For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2Timothy 4: 6-8
God has a race for us as well beloved. He understands that we might get weary but has promised rivers in the wasteland to revive us. He understands that we might get lost along the way but has promised pathways in our wilderness to bring us back to Him. As we close out another decade look! He is about to do a new thing in you if you would just let Him!
Not only will He do a new thing in you beloved He has already begun! God's work in us is perpetual. It is ongoing. It does not stop. The path is there before us. The way has been made. The river has been created. Look at what God is saying to us as we enter into a new decade on this earth do you not see it? Can you not see the next level God is drawing you to? Can you not see Him moving in your life? Can you not see the doors being opened for you? Can you not see the plan unfolding all around you? The life of Joseph shows us someone who always saw the plan of God unfolding around him. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers when he was only 17, yet still prospered in Potiphar's house. After being falsely accused and thrown in jail, Joseph still prospered in the prison. Even after being forgotten by the cupbearer, costing him another two years in prison; Joseph still refused to give in to his circumstances. He still saw God constantly doing a new thing in him. We read the word prospered and somehow gloss over the fact that Joseph was still a slave in Potiphar's house! He was still a prison! These were not glorious days for Joseph and let us not forget that his wilderness lasted 13 years! After being released from prison and ascending to the second most powerful position in the world Joseph never sought retribution upon anyone who wronged him. Why? Surely he must have gone through the range of human emotions? Because he always saw everything in terms of what level God was trying to take him to. His brothers, riddled with guilt even after being forgiven, are reassured by Joseph at the end of Genesis and through the reassurance; we see Joseph understood that God was always doing a new thing in him:
But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50: 19-21
And that brings us full circle in the key verses. God is saying that as we look back on all He has done in our lives we need to temper our astonishment with the unbelievable reality that it will pale in comparison to the new thing He has already begun in us today! Those victories God gave you over the past ten years will be surpassed by the victories He has for you and is already working in you! Do you not see it?
God will show you the pathway through the wilderness. He will create the river you need to sustain yourself in the weary wasteland. The world and the enemy will try to get your focus off of God and onto your circumstances. As long as you are not focused on God you cannot walk on the water. As long as you are not focused on God you will not see it. Thank God for the past ten years and how far He has brought you but thank Him even more for the ten years ahead and next level He has for you in Christ Jesus. Oh beloved, see it today!
Reverend Anthony Wade December 30, 2009 Happy New Year!
