2 Peter 3:3 knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, 4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (ASV)

So often the very thing that is part of and essential to the solution is seen as a detractor or reason to disbelieve. Rather than embracing it, there is an offense to it and ultimately rejection of the very thing that could have brought deliverance and safety.

Not only did Noah get to work on the seemingly endless ‘arc project’, but he was constantly taunted by those who saw each passing day as further reason to disbelieve. For him, though, there was great appreciation for each moment of the 120 years it took to build it. Rather than getting frustrated with how long it was taking and doubting, he understood the magnitude of the project and how necessary was every day in the construction process. Without the length of time, there would be no salvation for him and his family.

When Jacob set his heart on acquiring Rachel, every day of the seven years he worked to get her was well worth the promised reward. Then, when tricked and required to work an additional 7 years, he continued to value whatever it would take to have Rachel as his wife. If he would have given in to doubt that he would ever be with her, each passing day would have just been an added agitation, but for him it was seen as bringing him that much closer to his prize. Every day of hard work became a reason to be encouraged and glad rather than depressed and overwhelmed with doubt. By valuing the very thing that was bringing him nearer to his heart’s passion, he allowed it to fulfill its function and produce the treasure of life.

The greatest things in life often have the longest wait and the hardest work that precede their acquisition. It would be so wonderful to become a real doctor or lawyer by just filling in a form online, but if you really want to help someone and bring answers to needy people it will require at least 8 years of difficult formal study along with ongoing education for life. The musician and the athlete, no matter how talented will have to endure long years of study and practice, each day of which is essential to the level of excellence that will make them a success. Those few who embrace this process rather than let it become a reason to doubt are the very ones who will know the fulfillment of their heart’s desire.

There may be taunting voices that are heard as the sun rises on another day that is part of the acquiring process. They may be reminding you that here again is reason to doubt the validity of the prize, that surely if it were coming it would have already arrived. How tragic it would have been for mankind, though, if Noah would have given up the day before the first rain drop, and Jacob’s impatience could have altered the very lineage of Jesus, the Messiah. Their appreciation of the process brought salvation not only to them, but to countless others who would benefit from their persistence. Keeping the eye on the prize through whatever it will take to obtain it will disable the power of the voices and bring salvation ever nearer with the passing of each treasured moment.

Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

8 I have set Jehovah always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; My flesh also shall dwell in safety.
Psalms 16:8-9 (ASV)

What an incredibly powerful thing to do- set the Creator of the Universe in a position of constant awareness at the most-used side, the right side. I love the confidence, boldness and almost arrogance that is used in this statement, that he has placed Jehovah, as if this were something he could actually do with someone so powerful and mighty. Yet, in this simple act of intimacy with his God, there is a strength gained against the tendencies and temptations of the flesh that would otherwise lead it to places of failure and danger. Though Jehovah is really there already and without need of physical placement, until this positioning takes place in the heart of the worshiper, the power of His presence is of no effect. Until He, by the psalmist, is given the place of prominence in his sight, there can be no expectation of security and victory, and the heart is made to be vulnerable to threats of sorrow and depression. For every encounter with danger or uncertainty, however, that has Jehovah placed clearly before and to the strong side, there is an overwhelming sense of gladness and rejoicing in the knowledge that the flesh will not be overcome either by the physical threats of outside attacks or the inner failures of its own weaknesses.

As wonderful is this opportunity and as simple is the application of this principle, the overwhelming tendency is to let other personalities and entities slip in between and gain the focus and recognition above that of Jehovah. All too often there is a frustration and dislodged peace due to the simple lack of Jehovah placement. His faithfulness to impact and transform with life changing righteousness is never failing, but for all His ability to be the key ingredient to a rejoicing and glad life, His placement in our hearts will always be left up to us. Although He has abundance of life and peace just waiting for our move, He will never impose Himself over those other temporary and insignificant elements that we may be continually placing in priority over Him.

So many are waiting for the incredible and the miraculous to somehow flood in to overwhelm with imposing power, but in reality everything that could ever fulfill and satisfy is more than available right here and right now in the simple prominent placement of Jehovah. He sets before us life and death and then compels us to choose life in the choice of His face and His heart above all others. It’s all available right here and right now and will be included in the wake of the heart that is set to seek His face.

