A Call for Repentance - Day 26: Forgive me Lord for wanting a “game plan.”

"It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:8-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Most people seem to prefer a sense of certainty concerning what they will do and what will happen to them. Even with people who claim to enjoy surprises, I seriously doubt they are referencing possible surprises that may include events such as having a 2 x 4 applied over their head or, stepping off a cliff. Indeed, surprise seekers are assuming possible choices found in the realm of desirable outcomes.

This world offers no such guarantee of benign outcomes. To the contrary, this world can be a very scary place. Navigating our lives can seem as treacherous as trying to get out of a mine field in one piece! And, with the high threat level in terms of our lives and our living, the need for certainty can be highly inflated.

Jesus had just told His disciples that they did not need to be troubled because He was going to prepare a place for them and would come and get them when it was ready.

“When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!””

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭3‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As we see, when Jesus tells them that they know the way to where He is going, Thomas contends that they do not know where He is going or the way to get where He is going. Jesus tells Thomas what we must all know: He is the way.

In our opening scripture we see the writer of Hebrews referencing the fact that Abraham went out on the word of the Lord, not knowing where he was going.

We read the story of Abraham leaving all that he had ever known to obey the Lord, and although we believe it to be true, we don’t fully appreciate the fact that Abraham was a real person with real needs just like our own.

Indeed, we read the end of Abraham’s story and can see how wonderfully he was used by God because of his faith. However, we must remind ourselves that Abraham had no idea how his story would turn out, no idea that he would ever be referenced as “the father of faith.” All he knew was that he was going to walk in obedience and follow the Lord.

A while back I asked the Lord where we are in the process of the miracle we call “Ararat Church.” His answer to me came through a sign He gave, clearly indicating that we are in “uncharted territory.” No story has been yet written; no plan has yet been divulged; we are just following Him.

Additionally, the Lord has hemmed us in to the point where it is very clear that our victory, our success, will be entirely a miracle from His hand, and, one that will be undeniably so.

Given, this can be unsettling if the rational mind is allowed to weigh in. However, I trust the Lord.

When we stepped out on the water with Jesus in the summer of 2019, we did not know we would be stepping out into the midst of a very stormy sea. But we are not on the stormy sea alone. We are with Him, and that is enough.

Let’s ask the Lord to forgive us for desiring a “game plan,” a map of where we are going.

Remember, He is the way, as well as the destination. He holds the whole world in His hands. Let’s trust Him, let’s make Him our plan!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#callforrepentance

#resolveforhim