God’s Will

Today is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (2/12/1809-4/15/1865). Lincoln was the 16^th President of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865.  Born into poverty and self-educated, he became a lawyer and statesman. He led the nation through the American Civil War and succeeded in preserving the Union, abolishing slavery, bolstering the federal government, and modernizing the U.S. economy.

During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln was purportedly asked if God was on his side. He replied, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side, my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”

Those words present a significant challenge.  Too often we plan and prepare and then ask God to bless what we have planned and prepared. Sometimes we act without thought and expect God to walk through our foolishness and protect us.

He loves us, so He is by our side even when we expose ourselves to danger or act without thinking—just as we protect our children. But Lincoln’s words remind us that we should consult with God before we act and make sure we are on His side (in other words, in His will).

 “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” [Romans 12:2 HCSB]

Everything in this age is geared to short-circuit that “Consult God First” action. This age wants us to be reactive, rash, hurried and self-absorbed. God wants us to take the time to actively renew our mind through His word. He wants us to discover His good, pleasing, and perfect will before we act.

That is the only way to know decisively that we are “on God’s side.”

It is Easter Sunday morning as I write this, and my thoughts and emotions are all over the place. I spent Good Friday and Silent Saturday watching a replay of Christian movies, “Fireproof,” “Heaven is For Real,” “Courageous,” “Facing the Giants,” to name a few.

Bob was fishing with a friend all day Friday from early in the morning until dinner time and was in and out Saturday busy with errands. I sat in the big lounge chair in the living room enjoying the sunshine coming through the window as I watched, prayed, meditated, and listened.

I started crying sometime around mid-day Friday. It was not really tied to anything I was watching; it was just a sorrow that began to fill my soul. Saturday, around mid-day, I as I watched “Facing the Giants” and that great “death crawl scene,” I started to weep (loudly).

I think I would have cried most of the afternoon, but my son came to pick up some things and I had to get my emotions under control. I did, however, discover the source of my tears.

If you have never seen the “death crawl scene” in “Facing the Giants,” there is a link to the video below. As I watched that scene, I was overwhelmed … I have prayed and prayed and fought for many years to see revival in our church, our city, our state, our nation. I was stunned by thoughts that retiring at the end of the year seems like I am quitting on the 50-yard line – without reaching the end zone.

I have many reasons to retire, age, health, energy … the main reason is that I am sure I heard God’s direction correctly that the Middleton church needs a younger person to take over, my work there is done. I was also aware that somewhere along the way I would have second thoughts. What I never expected was the intensity of those second thoughts and the shocking truth that I have only reached the 50-yard line ….

I am not writing this because I plan on changing my mind or want others to encourage me to change my mind. I am not seeking sympathy. I guess I put these thoughts into words as a reminder that life can be difficult even when we are directly within the will of God.

 Matthew 6:10: “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

 The Death Crawl scene from Facing the Giants – Bing video

I was reading Acts 16 which describes the evangelization of Europe. Initially, Paul was “prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in Asia.” [Acts 16:6b HCSB]

He then “tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.” [vs 7b]

Finally, in a night vision Paul saw a Macedonian man pleading with him to cross into Macedonia. After that vision, Paul and his companions “set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelize them.” [vs 10b]

The first convert in Europe was a woman named Lydia in Philippi, who invited them to stay in her house. Then Paul cast out a demon from a slave girl and ended up in trouble with her owners, was dragged into the marketplace and accused of disturbing the city – an unacceptable event in a Roman colony. Eventually, Paul and Silas were beaten with rods and thrown into a jail, which led to the conversion of the Philippian jailer and his entire household.

As I was reading about those events it struck me that Paul was directly in the will of God.

He had followed God’s leading in his missionary journey, gone where God wanted him to go, and ended up being accused, beaten, and thrown into jail.

Joseph, in the Old Testament had a similar experience. He concluded, “You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.” [Genesis 50:20 HCSB]

We can be in the center of the will of God and still have trouble. Interesting.