8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
Psalms 27:8 (KJV)

Luke 9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

Ok, the ultimate reality show- To Lose A Life- where everybody, the world over, is playing and the winners are only the ones who successfully lose their life. Maybe a bit like ‘The Truman Show’, where Jim Carry’s character is born into a controlled environment in which he is watched by the world from birth and through all the significant events of his life. Although his life is livable, he never really discovers who he really is until he loses that old life. He gets in a boat to somehow depart from his old life and, to the point of perishing in a manufactured storm, is more willing to die than to continue without knowing whom he really is. Although he was living what many might consider to be an acceptable life, he couldn’t ever really win until he lost that life.

From the time we enter the world there is an environment around us that can define and confine us. Although the whole world isn’t necessarily watching on television, they are watching with every encounter, as the person we present to them is one that has been formed by the influence of family, friends and society. What they see may be suitable and livable. It also may be something that is shameful and with little reason for acceptance. Either way, there is a reality show for every living person that only allows progress to the next round of progress and fulfillment in the loss of life. The infant moves from milk-only to an unending menu of food consumption. He/she then moves from the comfort of all-four-on-the-floor to standing upright and moving with much more agility and speed. There’s the first day at school, where the comforts of home are left for an environment of intellectual and social discovery. With maturity, the home is again left along with its sense of entitlement and protection for the world of independently discovering an occupation, an abode, and relationships.

There is for everyone a discovery waiting for the one who will resolutely set sail for that place completely beyond the shores of this life’s contrived culture. While there is a wonderful introduction to the Lord of that new realm, to really make it to the revelation of who we are in Him, it will require braving a life-threatening storm with an attitude of, “I’ll let that old man die in order to really find out who I am in Him”. Every time that old life is lost, however, there is a victory won in the reality show of ‘To Lose A Life’, and Christ’s life is presented to the world in a vessel that has become available to Him. Where He is seen there is then an opportunity for another one to realize that this life on earth isn’t all there is. There’s something of great significance waiting beyond this old life. In Him, the old passes a way and all things are new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Genesis 4:26… At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.

A bit random, coming at the end of a chapter and in the same paragraph where it talks about the birth of Adam’s son, Seth. It’s sort of like- ‘and, uh, I forgot to mention that men began calling on the name of the Lord.’ What is very interesting, though, is that this is the last statement before one of those favorite parts of the Bible for all of us- some of the ‘begats’. But, these ‘begats’ have a little different form to them- they state the age of the participants, how long they lived before they begat their son, the years after that before they died, and their total age. My quick research shows that this is the only set of ‘begats’ that reveal this information for all involved. The reason, though, might be that all of these guys lived to be more than 700 years old, all except for Enoch, who didn’t really die, just went on up. Though the correlation isn’t actually declared, the placement of the ‘called’ statement right before the genealogy could very well be seen as a demonstration of what happened to those men who began calling on the name of the Lord.

The other element of this that inspires another ‘hmmmmm?’ is that they were calling, but I’m sure without the great volume of worship resources that are available to us today. They didn’t have hymns and the latest worship cds. They couldn’t go online and stream sermons from the most eloquent and inspiring ministers around the world. They didn’t even have scriptures that they could hide in their heart and keep them from going the way of Cain. All they must have known was to simply call, without scriptural correctness and musical preparation. All of that stuff must not have been necessary, though, for their calling to be effective and powerful. Theirs was a relationship with God that was pure and without pretense, but filled with an awareness of what happens to those who, like Adam and Cain, choose to fall out of worship and act as if God isn’t there. Theirs was a direct one-on- one that touched every part of their body with significance and longevity.

There are these little commercials that are used at the beginning of movies to impress the power of a telephone call and how important it is to silence your phone. I believe this section of ‘begats’ is like those, but with a reverse purpose. There is power in the call to bring a long, long life of abundant fellowship with God. Too many lines of communication have lost signal (or never found it) and reduced the impact of the call’s incredible power to bring life. Rather than silencing our phones, there is a great need to have them charged, on the high level, and filled with God’s ids for quick calling. Might not make it past 100, but there is promise of greatly enhanced and extended life of salvation and wholeness for all who will, like those early men, begin simply calling on the name of the Lord.

Matthew 16:24-26 ASV
(24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
(25) For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.
(26) For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?

So it really comes down to what you’re looking for. If you’re looking to get a bunch of junk, then you’re going to end up not only losing all of it, but also your very life. If, on the other hand, you’re looking to lose all of it, including your life, then you’ll end up with a life that eternally lacks for nothing. Looking to lose ends up with discover, while looking to get ends up with the loss of all. Huh?

