Just Out of Reach

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 5
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"Git ‘long there, ye ol slow poke!" Sam coaxed, then scolded, and at last even tried pushing! But the mule stood still. In fact he didn’t even seem to notice Sam as much as the flies buzzing about his ears.
"Ah’ll make ye’ stir those bones!" threatened Sam, as he broke a strong switch from a tree and proceeded to use it. But the mule’s dignity seemed unruffled, and Sam almost wondered if his feet were growing to the ground.
Suddenly he chuckled! "Bet ah’ll fix ye’ yet!" and away he went, under a fence and into a corn field. A few moments later he was back with two ears of corn which he fastened to a stick. Climbing upon the mule’s back he held the stick over his head with the corn dangling tantalizingly before the mule’s nose—but just out of reach!
Just as he thought—the mule seemed to awaken! Lifting his head he took a step forward, then another—and another! but the corn was still just out of reach!
Strangely enough, no doubt to the mule, the corn that seemed just one step ahead took him several miles to reach! And not too strangely, Sam was at his destination when the mule finally reached the corn!
Just out of reach—just around the corner—it sometimes seems to us are pleasures and lasting happiness! If we can only make a little more money, possess a few more things, gain a bit of fame—perhaps then happiness will be ours. But as time goes by it is always the same, still just out of reach!
Do not let Satan deceive you! The satisfaction he promises will always be just out of reach. God’s Word says, "the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing" (Eccl. 1:8). "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase." (Eccl. 5:10). "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36).
Boys and girls, there is joy and satisfaction that you can reach! God himself says, "He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness" (Psa. 107:9).
Receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior from sin, and you will find as David did, "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forever more"! (Psa. 16:11).