I feel as though I've had a bit of a spiritual rebirth since I went to bed last night! No, I am not mystical. I am definitely NOT New Age. And, NO, I AM NOT HIGH! In my strive to become a grape, I forgot one important thing: You have to be a long-term thinker; a mountain climber and not a mole. Mountain climbers are incredibly LONG-TERM thinkers. They set their focus on a goal with the intention that they will stop at nothing to reach the goal. The goal could very well end up costing them their lives, but they press on. That is just what they do. It is as though they know nothing other than the purpose which drives them.
A mole, on the other hand, is really not very bright! Although I do not consider myself to be a mole "specialist", I can tell you from my Detroit Zoo experiences that they are incredibly short-term little varmits! They spend the day popping in and out of their dirt molehills. They never really seem to have any purpose or direction or reason for anything. They just keeping "popping". I really don't get it. They leave a mess in their wake and don't bother to vacuum when they are finished.
I suppose that if I wanted to make better sense of this, I would say that I need to become a mountain climber in addition to my quest to become a better grape. I desire the determination to reach a worthy goal, but I'm not sure what all of this consists of. Philippians 3:13b-14 says, "...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." "...we wait for the blessed hope -- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very on, eager to do what is good." - Titus 2:13-14. It looks like I just got what I asked for! I must admit, that I am a little afraid sometimes. Do you think God knows my fear? "...For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows EVERYTHING." I John 3:20b I guess that answers that question. What if I get hurt or rediculed along the way? "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither hieght nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:33-37. Wow... It's starting to sink in.
I spent the early part of this morning listening to the testimony of two particularly determined mountain climbers. Pastor Fred Froman and his wife, Susan, have chosen a remarkable route in their mountainous journey. The most meaningful concept for me, in hearing them speak, is the idea that God's redemption is to be celebrated. We cannot celebrate what we do not know. Therefore, we must ask him for the boldness to confess our sins to Him with the expectation that He is true to His Word. I John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, He is FAITHFUL and JUST to FORGIVE us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness." I wonder if the Lord even blinks before He forgives me? "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us -- whatever we ask -- we know that we have what we asked of Him." - I John 5:14-15. Once again, He keeps His promises.
Once His forgiveness is extended, we can begin to celebrate His redemption. I am asking the Lord to make me a mountain-climbing grape at this point... Once again, I AM NOT HIGH. I simply want to stop at nothing until I see Him face to face. I don't want to be the mole who finds it easier and cooler when the day gets hot to duck in and out of the self-constructed molehills. I am finished feeling sorry for myself, for there are greater things to be sorry for. I know I'm asking for trials, for that is the only way we can know His grace, but I want life to be a celebration of our Redemptive Creator.
- Newsboys
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