A Parable of Two Horses

[not an echo]

Hello all,

I would like to share with ya'll a little something that I developed and also used in our church service today (actually yesterday, by the time I push Submit Topic!).  First of all, as I asked everyone in the service, try to envision or imagine the following, then determine which you would rather be:

#1---A wild horse running the range with your nose in the wind and your mane a flying...

         OR

#2---A similar horse that is being chased, then lassoed by a group of cowboys, after which you will be led to a corral to be saddled and rode until there is absolutely no strength left in you to fight any further.

Made your decision?  The following illustration shows some contrasts between the life of a wild horse and the life of a broke horse.  It parallels in many ways the difference between doing our own thing and doing God's thing for our life.  As you read, see how many parallels you can find or relate to.

A PARABLE OF TWO HORSES

AT FIRST GLANCE, a wild horse seems to have it pretty well made and is a picture of strength, beauty, and freedom as he runs through the range with his nose in the wind and his mane a flying.  He is his own master and knows no other way and would fight to the end to escape any attempt at breaking him, being content to remain as he is.  It is interesting, however, to note that a wild horse often just goes in circles each day, running the same ole range and doing about the same ole things.  On the other hand, a horse that has been lassoed and broken has been subjected to a very distressing experience and is now expected to yield to a new master's control.  Yet, upon closer observation it would be seen that upon yielding, a broke horse has it pretty well made too and has remarkably much freedom after all, plus the added bonus of getting to go places that he has never been before, and getting to see things that he has never seen.  ALSO...

• During the spring and fall months, a wild horse can usually find plenty of water and can drink to contentment, but around July and August the water can get scarce and around January and February it can get hard (i.e., frozen).  On the other hand, a broke horse has a master that sees to it that he never has to go without fresh (and drinkable!) water.  And...
• It appears that during the summer months a wild horse can eat well enough, but often he has to look right hard for food and in the dead of winter he can get mighty thin.  On the other hand, a broke horse has a master that sees to it that he never goes hungry and he even gets special treats that the wild horse knows nothing of.  And...
• As long as the weather is halfway decent, things aren't so bad for a wild horse, but when the winds and storms come, it can get pretty treacherous out there on the range, especially at night.  On the other hand, a broke horse has a master that sees to it that there's always shelter for him from the storms.  And...
• As long as he has no accidents, sickness, or disease, a wild horse can get by pretty well on it own out there, but if any of these things befell him, he could have to face a long and agonizing death.  And who would care?  On the other hand, if any of these things were to befall a broke horse, he has a master to care for him and see him back to health.  And...
• As long as he's able to run with the rest of the pack, a wild horse contents himself to live out his life as he is.  But, sometimes the others are no where to be found and it can sure get lonely out there on the range.  On the other hand, whether any others are around or not, a broke horse never has to feel lonely, because he knows his master is never very far away and his master loves him.  A wild horse has no meaningful concept of this.  And...
• At his life's end, if a wild horse were able to reflect back over its life and what he had accomplished, there would not be much to look at but a beaten path around the same ole range.  On the other hand, a broke horse would have many rewarding experiences to reminisce on as a result of what he and his master had done and accomplished TOGETHER.

In conclusion, it is easy to see that a wild horse would do well to think twice before making continued attempts to escape efforts to break him.  And likewise, from a human perspective, so many people (including children of God) are trying to be in control of their own lives, yet their lives are out of control and they don't have it quite as good as they (and others) might think they do.  While growing as a child of God, it should be remembered that we can do no better than to genuinely yield to Jesus Christ's Lordship over us.  He wants to be our "LIVING WATER" when we get thirsty, our "BREAD OF LIFE" when we get hungry, our "SHELTER FROM THE STORMS" when situations get treacherous, our "GREAT PHYSICIAN" when we get hurt, and our "CONSTANT COMPANION" so we never have to be lonely.  A favorite passage of mine---my life Scripture---relates to the above.  It is this:  "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;  and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS."  As one who used to be like the wild horse, but now is fully broke, I would encourage all to let "THE GOOD MASTER" have the reins of your life.

