Thursday, October 12, 2006

Evangelism: (Part V: The final chapter... for now)


Never Alone

Elijah’s journey takes an interesting turn in I Kings 19. In an amazing reversal of fortune, we find our brave prophet running for his life from Jezebel. Isn’t this the man who just one chapter earlier brought down fire from the heavens and sat with kings and delivered God’s words? Surely he can’t be afraid!?

God knew his heart and saw what was going on. Elijah was fed and led by an angel to a cave awaiting the presence of God to pass by him (not to pass him by). God allowed fires and earthquakes to occur, yet His presence wasn’t in these things. Then a gentle whispering breeze passed by and there, standing before Elijah, was the very presence of God.

In this moment Elijah suddenly develops a backbone:

1 Kings 19:14

14 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

Isn’t it ironic that Elijah would fear the woman Jezebel yet fearlessly proclaims to the Lord that he felt alone, scared, even abandoned? With the sovereignty that only He possesses, God replies:

1 Kings 19:17,18

17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him."

Weariness tempered with frustration can bring us to some very low moments in our walk: but God is ever lovingly present. When I was in Israel, the job I was working on was a total nightmare. I was pushing 100 hour weeks for months on end, and in spite of this, the project was getting worse, not better. At the homefront, my wife and I had taken in one of her 16 year old cousins who was a bit of a challenge. I would call home to hear the frustration in my wife’s voice and would pine to be home to help. All the while, my two year-old was maturing with each conversation we had on the phone: I was missing all of it and here I am sitting in the land of “Milk and Honey!” These were truly trying times.

It was through this that I could understand best Elijah’s pleading with God, “am I alone, betrayed or abandoned?” This same message was sent by John the Baptist to Jesus. Sitting in a prison, with death looming, he sent a follower to ask Jesus if He indeed was the Christ. Jesus knew that wasn’t John’s real question: he wanted to know if he was following truth or a sham; if the labor of his hands was with purpose; and was he alone? Jesus’ reply was swift and he lovingly told John's apprentice to tell John what he had observed: the proof was in what He did, not what anyone said about him. With this knowledge, I believe that John faced death with the bravery that Stephan showed in the book of Acts.

As I took inventory of the life I was living in Israel, it struck me one day: what was my purpose? Was it to make an amusement ride? I prayed to God: “I am alone in Your chosen land?” I pleaded with Him: “I have let you lead my steps, and I am not feeling the love right now! Please help me because I am falling.” God’s answer was lovingly and swiftly quickened to my heart and I felt more comforted than I had felt in a long time. My life had closed in around me, yet God was still there. All I needed to do was to look up and see the chariots of fire that surround me, and wait for God’s lead. God merely said to me: "Wait on me, and see!".

I waited and that week some amazing things happened. One of my coworkers, who separated from his wife and whom I was passively counseling, attended synagogue for the first time since he was married. He also reconciled with his wife and moved back in.

The young man at the front desk of my hotel, whom I would often strike up conversations with, had talked to his Rabbi who told him that he needed to listen to his American friend (me), because his understanding of the Torah was ‘exciting’ and deep (isn't that a hoot). As a result, he asked for my advice on faith, and on his coming marriage. What a turn of events! He even went as far as to ask me about who Jesus really was.

Out of the blue, another coworker asked me about my faith and wanted to know why I had so much of it. It was in this time that I realized that many of the tares planted by my former employer were pulled up, and a different perspective of Judeo-Christians was being established.
These events weren't mind-blowing tranformations, but they were signs that God was stirring things in the people around me. God is in charge, and He needed me to trust in Him, and Him alone. I was so far from my wife, family and church, that I couldn't rely on them like I do at home. I had to walk in the faith that God was with me and ordering my steps.

I would be misleading to imply that my message here is that fruit is always realized. Many times, the seeds we plant fail to grow at all, and other times they are as mighty cedars that sprout long after we have moved on. It is not a shock to God, that life makes us tired and weary, but God hasn’t left our side. We may stumble, and run in fear, but God draws us to Him and says wait for my presence. Trials and tribulations will go on around us, but where ever we meet God is a time of peace and renewal.

God Bless
Doug

Quick Sidenote: Weekend Fisher has a great exclaimation point for this article. You might want to check it out: The Beatitudes: water in the desert of life