There are signposts along the way. Some signs are for information. A few determine how fast you can travel to complete your journey. Others mark detours or necessary course adjustments. Happily, some signs point to wonderful things that you can't yet see, future paths filled with grace and glory.
We need to know about needless dead-ends and fruitless diversions. Don't delay or depart from your course. To do this, look back at your history with God, then peer ahead by the eyes of the Spirit.
Recalling your history with God is a powerful thing to do. When were you saved? Have you encountered God? Has the Lord answered a desperate cry? Review your personal journey. We do this by rehearsing our testimony, remembering the Lord's faithfulness. Whenever I'm down, doubting or fearful, I remember how he saved me, filled me with his Spirit, answered my prayers and showed his goodness to me along the way. Some of these events or encounters were quite dramatic.
Our walk with God has elements of hope concerning things we've not yet seen. Faith in God steadily grows as we know him more and see his love manifested. Keep yourself in the love of God. Hold on to God's word to you. To do this, we mustn't forget what he said or what his word has promised us.
Forgetting our past is a setup for worry. The tragedy is this: momentary disappointment can cloud our vision of what God has done. We forget, we neglect, we lose focus and drift. This closes off expectancy for what God can and will do next. I've seen this occur due to short-timer's mentality, which produces burnout and fatigue near the end. Instead, there ought to be ever-increasing faith and ever-growing glory. Feed your faith. Starve your doubt. Gather with over-comers to receive fresh fire.
Hold on to your confession of God's word. Boldly speak your personal testimony of past victories. If we don't know how to suffer with perseverance, if we don't know how to overcome trials by using our faith, if we fail to discipline the flesh or put down fears, we'll wilt into a puddle of discouragement.
Let's remind ourselves of what God has already done. For this exercise, read Hebrews 6:4-5 (NASB). The statements in these verses are true for me. Are they true for you? We are believers in Jesus.
Since the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, things changed for God's people. God no longer dwells in temples made with hands but in his people. This is the truth of "God with us." If we are full-gospel and not reductionist Christians, then we have received five experiential blessings. These are in our personal history already. They are past tense in our history with God but still present with us, helping us now.
1) We have been enlightened.
2) We have tasted the heavenly gift.
3) We are partakers of the Holy Spirit.
4) We have tasted the good word of God.
5) We have tasted the powers of the age to come.
Did you notice how the word "tasted" is used often? David wrote, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." Jesus said, "If you are thirsty, come to Me and drink." Let's look at these things that we as believers have tasted or received from God. Reviewing his goodness to us -- how he has blessed us -- will reinforce our ability to stand strong in the present and be more expectant of a good outcome in the future.
For my commentary on these verses, visit my Touched by Grace Facebook page.
Ron Wood is a writer and minister. Contact him at [email protected] or visit www.touchedbygrace.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 01/17/2018