What does it take for God to get your attention? How hard must He urge you to listen to His call, and is there a direct correlation between our willingness to listen and a heart that is hard? OUCH!
This week, my dear husband and I spent a lovely three days with our youngest son at a near-by state park – a favorite haunt of our family. In fact, I’ve been going there for over forty years now! (This age thing really creeps up on you!)
Hills Creek State Park is about forty-five minutes from Cherry Springs State Park which boast of having the darkest sky east of the Mississippi River; so, needless to say, we were really seeing some awesome sights. Star-gazing is a family favorite, and Nathan and I really have had some wonderful times under the amazing starlit sky. We got out the chase lounge and binoculars and just enjoyed the sight.
Sometime during the night, I needed to walk to the restroom. We were in a little cottage which only had electricity and the restroom was about a hundred yards away, but I didn’t want to get up! It was cold; there are wild animals out there (ferocious chipmunks!); and I was tired!
I tried to ignore the situation for about two hours and then decided I wasn’t ready for replacement bladder surgery! As I got up, I heard Nathan call from the other room and together we headed out. He had been out earlier and had hoped that I’d wake up. “You should see the stars,” he whispered as we left the cottage.
After our bathroom trip, we decided to drive out to a less wooded area. It was 4:30 AM and what a thrill we got! We saw at least ten shooting stars, Venus and the Milky Way as bright as we’ve ever seen it! I believe one little blur may have been the Andromeda Galaxy; whatever it was sure was a sight when we looked through the binoculars! It will be a night that I will never forget. (Of course, this mother’s heart is tucking all these treasured times away knowing very soon that this last chick is about to fly! Boo hoo!)
So the point of all this? God had a wonderful blessing planned for me, if only I would leave the warmth and comfort of my bed! He nearly had to kill me to get me to move!! Shame on me. How often am I that way for the really important things – the spiritual blessings and experiences that He has planned for me: an extra hour in His word, a special meeting at church, an encounter with someone who needs to hear a word of testimony and I won’t even open my mouth!
We cannot see what God sees, so we walk by faith. It’s a difficult thing at times. The way just doesn’t seem to make sense. All we see is disappointment and dead ends. The way is dark and unpromising; but when God is pointing us in that direction we are fools not to follow! Why can’t we trust the Creator of this universe to do what’s best in our little corner of it?
Two verses become the guiding lights that we need: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) is so necessary in this very distracting world! Take time to just listen! And then remember James precious promise: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”(James 4:8) The second part is necessary for a close walk with our God, but the first part is the precious promise. If we are not close to God, it’s not God’s fault! We’re often like the wife who complained to her husband that they didn’t sit close like they used to when in the car. He looked over from behind the wheel and simply said, “I haven’t moved!”
So the rebuke for me is simply this: practice what you preach, Wanda. We taught our children to obey “immediately, happily and exactly.” I think the words of this old song say it best:
When the Canaanites hardened their hearts against God
And grieved Him because of their sin,
God sent along hornets to bring them to task,
And help His own people to win.
The hornets persuaded them that it was best,
To go quickly, and not to go slow;
God did not compel them to go ‘gainst their will,
But He just made them willing to go.
Chorus
He does not compel us to go, No! No!
He does not compel us to go.
He does not compel us to go ‘gainst our will
But He just makes us willing to go.
If a nest of live hornets were brought to this room
And the creatures allowed to go free,
You would not need urgings to make yourself scarce,
You’d want to get out, don’t you see.
They would not lay hold and by force of their strength
Throw you out of the window, Oh No,!
They would not compel you’ to go ‘gainst your will,
But they’d just make you willing to go.
Chorus
When Jonah was sent to the work of the Lord,
The outlook was not very bright;
He never had done such a hard thing before,
So he backed and ran off from the fight.
But God sent a big fish to swallow him up,
The story I’m sure you all know;
He did not compel him to go ‘gainst his will,
But He just made him willing to go.
Chorus
When Moses was sent to lead Israel out,
To Canaan’s rich fruit-bearing land.
Resisting His Spirit they worshiped a calf,
But refused to obey God’s Command.
God did not compel them to go to the land,
Which with wine, milk, and honey did flow,
But fed them on manna for forty long years,
‘Till He got them all ready to go.
Chorus
When Balaam was sent to the Moabite king,
And wanted things run his own way,
His mule, ever faithful, spoke at the right time,
Made him willing God’s Will to obey.
God can use any man, since He used Balaam’s mule,
For He is Almighty you know;
He does not compel us to go ‘gainst our will
But He just makes us willing to go.
