Book 3 of Musings A Sea of Impossibilities
God's path leads through the sea, His way through the mighty waters.
Those who live in a sea of impossibilities understand what this Psalm means.
The Book of Second Corinthians has meant a lot to me because it tells us about the various sufferings the Lord bring us through; how he always delivers us from every peril.
I like especially the following verse"
Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:9)
Paul was speaking of one particular occasion when he said the above; but I believe it is a good thing to live always with that sentence in ourselves, just as the Apostle Paul did. We always are to count ourselves crucified with Christ and living in and with Christ.
I guess you have to be in serious trouble at some point in your life if you are to really appreciate this passage. Paul had the sentence of death in himself because of the pressures on him at that time.
Paul speaks of the hardships he suffered in the province of Asia, pressure far beyond his ability to endure. He probably was speaking of the time the mob in Ephesus was stirred up by Demetrius over the issue of the worship of Diana.
Most of us may not have been subjected to mob violence, but we have had our own pressures. There are times when we are certain we have come to the end of our life.
Paul felt in his heart he had been sentenced to death. This sentence caused him to rely on God who raises the dead. God did deliver him from Demetrius and the riotous multitude, and so Paul went on his way to Macedonia.
In the fourth chapter of Second Corinthians Paul informs us that the pressures on him resulted in Christ being communicated to the people to whom Paul was ministering.
Later on in the same book Paul enumerates the various tribulations he endured. Then, after being caught up to the third heaven, Paul was afflicted in his flesh (probably a disease of his eyes) so God's power would be perfected in him. The idea was that Paul was to be brought down to such weakness that all he did was actually the Lord working through him.
I wonder how many of us would choose this way of life-the way of continual crucifixion and resurrection. If we would live in the power of His resurrection, then we must share His sufferings.
Death, and life! Death, and life!
It is remarkable to me that God has chosen to create us as adamic people, and then to continually frustrate us so His Life might be operative in us.
But when you stop to think about it, how else could we ever come to the knowledge of the Lord?
If we had been created in a manner that made us impervious to danger, pain, and death, how would we ever learn about the faithfulness of God?
Well, we might read God's promises in the Bible, or hear about them from the Pastor. Or we might go to school and read in a book and hear from a teacher about God's faithfulness. But could we really learn the Nature of God by reading about God in a book or hearing about Him from someone else?
Perhaps, to a limited extent.
But it is in severe trials that we become acquainted with the invisible God; that we learn of His Character.
Day after day pours forth speech. Night after night displays knowledge.
When times are bright and untroubled we say many words and we hear many words. These serve a good purpose.
But it is in the night seasons when we gain the knowledge of God.
Is God a healer? When we have a dreadful disease, and God raises us to perfect health, we know then that He is a healer.
Does God provide for us? When we have great need, and the need is met, we know then that God is our Provider.
Is God powerfully attentive to our needs? When we are in an impossible situation, and we pray, we suddenly find ourselves lifted up to safety. This is done so naturally we sometimes forget to give thanks. The deliverance is so complete is seems there never was a problem in the first place.
Life on earth is not easy. There are impossible circumstances. There are mighty waters. Kings cannot be formed any other way. If we are to govern the nations with Christ, we have to be brought low many, many times. We have to be denied our most intense desires and made to serve in unpleasant circumstances.
Our obedience is tested again and again.
One day in the not too distant future we will be descending with Christ on the great white war stallions. Arrayed against us will be the most powerful force of people and demons Satan can muster.
To successfully attack such hideous depravity, such a weight of spiritual darkness, we must know our God. We must have proven Him over and over again as we have faced the enemy during our lifetime on the earth.
Christ said we are the light of the world. But this is true only as we are brought low and Christ shines in us.
Christ said we are the salt of the earth. But this is true only as Christ is revealed in the new creation in us.
The flesh profits nothing whatever. All that is of eternal worth is in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is for this reason that the Lord must leads us through the sea, through the mighty waters. It is for this reason we must be tossed about in a sea of impossibilities.
All this takes place that we might learn not to rely on ourselves but on God who raises us from the dead. These lessons will save our life in the time of conflict.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43:2)