End Time Ministries

Whenever going on a trip, my wife packs things that are expected to be potentially needed during the trip. I also try to make sure we have the "guy" stuff like tools and fluids for the vehicle. There is always some question as to what to keep with us, and what to leave behind. Life is a trip. Life in Jesus Christ is the ultimate trip. When we begin this trip, we usually bring along things that are later discarded. We also don't have everything that will be needed for the trip, and because of this God provides the right things along the way at the right times. Always we are faced with what to keep, and what to leave behind. When we come to the new places of understanding or experience, often that which is new presents a challange, especially when that which we have held dear for a long time becomes something that we must leave behind. My father once gave me a slide rule (he was an engineer). The slide rule was a tool that you could use to calculate cubic measures such as the volume of cement needed to pour a driveway. The modern calculators now do the job sliderules once did, and few are left that even know how to use a sliderule, even if they have one. The church in pressing forward to the kingdom that Jesus preached has accumulated some things that are no longer functional nor useful, the inferior being superseded by that which is more excellent. This has presented for many of us a dilemma, especially when the former that we hold quite dear is now potentially that which must be left behind. How do we proceed with dignity and respect while effectively and decisively obeying God? Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.Gen 12:1-3 (KJV) When the Lord calls us, He has in mind blessing. He has a plan that is so vast and long term that though we are confident that God can do anything our faith is tested with the idea that God wants to do this great thing through us. We are often attacked with thoughts that rise from our hearts of our own unworthiness, the enemy desiring to derail us through our dismissing of ourselves as being unnecessary to God's plan. If this doesn't work, often there is the polar opposite attack of our being some great one because God has promised and gifted us such and such. The ego issue is one of the things that we must leave behind. To obey God, one must simply do what God says to do.

Dear Matt: Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences imn God's Word on this site. It will be read my many throughout the world. Jesus said that the one who takes his plow and looks back is not worthy of the Kingdon of God. It is hard to walk forward when looking behind oneself. I agree, we have to be open to moving forard in the plan of God for our lives without holding and looking back to the past....no matter how good it was. Too many people today are still running on the fumes of yesterday's blessings when in reality they need a new tank of gas.

May the Lord bless you and thanks for sharing.

Mischa