We share the faith God has given us, with such excitement, being we have such Good News! To share; hoping family will join in that faith, only to be left discouraged in the fact that they do not. And as a result, we become painfully aware of the need to change directions.
And so, we reach out to our church through teaching, so others can better receive what God has laid upon our heart to share; and our heart is aglow at the appearance of them receiving. However, as time passes, we begin to realize that that faith was not received either, as it did not produce fruit. And so, we watch and wait, with hopeful anticipation that ‘the faith they actually agreed to’ will come forth; until reality begins to set in ‘that there is no evidence of the seed of our faith multiplying’.
Next, we reach out to friends and hear them teaching the faith God has placed in our heart, and find joy; only later to discover they may have just been ‘nice to our face’. But in any event, they did not hear, read, or ‘take to heart’ such teachings. And so, we come to hope in the fact that, even when we can not reach them, God can (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). And that would be a Great Discovery! Except, when further observed, again, there is no evidence of application.
And so, once our love is spent and rejections experienced (and we, still, can not see anything to hope in), we believe in hope for the sake of hope; that there has to be hope, even if there is none (Romans 4:18). But eventually, not even that is enough, as we become so tormented (seeing needs and not having the power to help, Ecclesiastics 6:2) that God calls us away (Luke 14:23); to places (Hebrews 13:14) where sharing our faith is welcomed. And thus, we complete the cycle of the four score judgments as we await the fruition of God’s promises (Hebrews 11:10).
Never-the-less, that does not change what is in our heart (Proverbs 13:22a) toward those we love (Song of Solomon 8:7). But, a thousand years twice told is no better (Psalm 22:30). We reach out to them, again (Ezekiel 14:16), and again (Ezekiel 14:18), and again (Ezekiel 14:20); wherein hope revives and, then dies … until we can no longer believe in anything we see or hear as being real. It is then that we begin to see hope as nothing more than a cruel joke. And so, for no other reason than love, we stretch out our hand one last time (Isaiah 10:4), then give up the ghost and stop tilling the ground, and striving with man … and suffer the consequences.
Behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. Luke 1:20
And as a result, we are reminded that all lying spirits are devils and it is truth that sets us free, and is also the place where our faith is restored. And so, we seek truth to realize (and even be reminded) that there is no hope in man, that God can not lie, that He will move heaven and earth (if that is what it takes) to do what He said He would do, that God always keeps His word, His promises are true, and that He will always do the most loving thing possible; wherein we return to a pure faith, one that overcomes the world.
“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” (Psalm 127:2)
“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
“The creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope.” (Romans 8:20)
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Hebrews 2:9)
“And when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54)
© 2008 by Joyce C. Lock
KJV http://iam.homewithGod.com/glimpsesofgod/ This article may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact, for non-profit ministering purposes.