By the way, did you change your mind about which horse you would rather be?

[bropro]

7 hours ago, not an echo said:

7 hours ago, not an echo said:

my life Scripture---relates to the above.  It is this:  "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;  and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS."  As one who used to be like the wild horse, but now is fully broke, I would encourage all to let "THE GOOD MASTER" have the reins of your life.

I like your illustration/parable. To be honest, I think all of us have to battle the wild horse mindset. It is part of the carnal man that we need to reckon as dead to sin. I also like your life scripture. I on many occasions meditate on, and pray this passage, especially when the wild horse gets a little restless. I would have to say that John 15:7 "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you," would be my life scripture.

Thanks for the parable, and have a blessed week.

Gary

 

[bropro]

On 6/6/2022 at 8:56 AM, bropro said:

 

For some reason this did not post properly the first time. I like your illustration/parable. To be honest, I think all of us have to battle the wild horse mindset. It is part of the carnal man that we need to reckon as dead to sin. I also like your life scripture. I on many occasions meditate on, and pray this passage, especially when the wild horse gets a little restless. I would have to say that John 15:7 "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you," would be my life scripture.

Thanks for the parable, and have a blessed week.

Gary

[missmuffet]

I think this is your own parable. It is not in the Bible. 

[Riverwalker]

I have one objection.....God does not chase us capture and break us

We come humbly before him and submit willingly

[not an echo]

On 6/7/2022 at 2:06 PM, bropro said:

On 6/6/2022 at 8:56 AM, bropro said:

 

For some reason this did not post properly the first time. I like your illustration/parable. To be honest, I think all of us have to battle the wild horse mindset. It is part of the carnal man that we need to reckon as dead to sin. I also like your life scripture. I on many occasions meditate on, and pray this passage, especially when the wild horse gets a little restless. I would have to say that John 15:7 "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you," would be my life scripture.

Thanks for the parable, and have a blessed week.

Gary

Hello Gary,

Thanks, and I can appreciate your thoughts as well.  In a sense, I was the wild horse and I've "run the range" (which I perceive you have some as well).  Now I am under the Good Master's control and only care to go where He bids me!

Thanks again and I hope you have a blessed week as well.

Butch

[not an echo]

On 6/7/2022 at 2:29 PM, missmuffet said:

I think this is your own parable. It is not in the Bible. 

Hello missmuffet,

You are correct.  At first I had entitled it The Wild Horse and the Broke Horse, but because I was using a physical realm illustration to convey a spiritual lesson, I felt it would resonate well with everyone if I called it a parable.

From what you said, I guess I could kinda see how someone who did not know might take it for granted that it is in the Bible.  Of course, we know that it is not (which I thought I had made clear).  And, I would also like to go a little further and say that I would by no means put it on the level of a Biblical parable, especially one that Jesus taught!  He was the parable Master!!! : )  However, I have often said that Jesus has never ceased to speak in parables.  Whether we call them allegories, examples, object lessons, or illustrations (or parables!), if we listen to Jesus in our walk with Him, He will teach us all kinds of spiritual realm truths from what we see in the physical realm around us.

Over 30 years ago, when I was a children's church pastor, I would have fun with the kids by having them give me three ideas of things they would like to have me teach them an object lesson on.  Hands would go up everywhere!  Every Sunday I would bring one of their ideas with me in a brown paper grocery sack (if it would fit!) and would teach them a lesson from it.  On one occasion (that I'm remembering now), I was able to put together an object lesson that included all three of their ideas.  They always loved trying to guess what I had in the bag!  And, there was never a time that I was unable to use one of their ideas.  It was a fun way for me to teach them and a fun way for them to learn.

Hey, I didn't start out meaning to write this much, but I got to reminiscing!

[not an echo]

On 6/7/2022 at 2:52 PM, Riverwalker said:

I have one objection.....God does not chase us capture and break us

We come humbly before him and submit willingly

Hello Riverwalker,

According to the way it seems you took my illustration, I would agree with you wholeheartedly when it comes to the matter of our salvation!  It may end up being a good thing for me to revise it a little, but first I would like to explain.