I don’t know about you, but for me this is most challenging to the natural mind. We’re programmed to think that you have to pursue your goals, and the higher levels of achievement are directly connected to how much stuff you have. All this stuff, in turn, is a direct indicator of just how well you did at seeking those things that now define your success. To not be driven to the stuff-search is to be slothful and without expectation of anything profitable, and there can be no hope of an enjoyable life without seeking it.

There is, indeed, a necessity for diligence and hard work, but until the purpose and the drive that motivates it is given validity and true purpose in kingdom value, any stuff gained will be just like dried grass on a campfire– it may blaze bright for a few moments, but it will quickly die out with no real or lasting contribution to the fire’s purpose. It’s not that we’re supposed to be void of any drive for achievement, but with Jesus there is a motivation found for excellence in all things as each one of those things becomess a means of glorifying God instead of self. There is an endless supply of fuel for our drive’s purpose, the ultimate fire log, just waiting for discovery in the pursuit of the kingdom over any flash of self. Looking to lose one’s self in the quest for this greater treasure will result in so much more than anything self alone could ever attain. Looking to lose, then, must be the drive of the day, as worship of the King brings validity and value to every moment with unlimited expectation and hope, while the search for any other promises the loss of all.

Ephesians 3:16-18 ASV(16)  that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;(17)  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,(18)  may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

There is this resident motivation within the heart of every living human being to accomplish, to succeed and to apprehend. When this motivation is activated and in motion, it has an effect of apprehending, where that thing that is desired is being possessed and acquired. As this takes place in sports, in business and in families, there is a strong passion oc vision that will cause individuals to do whatever it takes to be the best and rise to the top. When you read about the lives of men like Thomas Edison, Michael Jordan, Abraham Lincoln and Jesus Christ, you recognize in them this same drive that alters choices and directs paths towards what may otherwise look impossible or at least implausible. Not only is there a focus on a prize or goal, but everything else is given lesser priority as the necessary steps to gaining that thing are taken without regard for personal sacrifice or loss.

This drive is something that is different in each individual as talents and gifts go hand in hand with drive to succeed. However, there is a common potential in each and every being that has entered into relationship with their Maker. To ever live to the fullness of their potential there will have to be a giving up of personal drives and passions for the drive of the Spirit that will empower, strengthen, inspire and motivate. While many may find themselves in a state of passivity where life is just happening to them, there is, for each of us, a potential pledge and pursuit of excellence and fulfilled dreams in Him. This was the prayer of Paul on a continual basis for those who had discovered life in Christ. More than anything else He desired for their worship to take them to the place of unhindered and unrestrained drive for the fullness of life in Christ. The more their hearts were given in love to Jesus, the more strong would be their determination and drive to apprehend all that is theirs in Him.

There is this incredible potential in worship today for Paul’s prayer to be fulfilled in us as we become driven to do whatever it takes to acquire all that is provided for us in Christ. Whatever it takes will be more than worth it.

Joshua 14:10-15 KJV
(10)  And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.
(11)  As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
(12)  Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.
(13)  And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
(14)  Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.

And it wasn’t like he was just sitting back in sweet repose this whole time. No, this was a man who, at forty, chose to go completely against popular opinion and actually believe the promise of God – that he would possess the land he went to spy out. Then, after outliving all the unbelievers in the in the ultimate survival of the wilderness, he was right in the middle of the battles for occupation. And finally, while many of the ‘athletes’ half his age were having knee problems and other ailments of activity and conflicts, he was no less functional or powerful at 85, and ready to take personal possession of his real estate inheritance.

A few things came to mind while reading about Caleb this morning: While first in line for the trusting game, he was dead last for the whining and complaining game; His ability to eventually qualify for the land was completely dependent upon what he did in the mean time, otherwise he would have died off or have been so stowed up he could never enjoyed it at all; Because he wholly followed the Lord it directly affected the discipline of his lifestyle and the maintenance of his health- it wasn’t just by the Spirit that he was still strong, but also by the exercise, diet and care applied to his God-given body; Though not in possession of any landscape for those forty five years, he was in continual possession of a promise that would sustain and preserve him more than any other- His relationship and nearness to His God; And finally, what would have happened even after all those years had he not reminded God of His promise, as it wasn’t until he placed his claim that he possessed it?

