Passing through life gates…
Filed in Devotions & Studies, General |
Journal,
Hope you can read the piece of paper above. Look closely at the date. It reads August 28th, 1974 (Wednesday). I’ve had this piece of paper with me for over thirty-three years. This bit of paper became a memorial to one of Betty’s and my passages through a life gate in our walk with the Lord.
Let me share a short story. The day prior I had turned my resignation letter to my former presbyter. I was leaving the denomination that I had been a part of both as a pastor and as an evangelist. Though he was a kindly man I will never forget the words that he spoke. He said, “Brother Martin, these people will never have anything else to do with you.”
It was at my office the next morning that I felt this gloomy dark cloud hovering over me. A spirit of deep loneliness settled on me. I reached for my Bible and fell to my knees. The chair in front of me became my altar.
Then an astonishing thing happened. My Bible fell open and my eyes settled on this Scripture; “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” [Philippians 1:6 kjv]
The cloud suddenly disappeared. Joy filled my heart. I jumped up, grabbed the phone to call Betty.
What I didn’t know was that at the very moment the Lord had spoken words of life to me, He had also given words of life to my sweet Betty. We were in this struggle together.
And before I could get it out of my mouth, Betty said, “Honey, listen to what the Lord just shared with me!”
She began to read, “For do I know persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” [Galatians 1:10 kjv)
That was it! We were passing through another life gate together. God had given us words to live by, words to face the future together.
What is a life gate…
A life gate can be anything you face in life that could well result in a major change in your future. I call these life passages simply because it is the Lord who gives you the keys for making the passage. He gives you words to live by.
When a number of the followers of Jesus were leaving Him, we hear this conversation between the Lord and Peter:
Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”
Then the Lord asks the disciples is they wished to leave also. Peter responds, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.”(Cf. Jn6:63,68 nasb)
When Peter said that Jesus had words of eternal life, he wasn’t thinking of the gospel message that brings us salvation. To him eternal life had to do with a certain kind of spiritual life that only comes from the Lord. It was to be found in the new covenant. It is in this life that we receive words to live by.
Every child of God will have life gates to walk through. You may call them something else, but the point is that it is in these times that we need to have something by way of direction from the Lord. Sometimes the need is in a desperate moment. At other times it may simply be a need for reassurance.
The promise of words to live by…
As long as I can remember the Lord has given me words to live by. Sometimes these words come in a dream or in a vision. Sometimes I simply hear them in my heart. But most of the time they come right out of the Scriptures themselves.
One of my more recent examples had to do with my bout with cancer. Without retelling the entire story, I well remember when the Lord told me to ‘expect the unexpected.’ Of course this had to do with my healing.
There are so many instances I would like to share with you. Without weighing this journal entry down, let me share one more.
It was in 1971. Betty and I and our two sons were in Los Alamos, New Mexico, to raise up a mission work for our denomination. Once again I am facing a moment of, ‘What am I doing here?’ My heart is puzzled. On top of everything, I am homesick. New Mexico was far removed from Central Louisiana. We were tired from having traveled a heavy road of evangelism. And now we are going to raise up a new work?
But the Lord had other plans. While reading the Scriptures again I find myself being pulled into a conversation between Jesus and Peter. Suddenly the question asked of the Lord is my question. Listen:
“Peter began to say to Him, ‘Behold, we have left everything and followed You.’
Jesus said, ‘Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.’” (Mark 10:28-30)
I had received a word of comfort. And once again we were about to pass through another life gate. And it has come true - I am unable to count the blessings of the Lord that have come upon my home. Even in our darkest trials, I can still say, ’Thank you Lord. You have always been with me.’
It is all about personal relationship - Never about religion…
Don’t ever make it about religion.
The heart of the new covenant is entirely fixed on a relationship with the heavenly Father and with His son Jesus. As Jesus was praying, we hear Him say, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ when You have sent.” (Jn17:3)
Knowing God means that you have a knowing relationship with Him. Jesus said,
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 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.” (Jn10:26-28)
Following in His footsteps…
Well, we need to bring things to a close. Have you passed through the major gate of life?
Do you know God as your Father? Or is it simply religion that you know?
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (Jn14:6)
The only question that remains is, ‘Where are you taking me Jesus?’
And the Lord says, ‘Walk with Me. I am taking you to My Father’s house.’
Think about it.
Much love coming your way,
Buddy
WOW! Thanks!