Destiny - The Way We Were
Intro. Often to move forward to our Destiny we must first ascertain where ‘we are’ compared to where we ‘have been’. That often means we have to take a good look at ‘The Way We Were.’
To those of us who desire to attain the destiny God has ordered for our lives I challenge you to take a good long look at where you are and from whom do you depend for your life's resources. You, as I, must be brutally honest and admit that we, the church, are a far cry from what God remembers. It is through the portal of this honesty that we begin to move to the Destiny that lies before us. It is the honest person, no matter how painful the results of the honesty, that will accomplish the will of God for his/her life.
God directed accomplishments will produce evident change in the church. Change that will build up not tear down the body of Christ.
For us to understand fully the will of God for His church I believe it
is imperative that we see the way we were and accept that for too long we have been on a slippery slope of lukewarmness and indecision with the result producing a church that is but a shell of what God has destined us to become.
In Jere. 2:2-3, Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I remember you, The kindness of your youth, The love of your betrothal, When you went after Me in the wilderness, In a land not sown.3 Israel was holiness to the Lord, The firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; Disaster will come upon them,” says the Lord.’ ” v.8, The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me; The prophets prophesied by Baal, And walked after things that do not profit.
God Remembers The Way We Were….
The kindness of thy youth, v. 2: Kindness in man is an expression of gratitude in a high degree, also of piety towards God; holiness and zealous affection toward all that is good and truly desirable.
The love of thine espousals v. 2: A time that, because of our love for Him, we willingly shared all our dreams, wishes, hopes and willingness to go where He goes and does what He does. he remembered a time that our surrender was complete and fully confessed. " Thy vows are upon me, O God: O my soul, thou has said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord. " But now?
When thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown, v. 2: Remembering their willingness to follow Him in the wilderness, a place of need. But now?
(When) Israel was holiness unto the Lord, V. 3: Separation, place of thing set apart. God remembers when His people were set a part specifically for Him.
The priest said not, " where is the Lord? ", v. 8: Ceased to turn to God for directions but followed their own agenda. ( Note Eze. 22:23-28 )
God Sees The Way We Are….
Forsaken the fountain of living waters and heed out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water, v. 13: Israel was drinking from a fountain - a continual supply - but forsook the continual flow of living water and built their own cistern.
I hear the call of the Father…He is calling us to return and once again drink from the fountain of life giving water. Return to the place of refreshing that we may become the resource the world around us so needs.
We must this day choose to be more than a memory in the mind of the Father.
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land. “ Isaiah 1:18-19
As always, it is a choice.
