The
Children of Israel, even after they had crossed the Red Sea, suffered greatly
from serious paralysis. They had in the course of 430 years nurtured a culture
of fear that would follow them throughout their journey through the desert.
Having lived that long in camps, they had unfortunately developed a mindset of
the slave camps in Egypt. They claimed at the onset of difficulties to prefer
the slave camps to their hard-earned freedom. “Was it because there were no
graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to
us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone
let us serve the Egyptians.’ It would have been better to serve the Egyptians
than to die in the desert.” (Exodus 14:11-12)
God
had chosen the safest exit – though there was a shorter route --for them and
yet they were up in arms against Moses. God knew “If they face war, they might
change their minds and return to Egypt.” (Exodus 13:17b)
The
year 2020 cannot in any way resemble 2019. What would be your outlook to the
difficulties you will encounter on the way? Would you think God unfair with you
by making you go through intolerable situations? Just remember that whenever
you go through the fire it is to refine you. God will put us through the test
to see how resistant we would be or He would allow certain circumstance simply
to test our loyalty.
God
tested Job whom He characterised thus to Satan: “Have you considered my servant
Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who
fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:8) After all the afflictions Job suffered in
the hands of Satan, he concluded: “But He knows the way that I take; “When He
has tested me I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10) Job passed the test
because of his resilient faith. He never lost hope that God who is a God of
justice won’t do what is right. “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him.”
(Job 13:15)
Father
Abraham was equally tested when God ordered him: “Take your son, your only son,
Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a
burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” (Genesis 22:2)
In total obedience, Abraham left “early the next morning” in compliance with
God’s instructions. Abraham never questioned God’s motives. God never promised
our journey would be obstacle-free. No! What He guaranteed was that he would
never leave us nor forsake us.
And so God is saying to you this 2020, “Fear
not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine. When
you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the
rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will
not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”(Isaiah 43:1b-2) The storms
will come as part of the challenges of life but stand on the promises of God to
defeat them.
Satan
will not relent in his bid to afflict and frustrate you because he would have
seen your future glorious. Do not let him; invite the Lord Jesus to fight on
your behalf. For His name is exalted. God has given Him “... the name that is
above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven
and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 3:9-11)
The
Lord Jesus teaches us to exercise our faith in the face of adversity. “Have
faith in God. For verily I say unto you that whosoever shall say to this
mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in
his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to
pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith [says].” (Mark 11-22-23)
New
approach, new outlook
Begin
to look at life with your bi-focal lenses which allow one to see things in two
dimensions – the natural and the supernatural. Indeed, we live in a natural
world where the spirit takes the upper hand in determining the way things move.
Aligning ourselves with our spirit man is the first step to consciousness of
the role we should play in the spiritual realm. The spiritual world commands
what happens in the natural world. What you bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven. Our Lord Jesus directed these words to the apostle Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of
heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you
loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)
What
are we waiting for? God has put in our hands the wherewithal – that is, what it
takes – to effect a change in our circumstances. God has a reputation to keep.
His word in our mouth is flawless. (2 Samuel 22:321) This New Year, take a new approach to life.
Be ready to fly like an eagle, unrestricted under the watchful eye of the Lord.
Stop coasting with chicks when you are an eagle. Be a champion, like
David.
Step into the unknown, conscious of the fact that you are not alone.
Stop
worrying, let Jesus do the worrying for you. “Who of you by worrying can add a
single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:27) Think big so that when it happens you
know it is not you, but God who did it. Your heavenly Father knows what you
need. (Matthew 6:32) “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will
worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)
Quit
self-centeredness, serve rather than be served. Jesus stated: “I am among you
as one who serves.” (Luke 22:27)
