Month: October 2016

Artificial – I need the real thing!

Job 28:23-28 – 23) “God understands its way and He knows its place. 24) For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. 25) When He imparted weight to the wind and meted out the waters  by measure, 26) When He set a limit for the rain and a course for the thunderbolt, 27) Then He saw it and declared it; He established it and also searched it out. 28) And to man He said, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”

One of the word prompts last week was “artificial.” This post is about choosing true wisdom over the artificial wisdom of this world. Job says “the fear of the Lord is true wisdom.” As much as we want to make it so, artificial intelligence is not true wisdom. The culture of our world today is based on developing science, digital accomplishments, fulfillment of self without boundaries and dismissal of God as a figment of the imagination of the weak. While this is generally speaking, of course, we must be honest and see that the Scriptures are being fulfilled; particularly the one that states “times will wax worse and worse.”

In our search for the truth, we must be aware of the artificial. Part of the enemy’s primary focus is to deceive us; looking for us to believe the lies instead of the truth of God’s Word. Just ask Eve how this went. Be aware that God’s truth does not change. This is one real way to test the validity of the information you receive. Facts change, the truth does not. 

Artificial anything cannot fulfill you as you travel this spiritual journey. The truth is we all need Jesus, on the real tip. We have gotten to a place where the world thinks everything is a joke, even Christians and our faith. Part of this may be to disguise the real condition of people in today’s culture. Rather than surrender to God by developing a true relationship with Jesus, people would rather surrender to the flesh and the world for artificial fulfillment. It cannot provide what you need to sustain you in the long haul.

My birthday is Saturday and as take a journey of reflection, I realize that nothing I’ve turned  to in my life could do me like Jesus. The good times are easy. But when the rubber hits the road, only Jesus will get you through. 

Today finds me enfolded in the loving arms of my God. Although still going through, I am not in the same place I was even a week ago. 

Truly learning how to be content in whatever state I am in is a liberating although challenging experience at the same time. When we say that we are ready to let go and let God, do we honestly accept what that truly means? Our expectations of what God has for us are sometimes immensely different from the actual experience He has planned. The one thing I do know is that truly trusting that He wants what is best for us and has our best interests in mind when He cares for us helps our understanding tremendously when the experience turns out to be different than we expect. God’s best for us is never just about this particular moment. It is also about our future as well as walking in His purpose for our lives and the others we are to impact for His glory. 

If someone had told me twenty years ago, I would be where I am today, I would have been insistent that they were misinformed. However, I recall a vision the Lord gave me about that long ago and it seems He did tell me. I did not understand at the time because physical details were not apparent. The spiritual details were what He shared. I remember calling on the name of Jesus in this vision. I trusted that as the Word says, He is on the right hand of the Father ever making intercession for us. To know that even so long ago He knew my days and where I would be at this moment, it is humbling knowing that with all the wrong choices, mistakes, misunderstandings, etc. He would still be loving me intensely.

He said He would never leave me nor forsake me. How awesome is our God! He has me in a challenging place but I am not alone. The personal relationship is what being in this place is all about. Life is not life without the darts coming at us, the enemy seeking to steal, kill and destroy. Job says that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. He says that though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. So, I am content in Him because of Him.

Romans 8:35-39 – 35)”Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36)As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ 37)Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38)For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present to come, 39)nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This is the Scripture for such a time as this. As I reflect on what I am dealing with, and a purification process no less, I am also understanding God’s love for me. It begs me to understand what truly constitutes my love for Him. Why do you love God? His Word gives us reason enough. Because He first loved us. Because He loves us in spite of our sin. Because even though He knew our hearts He still prepared an out for us to be with Him in Heaven. Because He knows that our flesh will still cause us problems and still forgives, keeps us through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. He protects, provides, nurtures, guides, transforms. And this is just as I write.

I am reminded of Enoch, Abraham and Elijah. Men who walked with God. The foundation of their walk being faith, trust and obedience. They loved Him just because. Why do you love God?