Resilience

Jdg 3:3  He left the five Philistine tyrants, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the 
Hivites living on Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal Hermon to Hamath's Pass. 
Jdg 3:4  They were there to test Israel and see whether they would obey GOD's 
commands that were given to their parents through Moses. 

	At the birth of any project of lasting significance there is an intense 
requirement of tenacity, diligence, resilience, determination and fighting spirit on 
the part of all who would participate in its establishment. A promise and a reward 
won't be enough to subdue those standing in the way of possessing the land. There 
must be a willingness to forgo all personal interests for the sake of the common 
purpose of the organization as a whole. This warrior spirit is the one upon which the 
nation's greatness and its longevity are based. Without a willingness to go all the way 
to the death if necessary, there is no possibility that a single acre will be occupied or 
possessed. 
	In the case of Israel, those who had lived through the desert, learned the ways 
of war and used their skills to conquer the nations of their promise were the ones 
that made possible enjoyment of any abundance in the land. It was only by the 
sacrifice of those who would fall in war that a single Israelite could know the joy of 
God's fulfilled promise. 
	After all the conquering was accomplished, however, there was a loss of this 
startup intensity in those that were born into the new land. They were separated 
from the reality of what it took to possess it. Instead of recognizing the existence of 
surrounding nations as threatening to their own, they began to dwell with them, 
worshiping their gods, and fellowshipping with them instead of holding strong to the 
One that brought them. What they didn't know was that the surrounding nations 
were really allowed to exist for the purpose of testing Israel's true loyalty to their 
God. In this test they were failing tremendously, completely void of the warrior spirit 
that had driven their ancestors. 
	While there will be blessing and provision in the land of promise, there will 
always be a need for embracing the Source of life and recognizing opposition for 
what it is, a mere test of our devotion to the Master. Even living with the Prince of 
Peace there must be maintenance of battle skills, so that complacency and familiarity 
with the enemy won't bring vulnerability to his schemes. And the battle is really the 
same as the one Israel was losing- the battle for their hearts. Without a recognized 
enemy, there was no resistance and determination to press on and overcome his 
tactics. Without the same startup tenacity and resilience that had brought them to 
this place of blessing, there would be no possibility of remaining there. Only in 
exclusive devotion to God and diligence to obey His commands could there be a truly 
established nation of peace under God. 
	It seems like those who remain close to the side of the Master are ever in this 
state of pressing beyond the status quo. David seemed to have continual opposition 
through most of his life. Paul was surrounded with challenges to his loyalty, and yet 
maintained this intense focus upon the true prize of a higher calling that was set 
before him. He never considered that he had already attained anything at all, but was 
always pressing on past anything that would divert his attention from the One he had 
come to love. In holding on to this reward of unsurpassed value, power to overcome 
was found and joy's strength enabled a resilience that could not be known apart from 
Him.      
	The choice for another route will always remain as an option. Giving up for 
something that will apparently bring more immediate pleasure will never stop 
presenting itself. For the ones, though, who stay the course of intense God pursuit, 
there will be a place of significant and established security. There will never be 
failure by Him to satisfy with the wonder of His presence and the revelation of His 
glory. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow will provide the capacity to 
remain on course and arrive without regret and without shame. He will never leave 
and He'll never forsake those who keep Him as their Lord and follow His lead 
without diversion. Resilient, they'll ever be infused with startup power from on high.         

12/29/05