To come into a relationship with God is to come into a realm of promise that is not without its share of unpopularity, wilderness, opposition, and passage of time. Not one of us is without an assurance of not only a heavenly possession, but also victory, provision and possession here on this earth. So much of our ability to actually and eventually enjoy much of what is ours, though, has everything to do with what we’re doing with the promise of His presence right here and right now, and how it is affecting our life discipline and character. Where there is true belief and trust, there is an ability to act as if it is already done and the identity of the ‘owner’ is who we are long before the claim is made for the land. The body and existing possessions are treated with the honor and appreciation of a treasured gift just as significant as any other to come, while potential discouragements and setbacks are hardly even noticed compared to the largeness of the existing yet to be seen promise. For the one who hast chosen to cast the care of the wilderness and opposition upon the One who is their continual possession there will be the capacity to possess with joy and health the fullness of all that is rightfully theirs at the appointed time and when they so choose. Every moment to that point, though, will be filled with the contentment of one who has wholly followed in unwavering strength and confidence.

Isaiah 49:15 NIV “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
49:16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.

Really from the moment of conception, but especially from the time the tiny little human being begins kicking and moving around, there is this magic that begins to take place between a mother and her child. Whether or not this completely dependent life makes it through the full nine months to successful delivery, the mother’s dna is directly linked to that of this child inside. The child’s existence and identity are clearly written in the mother’s dna fingerprint in such a way that they can never be removed. While others may easily forget the name and nature of the child she bears, it will hardly be that she could ever forget someone so dependent and so directly related and identified with her. If she were ever to attempt denial, irrefutable evidence will forever be readily available to clearly state otherwise. No matter how many children may be planted in her womb, there will be this connection with each, as her very nature and being is directly imparted equally and uniquely to every one of them. And, with this connection is a caring compassion that will ever be a part of the mother’s heart to provide, protect, nourish, and love this precious part of her own body, her very existence.

As there is this physical and emotional bond that clearly exists between a mother and her child, so, in a far greater way there is this connection to the One who knew us even before we were conceived. (Jeremiah 1:5) As His offspring, as the result of what He has conceived of and brought into existence, we are much more than just independent creatures, somehow attempting to make it through life on our own. We have this direct connection to God that touches every part of our being with the dna of heaven, the very life of Christ that can never be removed or taken away. Though we may not choose to abide in His house at various times in our existence, wherever we go we take with us the imprint of His life and His nature in the very core of our being. There is also a part of us that is forever a part of Him and His glory. We have been ‘engraved on the palms of His hands’ and in His greatness He takes with Him every one of His offspring to display wherever His hand is lifted and wherever His greatness is expressed. If a mother is forever touched with an unforgettable compassion for her child, so God is touched in a far greater way with a desire to provide and care for us as His very own. And, if ever the mother’s memory could fade and her compassion wane, the connection to us from the heart of our heavenly Father would remain unchanged in its intimate motivation. He cannot and will not ever be separated from each of those that occupy His heart of love.

We will forever have our Father’s fingerprints not just on us, but in us and a part of us. Likewise, He will forever have us on His hands as a part of who He is. At which time there is a question of our identity and worth, at the point when we seem to be forgotten and insignificant, and at the time in which everything we’re attempting and setting our hand to is unnoticed, in our relationship with our Father, we can be assured that He not only will never forget, but He will ever be driven by an incredible passion to insure that His child is completely cared for. This, coming from the Creator of the universe, is something in which to take a great deal of comfort.

Isaiah 49:1-2 KJV
(1) Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
(2) And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

Psa 14:1  <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Hearts talk and what they have to say is of such greater significance than the mere babblings of any mouth. What they declare and define for the life they possess is central to any good that life might produce, and before anything having to do with wisdom can come from the efforts of a person, the heart will have to have spoken one specific thing with clarity and conviction- “There is a God”. But, this cannot just be an acknowledgement of common truth; this is a statement that can only be spoken from an experience, from actually having been there with God. It’s one of those “I guess you had to be there” instances, where words or facts alone aren’t sufficient.

The problem here is that we’re talking about a heart, something that is incredibly affected by so many different influences. It is vulnerable to what comes to it through the channel of the mind, where knowledge of natural things comes barging in on a continual basis. So many times this ‘mind’ knowledge actually leads the heart in a direction away from its knowledge of God as science, current events, and philosophy impress it with this sense of independence and self sufficiency. How can it honestly declare its awareness of an all powerful God, when it is so full of natural things that cause it to be puffed up and proud? How can it have the occasion to be occupied in the least with noticing God’s existence when completely ensconced in facts, persuasions and arguments that would indicate otherwise, that somehow all this magnificent creation and world around us is the result of some accidental and very well-placed ‘boom’?

