I DON'T KNOW IF I AM ‘COMING OR GOING’
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans: "Ek weet nie meer herwaarts of derwaarts nie"
I love history very much, especially ancient history.
I would like to share with you what our Lord laid on my heart after reading something from the Roman history.
Unfortunately, I can no longer remember the General's name but the following is said:
The Romans were the most powerful people in the known world in Jesus' time on earth and sent their armies in all directions to subdue peoples as far as they could go.
The Generals then sent messengers back to Rome on a regular basis to report on how they were progressing and to ask for orders about what they should do in certain circumstances.
They usually had a map with them in which direction to go and to subject the peoples they encountered.
On occasion this one General went so far as to send the following message to the Emperor in Rome, and I use my own words here to the best of my ability to share his message with you:
“We are marching off the map now. Can you send me instructions on what to do next?"
This General no longer knew backwards or forwards and in his case, he had thousands of soldiers to lead.
So often in our lives you and I come to a place where we have moved from the familiar map that we know, on the way to our eternal destination.
We are now in unfamiliar territory and we sometimes feel we don’t know backward or forward, but – how blessed we are in contrast to the unbelieving world around us!
Of them, the unbelieving world around us, we read:
JOHN 10:25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me,
JOHN 10:26 but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.
How absolutely wonderful!
We don't need to know the comings or goings, the backwards or forwards. Our General is ahead and He knows exactly why, when and where to!
JOHN 10:27-29
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
How great!
I just stay close to my Leader and keep my eyes fixed on HIM.
HEB 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
HEB 12:3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted
I also know very well that if I do not focus on Jesus – and let myself be guided by other things, I stand an actual chance of being lost:
Therefore:
1TIM 1:19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,
I repeat this verse from the Amplified Bible:
1 Timothy 1:19 Amplified Bible (AMP)
19 keeping your faith [leaning completely on God with absolute trust and confidence in His guidance] and having a good conscience; for some [people] have rejected [their moral compass] and have made a shipwreck of their faith.
Greetings,
Sakkie