“And whosoever doth
not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you,
intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether
he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation,
and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying,
This man began to build, and was not able to finish.”-Luke 14:27-30
When I read this scripture, I often think of the old cliché,
“Don’t change horses in mid-stream,” meaning don’t change your mind in the
middle of an event or process that has already begun.
In this passage of scripture, recorded by Luke, Jesus is explaining
to the crowds that desire to follow him, that unless they give their whole
heart, mind, and spirit to him, they cannot truly be one of his disciples. In
other words, “you have to be ALL in or nothing at all.” Once you commit, you cannot
turn back. Doing so can only be detrimental to yourself, but to those around
you as well.
As my own life’s journey and construction of the Spiritual
Retreat continue, this scripture really struck a chord with my heart.
First, this journey began with a commitment to follow
Christ. It wasn’t a decision that was taken lightly, nor undertaken
half-heartedly. It began with a 100% vow to boldly follow wherever the Lord
shall lead. That pledge has taken not only me but my family as well, along this
path upon which would have never imagined.
There is no turning back.
Even as this is written, we continue to unpack from a move
that began five years ago. We are literally still in transition. But even as
this is written, the pathway is changing. The future is as unclear as it was in
the first few days of that fateful decision. The difference is that now, after
those arduous five years, we have seen the power of God working in our daily
lives, answering prayer, and working miracles. Yes, in the deepest valleys, He is
with us. On the highest mountain tops, He is with us. No matter how far we run,
no matter how far we roam, our Lord and Savior is with us, he will never leave
nor forsake us. There is comfort in the knowing, for as we face an unknown
future, we can take solace in knowing that we are not alone.
As with the continued construction of the Spiritual Retreat,
the path has altered somewhat. There had never been a bank account full of
money from which to draw to pay for the materials for which it was to be built.
Although it was thought out, as far as rough floor plans, the financial side
was lifted up to the Lord to provide. And as such, each step of the way, He has
provided. Like the parable for which Jesus was describing, a man does not set
out to start a project unless he knows he has the means for which it is to be
funded, lest he be mocked by his neighbors. Although the literal meaning could
apply in my own case, it was with a purposeful choice that we began knowing
that in faith, the funds would come. And in faith, the project has only been
slowed, not by lacking the means to pay for the building supplies, but rather
because of either illness or other commitments which took precedence at the
time. In other words, the providential funds of faith have provided all that we
have needed.
Like the choice to serve, and like the decision to begin construction
without financial backing, each took a level of faith not easily obtained.
Through observation of others on their journey, we might feel uncomfortable
with taking on that level of commitment. It is only natural. You should never
take the leap of faith unless you are willing to suffer for Christ’s sake. It
is never easy, nor should it be.
Christ died for our sins.
Let me say that again, Christ DIED for our sins. He suffered
a death none of us could nor would want to imagine. He even forewarned that his
followers would suffer likewise, because, “If
they hate me, they will hate you as well,” he told his disciples.
As the disciples followed Jesus, he took a band of men with
backgrounds as diverse and opposed as any could imagine. Along the way, he
changed who they were and taught them a new way to believe. Their minds were
opened to an understanding never heard before. Men that had never been able to
read were now recording his teachings. As this metamorphosis took place, they became
the future bearers of Christ. In so doing, their attention had to be laser-focused,
and pinpoint sharp as any modern-day recording device. Yet, they lived in a
world of parchment and crude writing implements. One might imagine at the end
of a day, they would stop and recap what all had taken place.
Visualize this one day happened to be the day in which the
woman, who had sought many physicians, and yet after 18 years, had never been
healed. Then, when she had heard that Jesus was to come to her town, she did,
like so many others, found her way to a place that might afford her a chance to
speak to him, or if nothing else, just to see him pass by. As it happened, she
reached out and touched the hem of his garment. At that moment, she was healed.
She had to reach out and touch him, just as we must ask Him
to come into our lives. The opening comment about changing horses in mid-stream
is a comment made about what happens once you have received Christ and are now
ready to act upon whatever calling He has given you. Once you have been saved
by grace, your life will change. To fully receive Him is to no longer seek the
old ways, but rather, the new.
Yes, the woman touching his garment and being healed spoke
volumes as to who Jesus actually was; God and man. As Jesus shared this with
his disciples that evening, imagine now, if you will, that the multitude that
had been gathered had more than once touched his garment. We are only familiar with
the one story, but think of the comment at the end of the gospel of John, where
he says, “And there are also many other
things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I
suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be
written. Amen.” What if there had been numerous healings? What if after the
first story, your hand is now starting to get numb. You can no longer keep up
as he continues to tell you moment upon moment of people touching his garment that
singular day and the testimonies behind each healing. How blown would your mind
be at that point? Your head would be spinning as the untold amount of disbelief
mixed with faith rattled around in your brain until your head felt as if it
might explode.
There could be no distractions. There could be no turning
back. You would literally have to hate your old life and be immersed in your walk
with Christ to handle the brutal commitment to serve.
There was no lukewarm faith allowed.
You were either all in or nothing.
No retreat, no surrender.
Like each choice, both require an oath of servitude that
cannot be stopped once it is started. To stop in the middle can not only be disastrous
financially, but it can also be morally repugnant. How many times have you
heard of a preacher or pastor quitting the ministry or falling from grace, and
at the same time, felt your heart sink knowing that another soldier for Christ
as fallen? Not only can it be a demeaning choice, to turn back, but it can
affect others as well. Like those other little boats on the Sea of Galilee, all
watched as the boat that Jesus was on was being tossed in the storm. What if
Jesus’ boat had turned back? What if he never caused the raging seas to cease?
How much less would the scriptures had been impacted?
As I already stated, my future is unclear. While one door
closes, somewhere God is opening another door. Like that choice to start laying
the foundation for the Spiritual Retreat, so is that foundation of the future
being poured. While I cannot see the door, nor what path it is He has chosen, I
can trust that like those funds that have found their way into our lives to
continue the Retreat’s own construction; likewise, so will He provide for us in
the future.
As many have asked, “Can I pray for you to find a job?”
“No,” is my response, “for J O B is a book in the Bible.”
Then I humbly reply, “Rather, please pray that God brings me
to a door where I may serve Him fully.”
In the end, faith is not only the substance of things hoped
for, but there is actual evidence in things unseen from which we can trust.
These foundations of faith continue to build, one upon the other as we grow
closer to Christ. We may have questions. We may have doubts. These are our
natural tendencies. When we trust in Him, these quickly fade away as we remind
ourselves of how those stories in the Bible, of blind faith being rewarded,
have come true in our own lives. We may not have the funds to continue the
path, but if it is the door through which God has chosen, in the end, we shall
find that God will provide.
Never make a choice in faith-based upon what is seen, for if
it is truly a God-given path, He will provide.
So remember, don’t change your horse in the middle of the
stream, keep the faith.
Accept Christ into your life, and the journey will have just
begun.
Thanks be to God.
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Standing upon the crest of the hill overlooking what one would suspect, the valley below, shrouded in the mist, tops of towering pines quietly appear. The elevation is apparent, but the feeling of the exhilaration of the moment, the cool, nearly invisible moisture embraces the exposed flesh, becomes one with the atmospheric ambiance – uniting body and soul. The light from above is all but muted, so great the fog that covers the mountain top. The only cusp of truth attesting to reality are your feet firmly planted upon the well-worn path upon which you trod.
