In My Lifetime

"The word of the Lord you have spoken is good, " Hezekiah replied. For he thought, "There will be peace and security in my lifetime." - Isaiah 39:8 Let's work our way backwards from here. King Hezekiah had become deathly ill.  The prophet Isaiah, acting on the word of the Lord, told the king to put his house in order because he was going to die.  A despairing king seeks the Lord with tears and gets an answer few could hope for: an additional 15 years added to his life.  Not a bad deal.

The truth is, all of Hezekiah's previous years were just as much a gift from God as those bonus 15 years which God subsequently gave him.  The pressing question is, What will I do with the years of my youthful vigor when I don't feel a sense of urgency to do something for God?  Those years are a gift from His hand (By the way, I'm afraid I've used up most of them!).  To put it another way, How will I steward my time and resources when death is not staring me in the face and I feel like I have all the time in the world?

A dear colleague of mine just passed from this earthly life to his eternal home at the age of 51. That's only 5 years my senior!  And let's face it.  Most of us will never succeed in persuading God to give us an additional 15 years!

Ok, enough about death.  Let's talk about life, abundant and eternal, without end.  If you haven't heard, Jesus is the source of this life and gives freely to all who come to him.

When Hezekiah received his new lease on life, the first thing he did was worship.  We might call this a song or a poem dedicated to the Giver of Life.  How are you doing when it comes to thanking God creatively and continually in the moments, days, months and years He's given you?  What could a "thank you" to God look like for you right now?  Personally, I've noticed some room for improvement in this area of my life.

The next thing Hezekiah did following his recovery is not as impressive.  In fact, it greatly displeased God.  He flaunted the riches of his kingdom to some visiting representatives of the king of Babylon.   He sought to impress and draw attention to himself rather than give glory to God.  The consequence?  God kept his original promise of 15 years for Hezekiah. He is faithful.  However, the descendants of the king would not have it so good.  They would be plundered and made slaves to the king of Babylon.  Hezekiah's response?  To paraphrase Isaiah 39:8, "As long as God's word has no immediate impact on me, I could care less."

Ouch!  From gratitude to indifference in such a short amount of time! But let's face it.  We've all been where Hezekiah has been.  The contrast may not be as sharp, but nonetheless just as real.  Gratitude to indifference.  Feeling blessed to feeling the victim.  Taking great care to caring less.

All of this begs the question, Is it enough to have "peace and security" in one's lifetime, or is there a greater cause which demands a new motto? Did God spare Hezekiah not only for his sake but for the sake of others- descendants that he would never see?  Does God save us for certain causes which we cannot physically embrace this side of heaven and yet are no less important than the here and now?... Descendants who live and love even better than we do. Children and grandchildren who do great things for God.  A legacy passed down to our great, great, great grandchildren.  Yes, I believe my life can and should praise God beyond my death.   And I believe the scriptures encourage us to live in such a way that causes a testimony to ring out long after we're dead and gone.

For me, peace and security in my lifetime just doesn't do the trick.  I need a new motto.  Anyone out there have a catchy one you'd be willing to share?

Led by the Spirit...Into the Desert

I love the idea of being led by the Spirit into green pastures and quiet waters. These are moments when I experience God's presence and favor. Sometimes these moments are repeated day after day, becoming seasons of rest and fresh revelation from the Lord. I know Who is in control and I'm confident that He is taking care of every need. In a sense, I'm being pampered.

Yet what about the times when the Good Shepherd leads us into desert places? Those dry and lonely places where He seems distant and unconcerned? This often happens during periods of transition. Could God be preparing me for something, slowly and patiently working on my character and strengthening my ability to resist temptation? Is He possibly moving me into a new area of ministry and greater influence?

In preparation times the fundamental need is for our resistance to be built up. Our ability to resist and overcome evil is connected to our capacity to do good. And so Jesus was "led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." - Matthew 4:1

Forty days of being led by the Spirit. Forty days of temptation. My common perception has been that the temptation occurred strictly at the end of the 40 days. But Luke's gospel states that Jesus was tempted for forty days (Lk 4:1). One trial after another, one long season of dryness and difficulty. Ever feel this way?  I have. Could it be that this is no accident?  What if God has designed this season for a purpose, specifically for your long-term benefit and growth?

I confess, sometimes I need a change of perspective before I can truly learn to cooperate with God in the desert places. Rather than seeing my dilemma as a form of punishment, I've needed to embrace it as His provision. Don't get me wrong. I'll take the green pastures and quiet waters any day. But I'm learning to trust God's leading and purpose in the desert places as well. 

Presumption

After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.” -  I Chronicles 17:1-2 Upon reading the above passage and the verses which follow, I was struck by my tendency to think and plan without taking the time to get the big picture.  From a position of comfort and security, I start thinking I know what God needs and when he needs it.  I start making plans and ask God to bless them. That's called presumption!

• Presumptuous thinking and planning often start with good intentions. David wanted to build a house that would honor God's name. But did God ever say he wanted a house, let alone that David would be the one to build it?  David's motivation was good, but he lacked the broader perspective of what God was doing through the generations and with a whole nation. He lacked vision. He need God's perspective.

• Presumptuous thinking and planning is often rooted in comfort and security.  David was settled in his palace. Comfort and security have a way of dulling our senses. The danger is to equate good times and good feelings with God's blessing and favor.  I'm not saying that God doesn't desire to bless and give good gifts to his children; He certainly does. But King David was reminded that God's plan went far beyond his own personal comfort and present state of feeling blessed.

God was quick to remind David that He doesn't operate on a need basis. He doesn't need anything.  Instead, He works to accomplish His vision for the sake of the people He loves and for the blessed future He envisions for them.  He desires to communicate His vision to us so that we have the ability to partner effectively with Him.

Once God had spoken, I believe a burden was lifted from David's shoulders - the burden to do something for God which we often carry with us. The burden to please by doing something for Him rather than being with Him. That day I believe King David traded his self-induced, short term, presumptuous thinking for God's long-term vision. And just maybe, the king slept a little better that night as he reflected on God's words...

“‘I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you..." - I Chronicles 17:10b