Only We Can Turn From God

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 9:52 am Post subject: Only We Can Turn From God

All you that thirst, come to the waters: and you that have no money make haste, buy, and eat: come, buy wine and milk without money, and without any price. Why do you spend money for that which is not breed, and your labor for that which does not satisfy you? Hearken diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and your soul shall be delighted in fatness. Incline your ear and come to me: hear and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the faithful mercies of David. (Isaiah 55:1-3)

Each day we toil to various pursuits, but as morning gives way to evening, what will we have done? We must survive each moment, but our day will come where there will be no more hours in our number to spend in the way we have come to know this world. Will we at that time be ready for a greater life?

Each day we toil and things of this world we collect, but what do we collect which can be taken with us beyond this life? What is made from dust shall return to dust, but what is made from the spirit will endure forever at the desire of the Lord. As we eat of this world, we shall forever remain hungry, but as we set at the table of the Lord, we shall be forever filled.

Each day we toil, but a day will come where there is no struggle in what we do, only the experience of the love found in the presence of the Lord. What He asks of us is to learn from Him so that we will come to understand that we do not need to live in a constant struggle with evil. Those who listen to the Lord will be guided to a better way, a way of love where evil finds no place.

Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or famine or nakedness or danger or persecution or the sword? But in all these things we overcome, because of him that has loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35, 37-39)

While we may be faced with challenges, tribulations and temptations; the only thing which can separate us from the love of God is that which comes by our own choice. As we look around us, there are many who feel no desire to make any sacrifice in the favor of faith. They lead their lives in personal pursuits, yielding easily what faith they might have in favor of what they believe they might gain from this world. They turn away from God to place a greater faith in matters of wealth, pleasures and power. They turn away from God in fear of the judgment of others. When such choices are made, faith is placed in the matters of this world and withdrawn from God.

We should take a moment and look at those who withstood all means of torture, pain and oppression; yet would not yield in their profession of faith. We might wonder what would drive them to such sacrifice so as to not yield in their love of the Lord? Could it be that they have found that which is so precious that they cannot turn from it?

As we are faced with challenges to our faith, how easy do we yield? Do we turn at promises of wealth, power or pleasure? Do we turn to avoid pain? Do we turn because of what others may think of us? If we turn so easy, it is because we have not allowed ourselves to experience the true presence of God in our lives.

There is no fault in hiding from our oppressors, but there is great fault in hiding from our Lord. Some are tempted to withdraw to the shadows where we believe He will not be, but no matter the reason, it is founded in flawed logic, for He seeks to be always with us. We may feel unworthy because of our sin, for how we have turned from Him during our days. We may feel that as we fall to temptation, there is no path back from our flaws. We fail to understand the forgiveness which He offers if we but choose to turn back to Him.

We should take a moment to look at those with great wealth, power and many pursuits of pleasure. How many lead their lives without keeping a relationship with God and still find true fulfillment? How many are found burdened with worries of keeping their wealth, keeping their power, or keeping their pleasures; for in an instant, all may be taken away. Beyond small moments of diversion, are their lives truly happy?

We should take a moment and ask, how is it that those with seemly little of this world are found to be so happy and fulfilled? Could it be how they are fulfilled in the spirit? Could it be that they have opened their hearts to God and found their deliverance?

We are faced with the trials of this world, but it is our choice as to how we react. God did not place us here that we should do nothing, for there is His work to do. While we must seek our daily bread, we should also seek the bread of eternal life. Love in the spirit costs us nothing in the form of money, yet it is everything to our soul.

Which when Jesus had heard, he retired from there by boat, into a desert place apart, and the multitudes having heard of it, followed him on foot out of the cities. And he coming forth saw a great multitude, and had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying: This is a desert place, and the hour is now past: send away the multitudes, that going into the towns, they may buy themselves food. But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go: give you them to eat.

They answered him: We have not here, but five loaves, and two fishes. He said to them: Bring them hither to me. And when he had commanded the multitudes to sit down upon the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up what remained, twelve full baskets of fragments. And the number of them that did eat, was five thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 14:13-21)

At times, we are sent to toil for our sustenance, yet, there are times where sustenance is given to us through the hands of others. So that He could keep those who followed Him close by Him, He provided for the sustenance of all who were present. Though He broke the bread and divided the fishes, He still called upon His disciples to carry the baskets amongst those assembled. He worked through those who followed Him so that others would also come and remain near.

We might focus upon the miracle that what was seemingly so little was used to feed so many, but we limit our understanding if that is all which we see. We might view such a miracle as an excuse that we need do nothing and He will provide. What we should also see is that while He provided for the multitudes, He did not do so alone. Yes, He performed the miracle, but He also asked His disciples to bring to Him that which would be divided and once it was blessed, to distribute it among those who needed to be fed.

We might be tempted to see the miracle only in terms of the loaves and fishes used to feed the multitude, but we should also look deeper in what occurred. Yes, He provided sustenance to satisfy hunger, but we should look for what He really fed those present; for the true sustenance He provided was the Word for all to hear and faith for all to receive. Yes, let us marvel at the miracle, but let us marvel even more at the greater works which were done, the works which He did not do alone, but He did through all around Him.

Yes, He healed the sick, but it was faith which brought the sick to Him. We must consider that if the lame were unable to walk, then, to come into His presence, those who could not walk needed the help of those who could. Faith was required of all who made the journey so that those who were afflicted might feel the compassion of the Lord.

And what of the afflicted, could the miracle have occurred if they were not so? The burdens of illness they faced became moments where the faith of others might be strengthened. Again, once more, He worked not just through the miracles He offered, but through the helping hands of others, the afflicted who were healed, and all who witnessed and later shared what they saw.

To what purpose, then, do we put our hands? Are we only the hungry, the lame, the sick; yes, we are certainly all that, but are we also the ones who work with Him so that the Word might spread and faith might be fed? Blessed are those who work with God and turn their works over to God, for He does great things through the hands of those who follow Him. In prayer, we should turn our hands over to Him and ask to what purpose they should be put. He has given each of us talents through which we may help one another; it is but our choice as to whether we seek to follow Him and become part of His works or to walk other paths. No matter what we perceive as driving us to a path, the choice in what we do and what we fail to do rests ultimately with us.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier