Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)
God has a plan and purpose for every life and we are living our best life when we are walking in it. We are not here to randomly ramble through God’s world merely taking up space and time. There is a plan and purpose for every.one.of.us. Personal. Perfect. Pleasing. Prosperous. God Himself tells us in Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV): “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
The Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus to equip them to walk as Jesus did. We are not to grieve the Spirit within us seeking to go our own ways. He is a Gentleman and while He convicts, He does not force us to walk in obedience. Yet, we are certainly the losers when we do not. God desires for us to follow His leadings – promptly and wholeheartedly – for our own good and the good of others. When we resist the Spirit we grieve Him and we stand apart from Him in our battles and in our work. Going our own way, doing our own thing will eventually get us nowhere fast. Also, nothing eternal comes through the arms of flesh apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, if we allow Him, He will accomplish “pala” things through us, things too hard for mere flesh to do. Things that will make it through the fire that will one day test the quality of each man’s work. Also, marching under His banner makes our works invincible and eternal rather than temporal and perishing. And further, one simply will never outgive God. Remember as well, Lot almost perished in Sodom - living amongst all that God disdained. If God in His great mercy had not used His angel to hasten Lot and his family away – pulling them out by the hand, BTW, to keep them from sure devastation – they would have most certainly perished.
God desires for us not to lean on our own understanding or the weak arm of flesh rather lean on His Infinite wisdom and Everlasting Arms. Remember as well, “only one life which soon will pass, only what’s done for Christ will last”, as C.T. Studd wrote. Why waste our lives on what will never make it through the fire that will test the quality of each man’s work? Why, indeed?
“Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from dread of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty! The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled)…..The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear. Isaiah 2:10-12, 17-18 (NIV)