Encouragement?

Posted by Buck Jacobs on May 26th, 2011 | 1 comment home title

In my quiet time this morning it occurred to me that a word of realistic encouragement might be helpful to some or all of you. As I thought about it two scenarios came to mind…

First the macro. These are indeed difficult times and many of us are yearning for the return of the good times of the recent past. In this we are like the children of Israel who longed to return to Egypt. Egypt in the Bible represents the world and its strength and prosperity. Our ancestors had a very consistent record of turning to idolatry after a season of the Lord’s blessing and also first looking to Egypt for help when He brought chastisement on them for their sin. They cycled through this process multiple times.

Again, in the macro view I believe that this is a picture of our national situation. We aren’t Israel, but our nation was surely founded on the principles of God and intended to honor Him and to encourage us to live according to His ways. In many ways this commitment brought His blessings to our nation. As a nation we have been challenged in our understanding and application of this concept over the years but until just after He delivered us from evil attack
at the end of WWII we stood pretty true. The late 50s and 60s ushered in a season of rebellion and resistance to all authority including God, and to the worship of a materialistic, hedonistic form of life,basically idolatry, which has grown steadily to this day, leavening even our church culture.

I believe that, in the manner of our spiritual forefathers Israel when they sinned and turned from God, we are now in a time of chastening as a nation. Chastening always increases in intensity with the purpose of leading God’s people to repentance and restoration. God will not relent and the severity will increase until repentance is manifest. If and when true repentance comes God’s blessing is restored, but not before or until. In the Old Testament this most often came as a result of a prophet calling out leadership. (We are presently in a season where we are short of both!)

I’m sure that there were many in Israel who were not directly involved in the national sin but just sort of lukewarm as the nation slid down the slippery slope of turning from God to idols, but when the hammer fell, they were punished along with the worst offenders. As an example, although they weren’t guilty at all of the sin of the majority, Joshua and Caleb marched in the desert with all the rest for 40 years until the generation that sinned died off. There are always sinners and always a remnant, but there is also a “tipping point” with God it seems. There comes a time where He says “Enough!” I believe that we are near or at that point right now.

Personally I believe that those hoping for a quick return to our recent past prosperity are going to be very disappointed as, in my opinion, things are likely to get worse, maybe much worse, before they can get better. The macro view can be discouraging, even depressing.

That’s why I praise God for the micro view. “I will always have all I need to do all God asks.” Each individual who responds in obedience to the call of God is taken under His wings in a way that the material world or the flesh will never know or understand. Each of us has been identified and called out by God to walk with Him and extend His Kingdom. As such the promise of constant supply is ours. Our area of influence is the marketplace. It is a critically important niche at this point of history. Business is the language of the world, perhaps the most universal form of communication since
Babel. If our country and our world is to be led in a turn from idolatry it will never happen apart from our niche and, it is very possible, if not likely, that it will lead it. Each of us has been given a holy work to do in His Kingdom and actually selected for such a time as this and equipped by God for the work from “before the foundation of the earth.” We are truly called to our role in the marketplace. May we walk worthy of our calling.

Two more points; Of course it is hard. It always has been. It’s not nearly as hard for us as it is for most of our brothers and sisters in the world, but it is hard in comparison to the spoiled life that we recently had, and had come to think that we deserve. Yes, it’s hard,but no one is dieing here, no one is starving, or tortured, or really persecuted – yet.

We are called not to a life of ease and pleasure but to a life of sacrifice and obedience that is centered in our service to others while being conformed to the image of our King as we walk His narrow path with Him.

Our associates are suffering under the pressure of the prolonged economic recession and the uncertainty of the ever-changing globalization process . Many of them are hurting and fearful because of the loss of, or threat to, idols such as personal wealth, reputation and financial security. So are some of us. Some of them will quit and run for Egypt.
Of course they will, they always have. Will we? Should we cry to our Father for a return to Egypt? Or should we expect to be exempted from the trials that those we are called to serve endure? I say NO! We are called to lead in faith under trial and in perseverance through adversity. How can we model these qualities to them and truly lead them if we are unwilling to be example to them? We are called to remind them that “God works all things together for good for those who are called according to His purpose” and show them what that looks like applied by faith to real life. Our light shines brightest in adversity. Ours is a role that is true leadership, Christ-like, servant leadership. It is our destiny.

You will note that there is a question mark after the word ”Encouragement” in the subject line above. These words are surely not the “feel-good” fluff and “I’m OK, you’re OK” babble that many mistake for encouragement in our day, but they are reality. Our God, His call, and our life in Jesus Christ and His in us are reality. Eternal life and the rewards God has promised to His faithful servants are reality. His sovereign supply to do all He asks is reality. The cross and the
narrow path are reality and they guard the way to the joy of our Lord.

I pray that reality may bring refreshment to remind and to renew. May the joy of our Lord be our strength! Press on!

For the King our God and for the Lamb! Forever!