What do you want in life? What does your heart truly desire? Are you willing to pay the price?
“And when the man found the treasure in the field, he sold all that he had and bought that field.” (Matt. 13:44-46)
We have entered a window of time. Hearts are going to be tested. One might say they already are, but I believe the greater tests are yet to come.
We are entering a new world, things will not be the same. Are you ready for life in hyper-drive? You thought things were fast and hectic before? Have you enjoyed your slow down? This one was forced on us. What have you done with it? How have you spent it? Have you discovered the beauty of slowing down and hearing God, or are you anxious to race back into the world and all it has to offer?
COVID 19 has been a fork in the road forced on us. But there are more forks coming that we will choose of our own free will. And what will we choose?
I’ve always been one to enjoy the quiet places with God, such as sitting under the beautiful willow. During this time I have been able to enjoy even more of what I treasure. God has purposed it for me, whatever my calling is, that in this time I’m almost 65, in the danger zone, but I’m also retired! I’m able to stay in this quiet if I choose, for a purpose, a purpose God has set.
I was working part-time when all this erupted. My wife and I have talked and she agrees I’m meant to focus totally on remodeling this old house into the House Church I believe God has tasked me with. There is also much reading, writing, study, and prayer I need to do. We want to be part of God’s current fresh move. There is a new wine skin, but… EVERY PATH HAS ITS’ PRICE.
What are you working hard every day to pay the price for? Someone once said, show me what a person spends their money on and I’ll show you what they love. God has so much he is offering mankind, but those unwilling to pay a price he will deny. God intentionally designed it that way.
God has offered most of his treasures only to those willing to climb a mountain, or seek training, mastery, discipleship. He does not offer his treasures to the complacent, the lazy, those who have no fire, no desire for HIM. You will not accidentally stumble into the treasures of God, or win them by scratching a lottery ticket. And some of us thrive on that! We love it that way! God designed us that way! And Hollywood knows it! They make many movies of it in one form or another. It’s a plot line that’s always a winner.
I watched a movie last night called: “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”. It’s a Walt Disney show. I’m always looking for movies that parallel reality in an imaginative way to inspire us to see the reality it parallels. I really enjoyed this movie because you have a master sorcerer trained by Merlin himself. (Please know I’m not recommending sorcery! I want you to see what God offers that the world is always trying to create counterfeit imitations of. If we can take the “desire” the world is so good at creating, and apply it to God’s reality, it can be powerful!) Jesus said if his people did not praise him in spirit and truth, then the rocks would cry out. I have found many rocks singing these days.
So this master sorcerer paid a price, (of course), to gain such mastery. Through discipline, love for Merlin, dedication to the art, self-sacrifice, study of ancient writings, etc, he has entered a world few others know. Now this master sorcerer takes on an apprentice to train in these same arts, but does the apprentice really want it? There are no short cuts the teacher truthfully declares.
At first the student doesn’t want it. Then he gets a taste of it and decides he does. He asks the sorcerer to teach him more, to train him, disciple him, into this bigger world and this different way of living, but is he really ready to pay the price to walk this path? The master sorcerer expects him to pay the same price he had to. There are no short cuts or easy paths up the highest mountains.
I must admit, I have a weakness for such shows, and the world loves them too. They have a multitude of forms. “Ramen Girl” is such a show. “Whale Rider”, Karate Kid, King Arthur, so many movies based on this God-given desire to seek a thing and achieve a level of mastery. But what will you choose in this coming new world?
We are entering a new reality. The gates are starting to open and we do not know exactly what to expect, but change has come! In all this change, in what the new world will offer, how many will still choose God, his Presence and his ways as their treasure? How many prodigals have come back to the Father’s House to stay in the “old man’s” “old ways”? And how many are about to rush right back out into the world for all they can grab? It will be interesting to watch.
I spend a lot of time in this room of mine, pondering, watching, praying, and seeking to read the tea leaves. It just seems to be my nature. I hope I’ve given you something to think about today. I pray a fire burns in you towards God. Let that fire grow! Let it warm your bones and your heart to climb whatever mountain there be into the strong Presence of God, and let us be real medicine men in the earth offering the healing leaves of God!
On that note: I heard on news that the demand for anti-anxiety meds have spiked by something like 34%! People don’t like to admit it, but there is always a real need for real medicine men walking in the anti-anxiety message of God! But you must be REAL! The world doesn’t need Christians using worldly methods. They can get that from the world. The world still wants to know if God is REAL. We must be REAL if we expect to make any REAL difference in this coming new world. Are you called to be such a one?
“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” (Ist Cor. 9:25)
Path Without End 