Setting our sights on God…

Here’s a teaching from my most favorite author, Patricia D. Modeste. It’s called “Getting Focused for the Journey… Setting our sights on God” and it blessed me immensely. I hope it blesses you too…

 

As Christians, we all know our time here on Earth, in these modest shells we call bodies, is temporary. We know that we are just pilgrims passing through this life to get to our eternity.

We are on a journey to glory… His Glory.

 

If you have ever read the book “Pilgrim’s Progress” (“ The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World to That Which is to Come”) by John Bunyon, you’ll know what I’m talking about. It is an excellent story and prime example of our journey and the problems we face along the way.

**The main character, Christian, burdened by the weight of his sins, seeks salvation and must travel from his hometown – the City of Destruction (the world) to the Celestial City (Heaven). 

** Along the way he faces many obstacles, hindrances and foes, who either try to “help” him but only lead him astray, try to get him to turn back, or seek to destroy him outright.

** But in the midst of all this, come many friends and allies – they are those who guide, direct, advise and step in to help him. Some he recognizes, others go unnoticed and unused.

 

Isn’t that just like us in our own journeys?

Our Heavenly Father knows this life He has called us to is not easy. He knows this world (this neighborhood) has changed – that it has gone downhill since He first got here. He knows this world is not the kind of place you want your kids hanging around in. That’s why He has called us out. He knows the many trials and tribulations we face -the enemies, the obstacles, the dangers we face as we travel (race) toward Him.

 

He has supplied us with all the essentials for our journey … and so much more.

 

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (New King James Version)

He has given us the map and guidebook – The Bible; the compass to navigate by – Himself (God); the vessel to take us to where we are going – Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; and the power or fuel to keep us going – the Holy Spirit.

Yet with all these things, why do we still get lost? Why do so many perish along the way? 

Because we lose focus. We shift our eyes from our destination and concentrate on the bad weather we encounter, or the twists and turns of the roads along the way. We’re so preoccupied by the obstacles in front of our faces, that our vision becomes obscured, and the  “the evidence of things not seen (faith)” becomes lost to us.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3 (NKJV)

 Like the sailors or travelers of old, we have to constantly and consistently, readjust our focus. They shifted their gaze from the course ahead of them, lifted their eyes, searched the heavens, set their sights on the North Star, and found direction. We have to do the same.  Look to our guiding light, set our sights on the Father, and receive His direction.

Very often the direction we receive depends on how we view God; on how we hear His Words; or how we feel His hands– in our circumstances.

A.     Some of us tend to view God, as an “ in spite of” God. He is our Father, who steps in to rescue us from the clutches of the Big Bad Devil. He is our Father, who steps in to clean up our messes. He is our Father who steps in to smooth out all the wrinkles and rough spots of our lives. He works all things for good, “in spite of” the enemy or ourselves.

Doesn’t His Word say;

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28, NKJV)

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20, NIV)

B.     Some others view God as a “because of” God. He is our Father, who envisioned our whole life before we even born; Our Father who promised (to Himself), to give His all for us; A Father who planned a life of every good blessing, lacking for nothing, for His children.  He planned for the best college, provided the ideal job, made the perfect mate. He even knew exactly what our first car would be, or picked just the right dress for our prom. Nothing is too good for His own.

He is the Father who would (and actually could) move heaven and earth to make sure not a single hair on His child’s head is harmed. He is the Father who poured His own strength into a young teenager and caused him to bring down a bear, a lion and a giant that had the mighty army of Israel, shaking in their “sandals” (1Samuel 17). He is the Father who heard the heartfelt prayer of one of His and “turned back the hands of time”, as a sign of His promise (Isaiah 38). He is the God who became the most helpless form of His own needy creation, so that He could be what we most needed – salvation. He took upon Himself that which He hated most (sin), for us, whom He loves most. He gave up His perfect Son, as the greatest gift imaginable to redeem His prodigal children.   

Doesn’t our Father promise in Psalm 91: 14-16; 

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
       I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

¹⁵ He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
       I will be with him in trouble,
       I will deliver him and honor him.

 ¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

 How we get through our journey in this life depends largely on what we see. There are roadblocks and detours, friends and foes, dangers to avoid and obstacles to overcome, blessings and consequences

      What we see before us depends on how much we trust God and His love for us.

How much we trust God depends on what we know of God. Is He the God of Damage Control or Jehovah Adonai (the God who is the Master), who is in control? Is He like Glinda, good witch of the North, who can only work good if not hampered by the bad, or is He Jehovah El Shaddai – the All Sufficient, Almighty God, whose works are evident in all things?

So which is He ? Is He the God of “in spite of” or “because of”?  Does He have to be one or the other? 

Grace and Peace

~ by adjodhan on March 27, 2009.