I was that wild horse running the range with my nose in the air and my mane a flying---some years after I was saved.  I was saved at 10 years old, and I certainly came to Christ humbly and submitted willingly!  But, I was never discipled and it was a long time before I understood the concept or importance of me actually following Christ and serving Him as my Lord.  Oh, I if had been asked, "Do you receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord?", I would have certainly said "Yes!"  But, I wouldn't have had a very good concept of what that meant---and didn't for another 15+ years.  I'm thinking of what someone has said:  "Salvation is free, but being a disciple can cost you your life."

Annnyway, after being saved, I ended up kinda like a horse that has been chosen, or purchased, but never ridden.  When I was saved, the Good Lord (i.e., the Ranch Owner!) had redeemed me (I Cor. 6:20) and made me a part of His Kingdom (His Ranch).  At the first, all was good and I pretty well stayed in His will (His Range).  But, later I got sidetracked and caught up in the things of the world (that range) and experienced things similar to the wild horse of my illustration.  God always had His eyes on me though and directed some of His servants (His cowboys, outfitted with lassoes and spurs! // i.e., preachers, teachers, others) into my life, all for the purpose of making me more into what He wanted me to be (the breaking process).  I sure didn't understand some things, and I got pretty scared a few times (I bucked and fought, really all because of my mistaken concept of what was going on).  When I got to my bottom (i.e., when I had bucked out!) and completely yielded to Him, I began to experience a whole other realm of life---one for which I am very grateful.  In retrospect, I never had a concept (at all) that God had a purpose for my life until I was 25.  Today, I am 64, almost my 40th year of being His disciple, and my 55th year of being His child.  I owe all I am or ever will be to Him.  He is certainly, THE GOOD MASTER!!! : )

About forgot.  I share some of My Testimony and More (by this same title) in the Testimonies section of the forum.  Here is a link to it (https://www.worthychristianforums.com/topic/252050-my-testimony-and-more/).

[bropro]

On 6/9/2022 at 1:18 PM, not an echo said:

Salvation is free, but being a disciple can cost you your life

Amen! This is something that is hardly ever heard during a salvation message. The church needs to get back to this.

Gary

[not an echo]

On 6/10/2022 at 6:52 PM, bropro said:

On 6/9/2022 at 1:18 PM, not an echo said:

Salvation is free, but being a disciple can cost you your life

Amen! This is something that is hardly ever heard during a salvation message. The church needs to get back to this.

Gary

Hello Gary,

The thing of being a disciple is something that I had no concept of until I was in my later 20's.  I was saved when I was 10, but just kinda got absorbed into the church scene---about like everyone else.  No one ever took me aside and helped me to understand "where to from here" if you know what I mean.  So, I basically just went through the motions and ended up running the range for 15 years---not having any concept that God had a special purpose for my life.  When I got to my bottom at 25, the Father inspired me with the hope that there was more to life than what I had been experiencing and that what I needed to do was to give Him the same chance that I had given the world.  I then began to yield to him as the Master of my life in everything, seeking only His will in everything, following Him the best I knew in every way---not even knowing that I was now being a disciple of His!  In other words, I was being a disciple of His and I didn't even know that was what I was being!  Kinda like that song, I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool!  Now, as a missionary discipler (God surely works in mysterious ways ), I always look forward to telling those who have just been saved that God has a special purpose for them in their life and that they will have the most fulfilled life if they just follow Him as Lord in every way and in every thing---as a disciple of His.

By the way Gary, has anyone ever told you that God has a special purpose for you in your life?  He does!  And, nothing will be as fulfilling for you in your life as walking with God as a disciple of His and seeking to fulfill His purpose for you.  Let me also say, I'm not talking about something you do for God.  Rather, whatever His purpose is for you, it will be something He wants you to do with Him!

Hey, and that's the way it is for all of God's children reading this.  I like this that Paul said in Colossians 2...

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:

7 Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.