"They Straitway Left Their Nets"

II Timothy 2:4 "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Hebrews 13:12-14 "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come."

There's an old song that most of us have sung countless times entitled "Trust and Obey." For there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. To come to a place where we trust him unconditionally and have no confidence in the flesh. It's a concept that, while some of us grasp it a lot faster than others, ( I'm of the slower end of the spectrum ) all of us spend a lifetime learning it in full. I've mentioned before concerning the man that I met in New Orleans in 1985. This man seemed to have no certain dwelling place; he just "travelled" from one place to another proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. He literally lived in a state of continual trust. I remember thinking to myself how awesome that would be; to be in so close to the lord that you can just "go to this place" or "go to that place" without giving thought to the questions of "where will I stay, how will I find work, what will my family think, or any one of a thousand questions that cause us to stand when we're told to run. Once again, I'm pointing a finger to myself as I struggle with this every bit as much as does everyone. Those of us in the western democracies (so called) struggle with it even more as all of the trappings of life are right at our fingertips. As a result, we trust our education, our employment, our acquaintances, political entities, everything except the God who fills heaven and earth and holds in his hand the breath of life. Few of us ever learn to fully "let go and let God." To launch out into the deep and "take no thought for the morrow."

The company that I work for has been offering buyouts as they trim their workforce to match the decreased demand for their products. Like many Americans, I'm married, we have four kids, a host of critters, and all of the expenses of an average family. Taking the buyout would seem to be a big mistake in the natural but I did seriously pray over it. To be honest, I would like to have been told in a dream "Timbob, I want you to leave American Axle, take your family, go to the city of Ufa in Bashkortostan, and when you get there, I'll tell you what to do." Well this never transpired and the buyout package expires today. Of course now, it would really be a step of faith as leaving American Axle would be a move completly void of any monitary reward. I would like to think that in such a situation I would be obediant, however, without it actually transpiring, I cannot say for certain, as to how I would react. While all of us would like to convince ourselves that we're ready to "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth" we learn the truth when called upon to put our profession of faith into action. To be where he wants us; even if it makes absolutly no sense. This is why I began with the two verses at the top of this post. To live for the Lord Jesus Christ; trusting him in all things and leaning not unto our own understanding. Our understanding can't even see into the next day, but God declares the ending from the beginning. If we can learn this; really get it into our heart of hearts, how much more peace and joy we would have.

Revelation 21:1-4 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Ponder that for a moment; what it's going to be like when we are in the presence of the Lord forever. All of the disappointments, all of the betrayals, all of the sufferings of this present life will be as a distant far away dream from long long ago. This is why I find myself continuously urging that we would all get our affections on the world to come. You make the statement "It's all going to burn" and folks take it as being "doom and gloom." Even christians have trouble with it. I know because, on a number of occasions, usually at church, in the area outside of the sanctuary when folks are discussing their lawn, their trip to Jamaica, sports, and every irrelevant topic under the sun, I will bring it up in an attempt to steer the conversation toward the eternal. It always catches folks totally off guard. (Always; without fail) First of all, it's true. This is all going to melt with a fervent heat. Second, if you know Jesus as your Savior, why do you concern yourself with it? To be truly heavenly minded is life and joy that can never come from a physical source. As mentioned in previous posts, when you're truly heavenly minded, you'll be much more diligent in your Fathers business. When you truly have your sites set on the everlasting world to come, the Lord can tell you "Take a flight to Eritrea, stand in the central square of the city of Asmera, and tell this people about me" and you wouldn't give it a second thought. (Currently in Eritrea, roughly 10% of the christian population is incarcerated.) As you set out to do this, you can be certain that folks would call you a dingaling. You can be certain that most of the christians would also call you a dingaling; siting a thousand reasons why "this cannot be Gods will."

Matthew 16:24-26 "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

John 12:25-26 "He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."

These are "hard verses" when you have affections in this life, but when you really get this down in your heart, you'll know what it is to be truly free from the rudiments of this life. To be focused steadfast on the Lord jesus Christ and serve him with what the world would call "reckless abandon." Only then are you really in a position to be fully utilized. "They straitway left their nets." When these disciples met Jesus, they left dad and the boat; casting aside the only life that they had ever known. They had no idea as to what would happen but they knew in whom they believed. As we come to the end of the age, it's all the more urgent that we remain steadfast. That we would continually examine our hearts to ensure that nothing contrary to truth has set up shop. To say "Behold I am here Lord" when he calls and not make up some excuse. It's my sincere prayer that we all would run with patience the race that is set before us.

Philippians 3:7-8 "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."

Hebrews 12:1-2 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."