The heart is also potentially led away by the emotional experiences that come to it by way of relationships, passions, dreams and expectations. Disappointment, infatuation, rejection, disillusionment, fear, etc. can put a wall of ‘God-defense’ around a heart, disallowing any opportunity for the most eternal relationship, passion, dream and expectation to be nurtured and cultivated in the presence of God. A desire to ‘feel the feeling’ and ‘ride the ride’ can lead the heart down rabbit trails of physical and substance abuse that lead to insignificant and meaningless destinations somewhere far away from the ‘Feeling’ and ‘Ride’ that is just waiting to reveal how insignificant those others are in comparison. Misrepresentations of God by those who’s mouths have claimed to know Him have dislodged any positive impression of what it might really be like to be near Him, and the part of the heart that is most needing to be filled with joyful and fulfilling God life is being kept empty and desolate by so many emotional sentries standing guard at every opening. Even for those hearts that have at one time opened up to His knocking, there is always a line of faithful diversionary agents waiting to separate and block God’s nearness once again.
 
Whenever true knowledge of God’s goodness is presented to a heart, though, there is an opportunity for it to begin making declarations through every part of its existence that there really is a God who has not only been observed, but experienced.  People are destroyed (Isaiah 5:13, Jeremiah 4:22, Hosea 4:6) not for a lack of knowing anything at all, but for being kept by so many other experiences, facts, impressions and sometimes just ‘never-being-told’ from having a true knowledge of God. Those ways chosen that only lead to death and destruction are very clear communication by a heart that it is in full denial of God’s existence for whatever reason. The heart that has become personally convinced of God’s existence, however, will begin to follow a script of righteousness, verifying the validity of any mouthed words and leading to a healthy life of fulfillment and blessing. To really know Him is to walk in His ways and depart completely from the way of the fool. Where once God knowledge had been refused entrance by sentries of doubt, those once disabling tidbits will be expelled and denied reentry by the persuasion that will despise all others.

Today each heart will make a statement. It will speak of just how deeply it is convinced of God’s existence through words spoken and by every way chosen. These declarations will be direct indications of how close the heart has been to the Righteous One and how impressed it has been with Him. And, ultimately there will be a claim made by the heart’s statements that either, “I am fool”, or “I am a child of the living and ever-present God”. The heart talks. What will it say?

Mark1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else–to the nearby villages–so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

There was such a great opportunity here to capitalize on the rising tide of enthusiasm that was already following Jesus. What great expectancy and acceptance awaited him back among the fawning followers that were seeking him out?

It’s interesting, though, that Jesus, having spent some quality personal time with His Father, knew his purpose had nothing to do with following the will of the people. To have been led by the whims and calls of those who were ‘looking for’ Him would have taken him away from his purpose instead of towards it. There would be times when He would know incredible popularity with thousands wanting to hang out with Him so badly they even forgot to bring a lunch. To have let this fame define Him, however, would have let who He really was and what He really was about become completely distorted. While His name and His words would become the most used and well known across the whole globe, seeking out how to make this happen would never drive Him in His day to day choices. The only direction He could go and the only vision He could fulfill would be the one acquired in His Father’s presence rather than in the presence of adoring fans. While it may have seemed a bit rude and though it may have been said that He made a strategic marketing blunder, Jesus was about His Father’s business alone, and in this case it was in a completely different direction than that of adoring fans.

There is direction for today and a fulfilled purpose to accomplish. Before the voices begin to call out, though, and before other forces start to press and pull and push, there is a solitary place we can go where the single voice of our Father will speak to us, revealing and reminding us of the way that is His way. In this quiet, secret place His still small voice will be audible, providing the knowledge of His will for our lives. The lure and attraction of popularity and fame will always lead to ultimate discouragement, disappointment and failure, while the way of God’s righteousness will be that of fulfilled purpose and a satisfied life. Though His way may lead through times of loneliness in the wilderness, it will never be without the provision and care of the One who knows exactly what we have need of and what will produce through us His perfect will.

Where Jesus was from determined where He went and what He did, and the inspiration for His forward vision came directly from His Father rather than any earthly considerations. The same resource of the Father’s presence and wisdom is available to any that will but steal away to Him today. Abiding there in Him will produce the confidence and boldness to take the steps and direction that may defy earthly reason and conventional wisdom, but will, without fail, take us to that perfect place where our heart of hearts will be more than fulfilled and cared for in Him.