My family gathered together this past month as I downsized for the move into a small apartment ……… we enjoyed the fun as I dispersed family heirlooms and other items in order to rent the family home.Yet, a cloud hung over our gathering as we watched the US stock market tumble. My oldest daughter shared how her salon has lost almost ¾ of her normal business this last month, and that she would be working just to pay the rent on her shop if she was able to continue at all.
The kids already knew that my company had started laying off this month. I was still disturbed as I thought of those that had lost their jobs last week and wondered at my own future. I received my quarterly statement on my 401K in the mail Wednesday, showing a loss of 1/3 of my retirement funds. And so it was with all of us here in California and across our nation. Here is where the rubber meets the road........
On Sunday night we said our tearful goodbyes, realizing things were really changing and there was no going back. As my children left fear gripped me. I wanted to further warn them. I did not think we were serious enough about what we were facing……so I sat down and wrote my thoughts on our family blog……my soul conjured up every scenario of what was coming and offered several options to avert those possibilities and then,
I told them that somehow God would see us through…….LOL
Jack read the post Monday and e-mailed me saying, Joian, you are saying two things……… when I reread it I saw it…….. was I ever double minded……By Tuesday, I was able to lay it down, but the fear had been spread……. I spent the rest of the week repenting to the Lord and to my children……sigh~
This past Friday, I began listening again to CDs by Eby and Brogden to get my eyes off this world. This morning I picked up an article from Doug B. Clark from his blogsite, The Inward Journey and was totally blown away by the things he shared…..I have cried off and on all morning at his post titled “The Travail of Mankind”.
I share here just an excerpt, as this is just his preface for the article by George Hawtin – “According to the Purpose” I hope you take the time to read his whole post.
In his peace again,
Joian
The Travail of Mankind
…………I have found that in the midst of our travail both the man of sin and the Christ are revealed. In God’s divine wisdom He has given us the hardships of this earthly life that serve to both expose this man of sin and to reveal the Christ in those who have been apprehended to become sons. This man of sin I am referring to is not the comic-book-like-villain that many expect to appear on the world scene. He is much more sinister for he is hidden within the heart of every man, both sinner and saint! The root of the problem with this man of sin is our desire for independence from God. The travail given to mankind exposes the roots of this desire along with those things in us that must be removed. At the same time the soil of our earth-bound-soul must be broken so that the life of God may emerge as a tender blade.
God knows what each of us need in every season of our life in order to experience more of Him. Sometimes it is revelation He gives to enlighten our understanding and lift us to new heights, while other times He may send a lying spirit in the mouth of His prophets in order that the king of flesh may go to battle and be destroyed. (1Kings 22: 20-22)
We have long known that God desires to reveal Himself to us, but it may be a new thought to some to consider that in His plan He may also allow a time of deception. Some may argue that it is only the wicked that encounter a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. (2 Thes 2:11) The son of perdition who resides in the heart of every man must be first exposed before he is taken out of the way. It is the brightness of the coming forth of Christ within us that dispels the darkness and death brought about by all our self-efforts to achieve god status apart from reconciliation with our Creator.
Adam continues to reach for the tree of life with the hope and desire to be as God, but it is impossible for the natural man to partake of the life of the Spirit. So the angel with the flaming sword continues to prevent the natural man from feeding from the tree of life. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Ro. 8:7
The inventions of the man of sin continue as he seeks an alternative route to embracing the divine life other than the cross. It does not matter whether we are a babe in Christ, or a seasoned veteran who has already overcome many of the struggles of this earthly life. There are constant alternative twists of the gospel that try and eliminate the need for the cross. One such popular twist is the “remembering who we are” teaching. It is true that we came from God and we are returning to Him. This is the law of circularity. The seed of God in us is being awakened and there is a remembrance of our life in Him. What I am not hearing in this teaching is the part about how the seed must be planted in the earth (our soul) and die in order for the life within to emerge. This is the pattern we see in Jesus and we will be led down the same path in order to experience the fullness of who we are in Him.
I am no longer upset by the various rabbit trails I see trodden by many brethren. I realize that God has allowed these alternative paths as a means to keep Adam out of the garden. The act of being drawn away by misrepresentations of the truth reveals that we are listening to the wrong voice. It is God’s method for revealing the man of sin in us who is bent on sitting on the throne of our hearts, pretending that he is God. This too is a part of the travail given to the sons of man to be humbled by it. Unfortunately, we are often unable to recognize what is transpiring until we become blind and stumble into the ditch. Sometimes we have to eat a little dirt before we are humbled enough to have our sight restored. Many folks remain in the ditch oblivious to their spiritual condition. But those who have been “ according to the purpose of him who predestinated worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Eph 1:11) find themselves uncomfortable and sick if they remain in the ditch for too long. The seed of God within them begins to cry out for drop of water upon their dry and thirsty tongue.
While I believe that God raises up voices in the wilderness to proclaim His truth, I am also aware that He allows the voice of the stranger as a test for His sons. When we are tested there is a REVEALING of our spiritual condition. If there is something in us that is tempted by the voice of the stranger then it needs to be exposed before it is taken out of the way! The king of flesh must be allowed to go to the battle so that he is destroyed.
………………The Bible teaches that God will give us the desires of our heart. (Mark 11:23) But have you ever considered how often the desires of our heart draw us away from the will of God? Why would God give us something that draws us away from Him? It is the interplay of the will of man and the will of God that brings about an end to self-rule. Often the fulfillment of our desires becomes the catalyst that exposes the man of sin and brings about the humility necessary for the life of Christ life to emerge. If there is something other than Christ ruling in any area of our life there is no better way to be set free than for God to turn us over to our hearts desire. This is the travail given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.
There are seasons and times that we experience individually and there are seasons and times experienced by nations that are unfolded throughout the ages. The Holy Spirit is opening our understanding so we can see how all the seasons and ages work together to accomplish His purposes. We know that our beginning was in Him. Let us be encouraged to know that He will cause all the seasons and times throughout the ages to come together in a way that will glorify His name and will exalt the Father to the place of being all in all.
Douglas B. Clark
(The full writing by Douglas can be found
at this link. We would hope you might read it
and be encouraged as we move through
this present turmultuous season)
http://www.theinwardjourney.net/blog/2008/04/
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