see, this man when he first owned the land, he set a section of the land for God. "God's little Acre." He erected a large Iron cross on a parcel of land, and declared to God that anything that grew on that land would be donated to the church. Peanuts, cotton, fruits or vegetables, the land was God's and anything on it would be donated to God.

However, as he was digging for gold, the thought was suggested that maybe the gold was buried on that piece of land. Without hesitation, the owner pulled up the cross, and moved it over to where he couldn't see it easily.

They then proceeded to "divine where the gold was buried," and when it appeared the gold was where the cross had been moved to, the father ran ahead, and pulled the cross from the ground again. What made it interesting was the excuse he made each time.

The first time he knelt by the cross, and prayed. "Lord, you know I'm not trying to cheat you, but I know that you wouldn't want me to be tempted to sin. If the gold was buried out here, I might be tempted to not give it to the church, and keep it for myself, and that would be a sin. Thank you for understanding, and I now dedicate this land to you as your new acre."

The second time he pulled the cross from the ground, his son became excited. "Wait, isn't this God's little acre?" he asked, "We can't dig here."

"Oh, no," said the father, "I felt that God wanted it moved just before we discovered where the gold is buried. A good thing too, or else it would have been too late!"

He then proceeds to plant the cross in the stream, and pray. "Lord, I know it's hot out here, and I knew you would want to have this nice cool stream to keep you from the summer heat. Now if you don't like me moving your acre, Lord, you just strike me dead right now."

At which point, he squeezed his eyes shut, and waited. After a few seconds had passed, he opened his eyes, and said, "Thank you, Lord. I knew you'd understand."

However, the truth was still evident. You see, many of us plant Christ in our lives. We say, "Lord, I give this part of my heart to you." Then suddenly, as always happens to anything given to God, that part of our life becomes more valuable than any other.

The time we dedicate in prayer, suddenly becomes too valuable to be wasted on our knees, when we could be paid by our employer if we simply came in an hour early. The time we set aside for him in personal devotion, becomes to valuable when we see that we could spend it with our family or friends.

Each time we move his part of our life around, moving it to a less and less predominant place. He stands there remaining strangely quiet. He doesn't scream, or shout. He simply stands silent, and wipes the tears from His own eyes.

We pull up the Cross we planted in our heart. The banner that waves over our life, and protects us from the enemy of our soul. We carelessly move it to a place not so obvious. A place not so easily seen. As we move the marker farther and farther back, we fail to realize that we have relinquished that territory to the enemy.

I have been guilty of giving up land, and moving my Friend to a lower and lower position. Giving him less, and less important parts of my life, and more and more of my time to things which truly do not matter. I have looked over my day, and cried, "where did the time go?" Once again, the sun has set, and I have spent the day alone.

I have been promised a friend who will stick closer than a brother. A comforter who will never leave me or forsake me, however I have left him more times than I can count, and I have forsaken him as well.

>>From a heart that cries out from the anguish, and grief that can come only from repenting. Repenting for hurting my best and closest friend, I ask, have you moved the marker too? Do you realize that you have given him a lesser role in your life? Have you been losing battles, and not sure why?

It might be, that you too have left your friend behind.

"Oh, my Friend. You have always been so good to me. You have never betrayed me, or spoken against me. You have never hurt me, or lied to me. You have always kept me, and protected me even when I had been unfaithful to you.

My friend, I ask you, please forgive me for my unfaithfulness once again. Restore to me the joy of our close fellowship. Bring back the peace that comes only from your presence. Surround me with your light that pushes back the darkest of night.

Deliver me from my enemies, and allow me to serve you all of my days.

I love you, and thank you. You are my savior, and friend."

Ken Swett - Standing4Him

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