Last month, I was reading a devotional talking about a verse in 2 Kings, when Elisha was with his servant, and they became surrounded by the horses and chariots of the enemy.
2 Kings 6:16-17
"And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. [17] And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see..."
The servant was looking with his physical eyes. Observing the situation from what he could see in a natural sense -- and when he did that, the circumstance looked grim. They were surrounded by the enemy. There WERE forces who would try to oppose them. Yet, He didn't have the spiritual vision to comprehend that there was more than what first meets the eye. God's plan is not always apparent to our limited, short-sighted vision. We can't immediately see that God has a plan, an escape, or solution for us. We need to pray, as Elisha did, that he will open our eyes to His perfect way. Yes, situations can be dire, and we are certainly in need of God's provision sometimes. But our job is to trust the bigger picture, and have the faith to know that God is in control and will take care of us.
What struck me, though, was how Elisha, a man of God, was praying for his servant. Elisha could see that God was there, and had confidence the provision was enough. Are we not, as Christian's, men of God who can influence those who don't yet have a clear vision? We each have our own unique sphere of influences, whether that be at school, on the job, or just in our community. As citizens of the Kingdom, God has charged us to be a beacon of light to those who haven't come to know our Savior. Elisha prayed, and God opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw the miraculous help of God. I went to public school. I have been blessed with more knowledge and understanding of truth than many there will ever have in their lifetime. I need to have the burden to pray that they find clear vision of truth and of God -- the only truth.
It's remarkable how much we can learn when our time in a certain phase of life is nearly expired. In many ways, I regret not being a better vessel for God's use in an environment heavily lacking in morality and the things of God. But, I have to trust that, especially in my final year of school, I walked worthy of God's calling and that my life was an example in the way it was lived. I am a firm believer that God won't punish us for things we haven't learned yet, but that He expects us to continue to improve every time He teaches us something new. And in reflecting on these past few years, I recognize how much I've learned and how much more God desires to use me. I want to be faithful to that. I've seen firsthand the depravity of the world and how needy people are of God and truth. I've seen broken people whose circumstances have extended beyond their control. At the same time, I've witnessed lives dedicated to God, Spirit-filled campmeetings, and the incredible way God can transform a soul -- no matter their circumstance. It's been a valuable lesson to me, and I strongly desire to continue to be who God would have me to be and not let anything come between my devotion to the life I'm endeavoring to live for eternity.
In Neosho, the town I graduated from, each year the seniors paint the road that goes right beside the high school as part of their senior activities. It's on a fairly steep incline, and it's been coined as "painting the hill." We each have a little spot where we can paint something to commemorate our time at the high school. The morning when we were supposed to turn in our drawing to be checked, I still hadn't fully decided what I wanted to paint. I knew I wanted to do something to reflect my love for the Lord and the life I lived, but I wasn't sure exactly how to do that. The verse of the day that morning was 1 Timothy 4:12:
"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
When I read that, it was immediately clear what I should paint. Nothing better encapsulated the goal I had in mind in leaving a mark during my high school career than that verse. Of course, I feel like I lacked in some areas, but that was my goal -- and particularly in my senior year of high school, I feel like I lived up to what God required of me in that manner. A lot of times, kids in school are considered just that -- kids. We're not yet old and wise (if we ever reach that), and we're often not taken as seriously as people more learned and experienced. But this verse gives every indication that we can still be difference-makers for the Kingdom of Heaven. Don't let anyone despise our youth... we still have a job even though we are young. Our job is to be an EXAMPLE of the qualities a believer embodies, in every aspect of life -- in what we stand for, in what we say, in how we show love, in the spirit we portray, in the faith we have, and in the pure life we live. The legacy I left could have been better, but I am confident people could still notice the King I was living for in my life.
This time of reflection has made this verse even more prominent in my mind. Even though I'm a high school graduate(!!!), I'm not old yet. I still have time for this verse to be prominent in my life, and that is a great challenge. I still have the charge as a young man to be an example every day of a Christian, and to display the qualities of Christ in my life. I'm so thankful for how God has been with me through school, and especially in my last year of school. I would be foolish to claim any of the credit for the successes I've had or the life I have had. I'm very grateful to be a part of God's church and His people. It means so much.
Lord willing, there is a lot of life ahead of me. I need direction in my life to know how to do things the way God would have me to do them. This stage in my life has been one very difficult to discern God's will, but I am doing the best I can to do that. Bro. Curtis Williams held a revival here at the end of last month, and one of the messages he brought dealt with our desperate need of God. I feel that is so relevant to me and the time of life I'm in right now. I'm thankful that God is willing to provide challenges like that at the times we need them the most. It spoke to me and helped me realize that further dedication was necessary for me. It's my choice what to do with my life, and I want to live it for Jesus every step of the way. God has a plan for all of us young people! I want to maximize the potential God has for my life, because I know He gave it all when He died for me. I'm striving every day to live a life that is pleasing and acceptable to Him, and I desire your prayers for me. I love and pray for all of you.
Keep encouraged!
