“These things I have spoken unto you, that
in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of
good cheer;
I have
overcome the world.”
~ John 16:33 ~
So many times life is about “getting ahead, staying on
time, being on schedule” or meeting this or that deadline, yet we never seem to
accomplish all that we want to. Days past and moments fly, friends and even
family members grow more and more distant while others even pass away. Life
seems to be at best a fleeting vapor that appears on the horizon for just a
moment and then vanishes away never to return.
When all is said in done and we look back on our “great
accomplishments” in life, deep down in our heart we still will find that gnawing
loneliness, hurt and pain that has always been there and continues to remain,
while our efforts of “doing things” seem to have made it even worse. As
eternity draws closer and the books will be opened to judge the living and the
dead, will it be said of you, “Well done, thou
good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I
will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
or will the Master Creator of the universe declare to you “I never knew (ginosko) you: depart
from me, ye that work iniquity” (Mat.25:21, 7:23). Do you truly
know (ginosko; not intellectual
knowledge, but experiential) the Lord and if you do, are you walking in
submission to His eternal will that He purposed before the foundation of the
world?
As I have had the amazing opportunity to study and work
on campus at IMI over the last month and a half, questions like these have
stirred my heart as I have pressed in to know the Lord more intimately. The
question really is not whether “I know the Lord”, but instead “does HE KNOW ME”. Have I come to him on my terms or have a
humbled myself and become obedient unto the death of my mind, will and
emotions?
I am finding more and more that my goals, ambitions,
desires and plans are worth nothing if they have not been birthed from the
intimacy of God knowing me. God
comes to me on His terms and not mine, with His mind and not mine and to
accomplish His will and not mine. If I desire the Lord to know me I must be
emptied of myself and receive His mind.
God is so good and has SO much more in mind than what I
could ever imagine. His plans, ways and thoughts are not mine therefore I must
daily submit to the will of His Word in my life by receiving, with meekness,
the engrafted Word which is able to save my soul (James 1:21). I only look
forward to what the Lord has for me this coming semester (August 24th
– November 14th , 2014) at IMI and am purposefully waiting upon Him
to direct, guide and lead me into HIS perfect WILL of being conformed into the
image of His Son, Jesus Christ.
God bless you all…ABIDE!
Here are some pictures that the Lord has let me capture here in the Hill Country of Texas, I hope they are a blessing to you!
