Are you so timid about taking a wrong path that you are stalled in the road? Get moving!
04/17/2019
Keep moving. Don’t stop!
Some of the articles on this website seem to carry the message, “Stop what you’re doing.” That is not God’s intent, nor mine. What I offer here are yield signs, not stop signs. A person in motion is someone God can use to accomplish His perfect will, even if they’re doing the wrong thing.
A man of God I encountered over 40 years ago imparted these words of wisdom: “God cannot steer a parked car.” By that, he meant you must be in motion for God to steer you into the course that He has determined for your life. God would rather have someone doing the wrong thing in a zealous way than someone sitting on their behind doing nothing.
For proof of this, look to the scriptures. The predominant pattern you can see in God’s interventions involved people who were in motion. Abraham believed God. That requires action when you express that belief in your daily interactions.
Moses launched his ministry by murdering an Egyptian and burying his body in the sand. After 40 years on the backside of the desert for rehab and sensitivity training, he emerged as an effective tool in God’s hands. It was then that he administered the plagues of judgment on Egypt and led Israel out of 400 years of bondage.
Joseph, too big for his britches and coat of many colors, bragged about the dreams he had received. He was in motion, doing his father’s bidding, when he was sold by his brothers into slavery. When imprisoned, he stepped up and interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s cup bearer and baker. Pharaoh, moved by the Lord and seeing the hand of God on Joseph perceived him as a man of action and authority. He put him in charge of saving Egypt and much of the known world from starvation; which included Joseph’s father and brothers.
David, whose throne the Lord will occupy in the coming Kingdom, the youngest of his brothers, was employed as a shepherd, leading and protecting the flock. When he encountered Saul’s army, cowering before Goliath, David’s response was ‘let me at him!’ David did some heinous things in his life, including murder and adultery. What did God say about David?: ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ Acts 13:22 WEB
Let’s jump to the very best example of God’s preference for people in motion: The Apostle Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus. He was zealous in the service of God. Despite the fact that he had dedicated his life to having God’s people murdered and imprisoned, God chose him as the Apostle to the Gentiles. Here is his story:
“Whereupon as I traveled to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at noon, O king, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me. 14 When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 “I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen, and of the things which I will reveal to you; 17 delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you, 18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” Acts 26:12-18 WEB (Emphasis added)
God waylaid him on his way to Damascus and executed a course correction. God redirected that zeal into His service, and He is doing the same for us. Jesus is freeing us from the futility of vain pursuits and redirecting us into His service.
Many of us zealously followed the signs of the Rapture as revealed in the series of blood moons, and then, the queen mother of signs, the Revelation 12 astronomical alignment that occurred on September 23rd, 2017. We gave our hearts, our energies and our resources to pursue them.
Despite our disappointment when they fizzled, we zealously continued to search for signs of the Rapture. We eagerly seized on one high-watch date after another in our earnest desire to be with our Lord. I would even dare to say that there are people actively serving the Lord today because they were attracted by all of the Rapture fervor. Though their initial focus was misdirected, God used it to steer them into the path He wanted them on.
Others of us, like Paul, in Pharisaic settings, ignored such signs and continued to actively serve God in our self-righteousness, but we hungered for more; we hungered for a walk with God. A necessary part of that course correction is to leave religious and (when God leads), family entanglements behind.
Many of us have already gone through God’s course correction. To these, I hope these articles are words of confirmation and encouragement. Many are still searching in vain for signs of the Rapture; an event which has no signs, but has been defined to occur on a day when you think not by Jesus Himself (Luke 12:40).
I pray that in these articles, you will find the course correction that leads to peace and joy. I said joy, not happiness, because the joy of the Lord comes despite trials and stressful circumstances. You can reach into that joy at any moment, no matter what is going on. Think of Paul and Silas singing hymns of praise while chained up in a prison.
The course correction is the same for everyone: Put your eyes and your focus on Jesus first. Put the date of our departure on the back shelf, if that is your thing. Bring it out when you need some encouragement. If you’re fleeing the trap of legalism, put your godless family and godless church into the rearview mirror, or on the shelf as you go forward with God. Let all of your relationships be in submission to the leading of the Lord.
Focus on doing the will of God; occupy by being a faithful steward of what He has given you, and reach out to others in need of salvation. Assure them of their eternal, irrevocable salvation and the power of God to do the work of Sanctification in their lives despite their continued sinfulness.
Those in scripture described as having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof (2 Tim 3:5) are those promoting works for salvation. They deny the power of God to save us. Though they may accept Jesus as the author, they deny Him as the finisher of our faith. It is always some requirement for works to make you acceptable to God. “What if the Rapture were today? Are you Rapture ready?” Relax, you were ‘Rapture ready’ the instant you accepted Christ.
The grace of God must be the underpinning of everything I write. This is the message that is at the heart of every article on this website. I may point out the traps and snares, the sinful practices that are keeping us from the perfect will of God, but the message is not STOP; it’s YIELD to God. Redirect your energies into following Him and focus on Jesus.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.” Romans 8:1-2 WEB (Emphasis added)
It is Satan, the accuser of the brethren, who condemns the people of God. If I have condemned even a single brother or sister in these pages, please forgive me, and tell me about it so I can correct that error. For God’s part, I believe He finds inertia a bigger problem to deal with than sin in the life of a believer. You must become active and move forward for God to steer you. Employ the zeal and love that God has put in your heart in His service. Resolve to finish your course. Then we can say, like Paul:
“For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. 8 From now on, there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.” 2Tim 4:7-8 WEB
Photo Credits
- Adapted from #91237724/Jankovoy-adobe stock.com
- Adapted from #215435085/Brilt-adobe stock.com and #237517883/Martialred-adobe-stock.com
- Don’t Mess With Israel by Greg Lauer @alittlestrength.com
A New Name 