This is among some of my first explorations into writing and is from a month long devotional I have never published. The reason I share it today, simply: It follows the theme of re-establishing a vibrant relationship with God.
Lost in a sea
of uncertainty.
The cold wind
slices to the bone,
and here it seems
that only pain is
known. Unable
to see why I have come here, or what I am to
do. Nothing that
I hear makes it any clearer. The fog is
thick, but my compass
appears in fine order. Yet, nothing
that I do ends the way I
plan. This storm blew up from
nowhere; and minutes before
it, hit my course was
charted and well planned. The storm has
come and with it uncertainty;
why can't my course be clear
to me? I do not
think I have forgotten
anything. I have not
misplaced any point.
Or, have I not done
something that is
important to the
sailing of my ship?
I am doing nothing
differently, still
nothing is the same.
No matter what I do; my ship
will not respond as it once did. Can
someone tell
me what I have forgotten? Oh, yes I remember. Christ died for me.
I've
been a Christian for several years. The last few of those years have been
increasingly difficult. It seemed that everything in my life was upside down.
My Christian walk started smoothly, but as I pressed on toward the mark of the
high calling, things became a little confused. My walk seemed to become
cyclical and the same lessons reappeared again and again.
As
I continued in Bible study, I found that I was not the only one to suffer this
type of circular walk. The Israelites have, through the course of history,
always gone back and forth, round and round, up and down in their relationship
with God. Even the disciples had problems with their faith. I guess I thought
it should be different for me. After all, that was then and this is now.
Everything in our society is instant.
The
issue we face is this: God does not change to fit society. We, as his children,
are called to line up with His program; however, we are still under construction in matters of faith. The question, which
shapes our lives, must be answered by a personal response to the word of God.
Our faith will be expressed in our unique cultural context, but our response
must reflect biblical truth.
We must all
learn the same lessons, exercise the same belief in God and His promises that
any other generation has; however, modern faith will not re-establish ancient
culture. Our faith will reflect our life
situations based on divine truth and personal relationships. It is one thing to
know the Bible, and it is quite another to practice what the Bible teaches.
When we begin to realize that this life is a Faith walk, and NOT a Cakewalk, or
as we begin to practice all that the word of God teaches, we will learn the secret of the easy yoke. I must confess — I
have not arrived at that destination yet, but I am beginning to work out my
salvation. Uncertainty only comes into my life if I begin to doubt God cares
and is involved in my life.
We all act
like spoiled children when the trial we face persists longer than we think it
should. As I stated before, this is not a new problem. Just take a look at the
reaction of Jesus' first disciples while they were making their way through the
Sea. The story is recorded in Mark chapter four.
Remember they
had been with Jesus all that day and had heard Him teaching about the Kingdom
of God. His closest followers did not even recognize His authority over the
natural world until they had a serious, even life-threatening, problem.
“And the same day, when the even was
come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they
had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And
there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of
wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in
the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say
unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?” — Mark 4:35-38 (KJV)
Although the
disciples asked the question we all need the answer to: “Do You not care?” Reading
the rest of the story reveals the eternal truth: Jesus is concerned and will
take action in all the events of our daily lives. This truth has brought me to
understand in greater detail the passage beginning in Isaiah 43:16. God in the
past moved with signs and wonders to come to the defense of His chosen people.
Will He do any less for us today?
Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way
in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; Which bringeth forth the chariot
and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not
rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow. Remember ye not the former
things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now
it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the
wilderness, and rivers in the desert. — Isaiah 43:16-19 (KJV)
There is not a
single situation in our culture to which God will not, or has not already, provided
the answer. God has continually worked at calling His people back into right
relationship. And, that relationship is one of faith and trust. It is also a
lovingly close relationship, as father and son. When we live out our faith in
that relationship we are posed to experience life in a new vibrant way. The
power and presence of God demonstrated within the context of our lives will
refresh us, revive us,
and clear up all
our uncertainty.
"Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far
from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and
my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my
glory." — Isaiah
46:12-13 (KJV)
We have God's
promises; isn't it
time we begin to act on them? The only way we can respond is to dig deeper
into the storehouse of God's wisdom, which is the Bible, spend more time in
prayer, and believe God to move with supernatural power on our behalf. I am calling on
any believer who wishes to see this society changed, for the better, to step
out, lift high the banner, and join the spiritual battle. The battle for the minds and
hearts on this generation is won or lost in our commitment to scripture, and
relationships with God and fellow Christians.
As we respond
we must remember these four things. 1. Don't join the fight on the
Devil’s terms. 2. Don't get caught by the enemy of your soul
fighting in the natural — This is a Spiritual battle. 3. Spend time with the
Lord, and allow Him to direct your actions. 4. God has the wining battle plan.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do
not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but
mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down
imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge
of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is
fulfilled. — 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (KJV)
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