SETTING MY SIGHTS ON HIGHER GROUND

       

SETTING MY SIGHTS ON HIGHER GROUND

I KEEP ON CLIMBING 

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PHILIPPIANS 3.10 - 14 

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  That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.  Not as though I had already attained (grasped), either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend (grasp) that for which also I am apprehended (lay hold by) of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended (grasped): but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before., I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  

         As I enter this Winter season, I know it has been three Thanksgivings, and three Christmas Holidays since my dear husband, my Pastor-friend and sweetheart, has been gone.   How I miss him, who so loved me and cherished me.   My heart is full of the knowledge of how much God blessed me in my dear Henry's life.    

          Many of you out there have experienced loss, and change, and some of you may be wondering how to cope with that loss.  It does not seem to you that God is near, nor does it seem that God is listening to you.

          Jesus gives the Believing heart the promise the peace that the world cannot give us.   "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you; let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  John 14.27  

         Jesus, knowing that He would become "lifted up" on the cross, had told Nicodemus that at the very outset of His ministry.  In John chapter 3.14 - 17 Jesus declared "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life, for God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."   

         When Jesus was preparing His disciples, He told them several times, I am going to be betrayed, to die on the cross, and be buried, and I will rise again on the third day.   Yet, just as when I face an approaching death with a loved one, and that person tells me, "I am going to die, ...most of the time I shut "away" from my heart what that person is telling me.  When my Mother was sure that it was "her time" I remember her giving me a call on the phone.   She told me that she was not able to eat, her "appetite" was just NOT THERE, and the doctor told her to get ready, her time was near.

She had a few things she wanted me to REMEMBER TO DO after she died.   

         I know now that I was NOT LISTENING because I did NOT WANT TO have her telling me she was going to die.   It amazed me after she did pass on, that I remembered the things she wanted me to do - for I surely was having a hard time accepting her death was so near.

          What I am saying is that just as I had a difficulty listening to my Mother talk about her death, here in John's Gospel, Jesus is telling His disciples that He wants them to remember that the most important thing He gives them to do "is to love one another, as I have loved you."  John 15.12     He first gave it to them (John 13.34,35) and said, "A new command I am giving to you, to love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another; by this shall all (mankind) men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

         Explaining to His Disciples that He "was going away" and they would not see Him, He reassures them that He is going to prepare a place for them, and then, that they might be with Him, He will come again and take them to be with Him....(John 14.1-3)

         In our grief so often we do not know what to do.   But Jesus' words "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me..." give us the reason to cling to the Hope that is indeed His promise of Hope, of Help, of Heart, and of Heaven's portals waiting for us.     Jesus is with us.    Jesus' Spirit is here among us.   

          Jesus spoke to his "grieving" Disciples who were sorrowful because He was "GOING AWAY" that "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my Name, He may give it to you.  These things I command you, that you love one another."  (John 15.16 - 17) 

         As I look at the past, I may grieve for joys departed, but I must turn my back on what has been, and go forward, for the dear Spirit is in my heart, lifting up the Savior in my life, and glorifying the Father in my ways, by helping me remember His Words.   I am to keep on keeping on.   I am to keep on climbing.   I am able, by God's undeserving favor in my life, because of Jesus' blood offered on the Cross in my place, on my behalf, and as my Passover Lamb, I am able to count on God to hear my prayer and to lead me, and to guide me on to higher ground.

          Jesus said in Luke 9.23  "If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."   That is what Paul is talking about in "grasping" for that which lies before him.   He is talking about LIVING THE RESURRECTION LIFE.... I AM ON THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO HEAVEN...and denying my "self" I am to pick up the cross that God in His mercy and grace gives to me, whatever life has dealt to me, whatever my health, my circumstance, my situation, my needs, and place them in His Hands, and pick them up and give them to Him to help me on my way.

         When Moses stood before the LORD, at the Burning Bush, God asked Moses "what is in your hand?"    Moses replied, "My staff"....and God said "throw it down."   He did so.    It turned into a symbol of sin's hold on us -  a SNAKE.   Slithering, it coiled.   Then God said, "Pick it up."   I imagine Moses must have said WHAT FOR ?  THIS ?   But he did so.   And as he picked it up it turned to His Staff again.   

           As I set my sights on HIGHER GROUND I challenge you as well, to understand, that God is asking you "WHAT IS IN YOUR HAND?"   and then he asks, CAST IT DOWN....before ME, YOUR LORD, YOUR GOD, THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN HELP YOU COPE, HELP YOU SURVIVE, and the Only One who can Lead you on.  

           As I throw down before the LORD my God, what I have in my hand - all the "stuff" that perplexes, puzzles, and that  probes my brain, my will, and my soul, - lay it all down before Him, and 

then He will ask me to TAKE IT AGAIN, PICK IT UP and let God transform it into the very thing that will be my resource for the days ahead.     The very thing that I was afraid of becomes my PURPOSE AND MY STAFF, MY STRENGTH, AND MY HOPE.

            

When I look at the Mountains, I know my help is not from the mountains, but from the LORD who made heaven and earth.  "Cast you burden upon the LORD and He shall sustain thee. He shall never allow the righteous to be moved."  Psalm 55.22

As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me.

Evening, and morning, and at noon, I will pray, and cry 

aloud, and He shall hear my voice." Psalm 55.16,17

"You have given me the shield of your salvation; and your

right hand has held me up, and your gentleness 

has made me great.   You have enlarged my steps under 

me, that my feet did not slip."  Psalm 18.35,36

"The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock and let 

the God of my Salvation (Adonai Y'shua) 

be exalted.  

"Being justified by faith, we have peace with God 

through our Lord Jesus Christ (Adonai Y'shua Meschiach)

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace

in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory

of God. And not only so, but we 

glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation

works patience (endurance) and patience, experience

and experience, hope: and hope makes not 

ashamed, because the Love of God is shed 

abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given

to us, for when we were yet without strength,

in due time Christ died for the ungodly."

Romans 5.1 - 6

"But God commends His love toward us, in that, 

while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,

Much more then, being now justified by His

blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 

Romans 5.8,9

If we have been planted together in the 

likeness of His death, we shall be 

also in the likeness of His resurrection...

Romans 6.5

Let us walk on, climbing ever higher, setting our sights on higher ground, knowing that God is our Help, and our 

Strength, our Resource, our Guide, and our Shepherd.

"The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want."

Psalm 23. 1