| Many times when facing a situation I find myself saying, "Please dear Lord, help me to do this. Or help me to win this event, and I will do what you want me to do and give the victory to you." Or something similar to that. And when the Lord helps me to do the task at hand, I get excited, similar to the Israelites when they defeated King Arad of the Canaanite's in the Negev. But once that battle is over and honor has been given to God, how quickly I forget the glory of the Lord. I become irritable about the things that follow that have no excitement. I lose sight of the Lord and what He is doing in my life. Throughout life there always seems to be some kind of crossroad where we have to decide what we are doing everything for. When times are good, when times are bad, what are we really doing? Are we continuing along our walk with God or did we stray off the path somewhere because the choice to follow the Lord did not seem rewarding or too difficult to us at the time? When the Israelites spoke out against Moses, more importantly God, they lost their focus on what was important. The would've rather stayed in bondage and slavery because they felt that they were secure, even though they were not happy. But what they didn't see or know, like many of us, is that the prize in the end is well worth all the, seemingly, meaningless wandering. "God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because He doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change." 2 Peter 3:9. The Israelites gave up on God, thinking that they were brought out of slavery to die wandering around aimlessly in the desert. What they didn't remember was the promise that they would see the Promised Land if they had obeyed God. Unfortunately, they gave up hope and lost their faith because they lost their focus several times on the journey to the Promised Land and never got to see it. Everyday we have the opportunity to serve God in some way. Just like the Israelites had Moses as their guide, we have Jesus Christ as our guide. The Lord gave the Israelites many opportunities to repent and turn back to God, but every time they did, they wound up messing up again. So many times I can understand what the Israelites went through, struggling to stay on the path and for the most part blaming my stumblings on someone or something else rather than me. But we have to remember what Paul said in Romans concerning this, "You didn't think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because He's such a nice God, He'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but He's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly be the hand and leads us into a radical life-change. You're not getting by with anything. Every refusal and avoidance of God adds fuel to the fire. The day is coming when it's going to blaze hot and high, God's fiery and for those who work on God's side, but to those who insist on getting their own way and take the path of least resistance, Fire!" Romans 2:3~8. So, when it seems like we are wandering around aimlessly day by day, just going through life, just remember to, "Keep watch! I come unannounced, like a thief. You're blessed if, awake and dressed, you're ready for me. Too bad if you're found running through the streets, naked and ashamed." Revelation 16:15. Let us keep our focus on God each and everyday, He will provide for us all that we need and guide us to that Promised Land. |