“Mine eye shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.” (Psalm 101:6)
I got to see a baptism today! It’s been a long while since I saw one (at least two years). What a beautiful thing to behold. And to make it sweeter, it was a young lady I’ve known since she was about 8 years old (now she’s &%$^ years old – we won’t talk about it). I have watched her blossom and grow through some pretty tough years and some bad experiences as she wandered away from the path God has laid out for her. I think we can all understand that. But here she was making the decision to follow Jesus Christ in water baptism. My heart is full.
The other thing that made today very special is that it was in the church of a friend – a true brother in Christ – whom I have known some thirty-two years. I worked for his father – another godly man – as well as for Pastor Ken. Back then he and his beautiful wife had a daughter who was barely out of infancy. We share many memories together. Most of them good. I told you he is my friend, a true brother in Christ. Well, over the years he has said some things to me that I needed to hear. Not that I WANTED to hear, but needed to hear. At the time I was angry with him and really allowed myself to feel offended. But that was then. He continued on the right path and followed the leading of God in his life while I chased every two-bit scheme and device I could put my hands on. Ken went on to become a pastor while I kept fighting God at every turn. Today I felt like Jacob meeting Esau for the first time after all those years apart. It was good to see my brother again.
Here’s the humbling (and sad) part: Pastor Ken is living under the umbrella of God’s blessing because he has remained faithful all these years. The same with my pastor, Pastor Shane, and my other brother, Pastor Jim. These three stand tall and strong in the Temple of God because they have remained solid, dependable, faithful. They have withstood the storms of life (and trust me, they have seen some storms!) while I kept God busy searching for me out on the mountainside. They faithfully served God, humbly and purely, wherever He led them, whatever He called them to do. They get to see the greatness of God in ways I cannot, they minister with anointing and power I don’t have. Because they remained faithful.
You know something else? They get to serve God – to wait on Him (like a waiter in a restaurant), to bless Him, to honor Him – in ways I cannot. If they are the priests in the Temple, I am the schmuck called in to sweep and mop up after the sacrifices have been offered and the people have returned home. God gets great honor from them because over the years their armor has become dinged and pitted by used. But it has now the patina – the show of long-term use – that gives it character. Their scars speak of battles won and lost, their limp speaks of hand-to-hand combat with demons of hell, the timber in their voice bespeaks the years of praying with others, counseling with others, leading others, and preaching the Word. They reflect great honor back to our Father in heaven. And I am honored to call them my brothers.
What about you? Is your armor still in the original package, tucked away in a closet somewhere? Are you worried that it might get damaged or ruined with use? I can only promise you this: by what I have seen over the years, the armor God supplies is indestructible, it is mighty, and it is reliable to do what it is designed to do. But only if worn by a worthy soldier fighting a righteous war. God gets no glory from a shiny, pretty shield. His heart swells when He sees you and I carrying a battered and dented shield because that shows we have been out in the fight.
Don’t waste your life running from God and His purpose for you. Trust me, it’s like a saying we had in the military: “You can run, but you’ll just die tired.” I’m not dead, but believe me I’m tired! Thank God that He allows for second, third, fourth, … chances. I can serve Him now wholeheartedly like I should have been years ago. But He is good, and He is restoring my strength and vision. I will finish strong for Him. Will you? Don’t put it off another day. Today is the day. Now is the time.
Be blessed.
(23 SEP 2023)
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