Position Yourself for Success. Ruthven Roy
quite often, God has to penetrate the thick crust of our blind, ambitious souls by precipitating crisis situations in our lives, in order to bring us to our divinely-appointed destinies. These crises help to jolt us into the reality of our human frailty, and to focus our attention on our desperate need of a power much higher than ourselves and our earthly assets. That power, we soon realize, is God Almighty. Invariably, in the center of our crisis, amidst our pain, suffering, sorrow and tears, the God of our fathers suddenly appears and gently whispers through the inner man of our spirit: This is God: May I have your attention?
Who or What is dead, is dead
The crisis God chooses to get our attention could be short and decisive, if we understand, receive and follow through on His instruction or revelation. It can also be long and protracted, which is a mere reflection of the time it takes us to learn the lesson God is trying to teach us. Moreover, crises often persist because we have a very difficult time letting go of the past, especially if it holds cherished memories and accomplishments, or unresolved brokenness and pain. However, in either case, crises are designed to put to death our cherished attitudes, behaviors, relationships, lifestyles and dreams, so that new life and thoughts of God’s ordering can emerge.
When God intervenes, He does so to change our perception of reality concerning our life and situation, and to give us brighter, clearer vision of things pertaining to our appointed future. Through the Spirit’s enlightenment, we are able to identify and separate our old mental framework from the new revelation of God’s will for our lives; but there still remains the challenge of making the choice to pursue the path that God has chosen for us.
Crises are designed to put to death our cherished attitudes,
behaviors, relationships, life-styles and dreams.
In this regard, the experience of Israel, prior to the nation’s crossing of the Jordan, is very instructive for us. We cannot live our present and future lives by repeating what we did in the past. Moses, the great leader, was dead and there was absolutely nothing that Israel could do about it. After thirty days of weeping and wailing, of reminiscing and lamenting over their leader and their past, God had to bring the people to the realization that what was dead, regardless of its stature, had to be buried and left behind. A glorious future was ahead of them, but in order for them to inherit it, they had to let go of the past—so should we.
Wake up and smell the coffee
Many people fail to achieve meaningful success in their lives because they remain anchored to their past, instead of using old experiences as reference points to chart new directions to a rewarding future. It was while all Israel remained emotionally paralyzed by the death of their “larger-than-life” leader, that God blindsided Joshua with the command: “Arise!” In other words, “wake up and smell the coffee, Joshua!” “There is no more life in the past; you are no longer a servant of what is dead in your life. It is time for you to take the reins of leadership and move forward.”
In a very similar manner, we cannot dwell in the past by reliving it every day, no matter how glorious or how dismal it may have been. Although it may feel great reviewing and rehearsing past achievements, and altogether dreadful, remembering past woes, they are gone! We must wake up, arise, and “smell the coffee.” We must ask God for spiritual discernment and understanding to be able to identify and confirm what He has pronounced dead in his life, and resign it to the past.
You are no longer a servant to what is dead in your life.
Not only must we know what is dead; but we must also possess the wisdom and courage to bury what is dead— that is, we must come to terms with, and add finality, to it. Sometimes we try desperately to put new life in old fires— situations, friendships, failures, mistakes, love affairs, broken dreams—and end up with major conflagrations and disasters. Spiritual and natural wisdom dictate that we should “allow sleeping dogs to lie,” and dead dogs to remain buried. We should not go about unearthing what is dead; the stench may be more than we may be prepared to handle.
God is the great I AM, the ever-present One. While the Almighty remembers the past, He always operates in the present. The psalmist David says that our God is a very present help in the time of trouble (Psalm 46:1). Through our afflictions and trials, the ever-present God is positioning us, His children, for divine intervention. By His circumstantial ordering we must put to death that which needs to die in our lives, and to bring about an altogether “new thing” of His own choosing. He says, through the prophet Isaiah, “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19, NASB).
However, in order to bring about a “new thing” into our lives, God often has to put to death that which is old. Quite frequently we resist such a change because we have grown so accustomed to the cycle of expectations from that which is old and ready to die, or from that which is already dead. In conjunction with this, the enemy of our souls influences us to magnify our fears—fears of our situation and our future—above and beyond our faith in the Almighty, who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ever ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).
It really does not matter what your current situation may appear to be, or what you may be experiencing physically or emotionally. God already has a solution and a plan for your state of affairs. He can most certainly give you new directions in the midst of your chaos and confusion, and He is able generate new life in whatever appears to be dried up, decaying or dead in you. He is willing and able to make a way where there is no way—a roadway in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Trust Him!
Crossing Jordan
As was cited earlier, the Jordan that confronted the children of Israel was not the typical, quiet stream that watered the valleys at the foot of Mount Lebanon. It was a raging torrent of melted snow and ice that rumbled relentlessly down the mountain gorges, overflowing the river’s banks and strategic crossing-points. This made crossing extremely dangerous because Jordan’s normal flow was violently disrupted. However, to cross over was a must, not only because Israel’s future destiny lay on the other side, but because God Almighty, who is the security of the nation’s future, had ordained the prompt crossing of the river.
Just like the experience of the children of Israel, a raging, formidable Jordan may be churning over before you, separating you from your life’s dream or future destiny. Jordan does not only represent a great obstacle in your path to progress or to your destiny. It also symbolizes your meeting place for a miraculous encounter with God.
Your Jordan could be anything—a lingering illness or disability; a great loss—possibly of a loved one, your job or your home; a series of mishaps; severe economic hardship; a stalled job promotion; a disgruntled, vindictive co-worker, boss, neighbor or relative; a rebellious, wayward child; a cheating spouse or some other major challenge. Whatever you may be battling with right now, this thing has disquieted your spirit, has stolen your peace and joy, and has made you run the gauntlet many times over, with feelings of anger, fear, frustration, and fatigue.
Know this, dear child of God: Your Jordan is not just another obstacle in your path, but your God-appointed opportunity to qualify you for the next level in your relationship with Him and with others. Every Jordan in your life is your opportunity for spiritual, mental and emotional development, to make you a more resilient and resourceful person. However, your trouble and confusion stem from focusing most, if not all, of your attention and energies on your Jordan. This pre-occupation tends to blind your vision of your omnipotent Father who is constantly watching your every step and misstep. He is always working for you, and never against you. The apostle Paul reminds us all of the true nature of our Jordans. He says:
17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18, KJV