Have you ever noticed an elephant tied to a flimsy stake by a light weight rope? It is a common sight in the circus and at some zoos. Have you ever wondered why the elephant did not pull up the stake or break the rope and run away? There is a very good reason why he doesn’t. When the elephant was a baby he was tied to a big strong stake by a very heavy rope. For months he tugged and tugged trying to get away all to no avail. After awhile he gave up trying and became reconciled to being tied to a stake. Now that he is big and strong he does not know that he could easily get away if he would only try.

The elephant has been conditioned to an artificial barrier and it keeps him tied up when he could be free. We are not elephants. We are not tied to literal stakes but all of us are tied to artificial barriers which inhibit our progress.

There are many humorous stories about new employees who went out and did what everyone else considered the impossible simply because they were not wise enough to know that it couldn’t be done. The seasoned employees, all conditioned by an artificial barrier, knew it couldn’t be done. The new man simply did it.

We wonder how much our work in the truth is limited by our mental artificial barriers that tell us ”it can’t be done.” In Nehemiah’s day, Judah, who was one of his helpers in the work of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem looked at all the rubbish and problems that beset them and announced, ”We are not able to build the wall.” Judah’s mind was conditioned by an artificial barrier that limited his effectiveness. Fortunately Nehemiah did not listen to Judah. How often do we find a Judah in our midst who informs us that ”it can’t be done.”

Jesus told us that ”the poor always ye have with you.” It could also be said of the negative thinkers who have been tied to the stake by artificial barriers. They honestly think that they can’t, so of course they can not. Henry Ford said ”If you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” These negative people who think they can’t, are right; they can’t, not because it can’t be done but simply because they think it can’t be done. We must be careful not to listen to them as their negative thinking is catching and we do not want to become infected.

Paul knew he could. He knew he could because he said he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him. He knew he could because if God was for him there was no person or power that could be against him. He knew he could because he knew all things were working together for his good.

The power of God is just as strong today as it was in Paul’s day. God’s strength and His ability to help us has not diminished one bit since He helped Nehemiah overcome what seemed like insurmountable odds. One thing is certain, God will not give His strength and power to negative people who think they can’t.

When the 12 spies came back from searching out the land they all agreed that it was a wonderful land flowing with milk and honey. Ten of them however could only think of the giants. They considered the problem, not the power. If we have God on our side we should consider the power, not the problem. There are no artificial stakes to those who love God. The multitude listened to the ten negative spies instead of the two positive ones and as a result the whole congregation of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and died.

Who are we listening to? AII around us we have negative people tied to stakes. These not only think they can’t but they try hard to convince us that we can’t either. These negative thinkers are going to perish in the wilderness. It is important that we are not influenced by their artificial barriers. Remember what God said to Moses when Moses was explaining all the reasons why he couldn’t lead the children of Israel. ”Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go.” God made us too, now therefore GO!