Leave It To Who?

By Kathy Schultz
CBN Staff Writer

CBN.com - Who could believe, listening to an old TV show, I could hear God speak? Recently, while fixing dinner, the old classic "Leave It to Beaver" was on. Now, I admit it was one of my all-time favorite shows, so I felt compelled to watch.

The previous Sunday night our Bible Study group had been listening to a videotape on Genesis by Anne Graham Lotz, which was excellent. The subject discussed was sin, and particularly the sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We, like Adam and Eve, are taken in and do the thing we never intended. They did not get up that morning saying to each other, "The fruit in the center of the garden is wonderful. Let's go eat it". It was subtle. First, Eve heard the snake talk about it. She listened, looked, touched, and finally she ate. The sin did not stop there. She had to get Adam into the act. We never want to go it alone. Misery loves company.

"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it" (Genesis 3:6 NIV).

Thankfully our God is loving, compassionate and forgiving, making a way for us to spend eternity with him. BUT He cannot and will not tolerate sin.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23 NIV).

Now back to "Leave It to Beaver." The story began with Beaver receiving about $20.00 (not much money today, but a lot back in the day of the show) for his birthday. His dad advised him to put the money in the bank to save for something special. He did not demand it, but made a strong suggestion. Beaver decided with a little encouragement from Wally (his brother), to take his Dad's advice. Then a notice from the post office arrived while no one was at home. Beaver and his buddy Gilbert headed right to the post office to pick up the package. It was money sent by his Uncle Billy. Beaver thought he should put the money in the bank, but the problem was he wanted to spend it. If only he had spoken with his Dad first but no, he didn't. Beaver, with Gilbert leading the way, went a different route home going right past the model shop. They both looked in the window and saw what seemed wonderful a beautiful model car. It was the car Beaver thought he wanted. Gilbert encouraged him to just go in and look. After all, the store didn't charge admission for them to look. Well, to make a long story short, Beaver went in, looked, touched, and the next thing you know, he bought the model. It really wasn't the model that made this purchase wrong, but that he did not seek his dad's advice. He listened to a crafty friend, a person who didn't have his best interest at heart.

Who do we listen to? You can guess the rest of the story yourself. Beaver lied to explain the model car. In the end he confessed his sin and was forgiven by his parents.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).

One of the lines I liked best was Beaver saying, "I wish I had gone home down Grant Avenue!" He knew if he hadn't walked where the temptation was, he would not have bought the model car. If we would just stay on the right path and go only the way God directs, sin may not tempt us. We often, like Beaver, go down a different avenue. We then look and buy what we shouldn't.

If only we would speak to our Heavenly Father to see what He would advise. Much like Beaver, we decide what He will saywe think we already know the answer. God might even say go aheadyou won't know unless you ask. We often detour, allowing ourselves to be lead by someone other than God. We even go in and look at what we should not, and tell ourselves it does not hurt to look. Before long we too have bought what we shouldn't. How often do we say, "I'm just going to look" and find ourselves trapped doing what we never intended?

The TV show reaffirmed exactly what Anne Graham Lotz had been saying. God let me know I often act as Beaver and Eve, listening, looking, and touching what I shouldn't, going the wrong way, and ultimately doing what I know is not right. The next time I'm not sure, I can make a choice to succumb to sin or speak with my Heavenly Father and get His advice and help. Thankfully, like Beaver, I can be forgiven. I have a wonderful gracious, loving, and compassionate God!