Bud McCord in his book, The Satisfying Life says, "Many who know His perfect forgiveness know little or nothing of His perfect presence now. So the dreams of an unshakable soul, the absence of hunger or thirst, fruitfulness, and being like Jesus, wait till heaven. How far from Jesus' claims we have drifted when we leave being like Jesus to another time and another place." If McCord is right, and I think our hearts tell us He is, its little wonder that being a Christian, following Christ, is so exhausting......and seemingly futile. We feel like we fail far more than we ever succeed. As Beth Moore put it, "Many of us work very hard at something that is hardly working." How can this be? Why do we live so far from the life He created us for and calls us to? Why have we bought the lie that His fullness of life will only begin to be realized in eternity. Why don't we realize that He has already "placed eternity in our hearts?" John 6:35 reads, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." That's what it reads. Is that what we live?
On the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter, James and John were in the atmosphere of heaven, beholding the glory of Christ and the Father. They were literally breathing in that atmosphere. After that experience, they came back down into the valley, and when they did, they no longer took in the air of eternity. They once again were breathing the air of, living in the atmosphere of, the valley. As a result, they, and all the other disciples lacked the power and wonder of an abundant life. That wasn't to have been the case, but it was. They were more familiar with, and comfortable with this world's atmosphere and air, than that which they'd just experienced. How true is this for you and me? We'll not lack for valley's in this life, but as His people, we needn't breathe the air there. We were created for, and will be sustained by the air and atmosphere of heaven......if we'll only have it, become saturated in it.
In Ezekiel 47, he tells of the vision of water flowing from beneath the threshold of the door. The water is then measured. as he's led into it. At first it reaches only his ankles, then his knees, then his waist, and then finally, it was too deep for him, and all he could do was be carried along in it. The river of course, is the river of God, and it is available to all of us. Our problem is that most of us only care to get ankle deep in it. This yields a sense of control. We may go deeper, but we always want to have our feet touching the shore. To step out into the deep, where we can only be carried along by Him is a step few are willing to go to. So, we go on "following" Him, working for Him, living for Him, but always asking, "Why am I so thirsty?" We'll keep asking till we respond to His call, His command to "launch out into the deep water." It's there that we'll truly meet Him, experience Him, and know Him. That's where the air of heaven can be breathed, where we may drink and eat the water and bread of life. We'll no longer ask why we're so thirsty, only why did we delay so long in coming there?
As you follow Him, are you asking why? Why so thirsty, so hungry, so exhausted? Why you work so hard at something that's hardly working? Launch out into the deep water. Breathe the air of heaven, partake of its food and drink. Stop waiting for eternity. Begin to live in it. Find out that the answer to the "allness" of your need is the allness of His life.
Blessings,
As you follow Him, are you asking why? Why so thirsty, so hungry, so exhausted? Why you work so hard at something that's hardly working? Launch out into the deep water. Breathe the air of heaven, partake of its food and drink. Stop waiting for eternity. Begin to live in it. Find out that the answer to the "allness" of your need is the allness of His life.
Blessings,
Pastor O
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