Love at First Foil?
Our perception of ourselves can indeed be as delicate as the foil. It’s quite a progression!
Looking Up
When we first receive the Holy Ghost, our focus is primarily above. We’ve all seen new converts who remind us of our early days in truth. For a new Christian, the foil might easily be facing upward toward the sky. There is no desire to define one’s self because all that matters is Him. ‘We,’ ‘I’, and ‘me’ don’t matter. Only ‘He’ is in our view!
Seeing Yourself Within God
Then, slowly, we begin to realize we have a role in ministry. Biblical phrases such as “we are His ambassadors,” “bear witness,” and “teach all nations” bring the understanding that we are part of this great God. The foil might easily be shifting angles to where it faces upward toward heaven but also catches our face on the edge. Suddenly, we are in view. It may not be as clear as God sees but we get the idea of who we are to be.
Persecution Comes: Our First Test
Then, persecution comes. Persecution can come from demonic spirits as well as human spirits. It can originate from forces without, such as people, demonic forces, circumstances at work, as well as from forces within, such as doubt, fear, or depression. Furthermore, persecution can come from outside of church, such as ridicule by those without a revelation, or from inside the church, such as other saints or those who have become embittered in this step as well!
For whatever reason, our perception of ourselves can be damaged, almost as if we had crinkled that piece of foil.
Try it some time. Crinkle up a piece of foil and hold it up to your face. You’ll find a picture somewhat like a painting by Picasso. The nose might appear above your right eyebrow. Our ear might cover our mouth and the once beautiful, clear face appears grotesque and confusing!
Similarly, trials can sometimes render a very different perception of ourselves than God sees. We might see our lives as:
* disorganized
* disillusioned
* without purpose
* without direction
* confusing
*puzzle-like
Such a perception can make God’s promises seem null and void, and can make you question the validity of what God has shown you!
There was a time in my life that I experienced such a spiritual identity crisis. On the outside, I looked complete and confident, even sporting a seemingly anointed ministry. On the inside, however, I felt shattered, doubting what was from God and what was just me trying too hard. We all face these moments and it’s important that we realize that such an inner crisis need not be the end of our ministry, walk with God, or well-being. Also, we must realize that everyone struggles when they face the wild waves at sea.
Thank God his hand was ready to catch Peter and gird him up. His hand is here for us as well if we will simply refocus on Him.
Today, as you face life’s trials, as your perception of yourself becomes crinkled and torn, remember:
“It is His good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
“Ask what ye will and it shall be done” (John 15:7).
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).
The key is:
1. Understand God wants to prosper you. He delights in blessing you!
2. He enjoys blessing you because you shine as His own; you are beautiful to Him.
* Holiness is beautiful; scripture says we are to “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (1 Ch. 16:29; Ps. 29:2; Ps 96:9).
* Praising God through your storm is attractive to Him. “Praise is comely for the upright” (Ps. 33:1).
3. God’s answers to our prayers arrive on His time schedule. Our part is to keep believing.
* Let’s look at Elisha. Consider this account of his entrance to ministry:
” And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day?
And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day?
And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha,
Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him."
To walk or ride from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho to Jordan would take approximately eleven and a half hours since it is a distance of approximately 45 miles. One must consider, however, the time taken to associate through each city and the time it took for Elisha and Elijah to speak with the prophets. With this in mind, one would conclude that this journey took roughly two days, meal and water stops included.
If you notice, the sons of the prophets in each place used the word “today.” Elijah was not taken away until the second day. Was God late or untrue? Or were they speed-walking?
Neither. This simply shows that God’s time is different from ours. God works in an eternal timeframe—not a temporal one like us. This is demonstrated by Jesus’ comment about his eternal state of being: “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).
Notice that Jesus did not say, “Before Abraham was, I was. He said, “I am.” This shows the eternal being of God, his inability to change or be governed by time.
The fact is that Elisha could have gotten discouraged and stopped in one of the cities along the way. If he had though, he would have been around the area God wanted him but not exactly where he needed to be to receive the double portion. The whole time he was waiting on God, but he wasn’t sitting on his hands waiting. He was following Elijah or “actively” waiting.
Our belief must be active.
4. Know that “all things work for the good of them that fear God” (Romans 8:28).
* All that occurs is working toward the fulfillment of God’s promises to you. We don’t always know where the pieces fit but eventually the puzzle will be completed and will reveal a full, beautiful life.
* “In everything give thanks: for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Someday, we’ll look back and see it!
I Corinthians 13:12 says, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
It is important we don’t lose sight of our God’s desire to bless and keep us.
As sang by Danniebelle Hall:
