Psalm 46:10,11
Sir Thomas Huxley was once on his way to an important meeting. He arrived late at the coach station. (Our equivalent of a bus station) Anxiously he jumped into a coach yelling to the coachman “Drive fast!" Away they went, jolting over the streets. Eventually Huxley asked the driver. "Do you know where you are going?" “Well,” he answered with a grin, "No, I don't know where I'm going, but I'm driving very fast."
I admit to you today that sometimes I’ve felt this way in my life. Not just sure which way I’m going but getting there in a hurry. In the Christian life this can be good or bad.
First a positive illustration:
2 Kings 3:16
"And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches."
God’s people were in the desert, preparing to battle an army when God interrupts by telling them to start digging ditches. Isn’t that strange? I can imagine two men digging together, one turns to the other asking, ”Why are we doing this?” The other say’s, “because God said so.” Well, what about it? Is that a good enough reason, because God said so? Army and commands
Verse 20 And it came to pass in the morning….that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. "
And what do you think that meant? The horses and men were refreshed before the battle. Also when the enemy came the next morning, the red sky was reflecting off the water and it looked like blood. Believing God’s people in civil war had killed each other, the enemy went down thinking they were taking the spoil of the dead people but instead they ran into an army fresh and ready to battle…WHY…because they followed God’s instruction by digging ditches in the desert.
Now a negative illustration of not knowing where your going: Matthew 25:24-26
We pick up the story where the servant who was given one talent had to give account to his master:
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not strawed: 25And I was afraid, and hid your talent in the earth: lo, here you have what is yours. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, you wicked and slothful servant….
He didn’t know what to do so he did nothing, WHY? He was in fear of his master.
• Not only did this man not have a relationship with the Master his service was from fear.
• Some serve fearing hell fire. They’re stand-still Christians, do nothings, no relationship.
There are times when doing nothing is good however, not from fear of God but from reverence.
Psalm 46:10,11
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, Friends, are we among heathen? I will be exalted in the earth. 11The LORD of hosts is with us…God … is our refuge.
Exodus 14:10-13
And when Pharaoh came near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were very afraid….13And Moses said unto the people, Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD….
Sometimes we need to do nothing but listen and watch as God leads us. Did Moses know this lessen? How did he know God had a plan? He had an experimental faith, he knew God. Let’s talk about character development.
Isaiah 30:19,20
"For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. 20And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers"
Wallace Johnson, builder of numerous Holiday Inn motels and convalescent hospitals tells this story, "When I was forty years old, I worked in a saw-mill. One morning the boss told me, I was fired. Depressed and discouraged, I felt like the world had caved in on me. For the moment I didn’t know what to do. The depression was on, and my wife and I really needed the small income I had been earning. When I went home, I told my wife what had happened. She asked what I was going to do and I said, “I'm going to mortgage our little home, and go into the building business.” My first venture was the construction of two small buildings. Within five years, I was a multi-millionaire! Today, if I could locate the man who fired me. I would sincerely thank him. At the time it happened, I didn't understand why I was fired. Later, I saw it was God's wondrous plan to get me where He wanted me. Be still and know that I am God.
From this message today we can learn important lessons, some we can put into practice:
1. Life can throw us curves and can be uncertain at times. How do we then react in times of crises, when we can’t see the future?
The Bible tells us how. When we don’t know which way to turn, find a quiet place and allow the Lord to quietly speak to us.
2. We must trust our God to see us through. Know that your strength comes from above.
Don’t be like the frightened servant who didn’t know his master. Get to know God personally now. Then when crisis comes we will have faith in His love to us
3. We must learn that going fast is not always best. We need to learn to interject quiet times into the fast paced lifestyle society has forced upon us. But we must make quiet times happen, they don’t come by accident.
Let me ask you this morning, what do you plan to do with this message?
• Will you make an effort to find, or, if you already do, continue to find quiet time each day to stay in communion with God? By doing this you will be better equipped to handle the next crises in your life.
• Will you get busy for God, not standing still in fear of making a mistake?
• If you feel this is your decision please feel free to contact me and share.