It’s October and the fall colors are just about peak this week. It’s absolutely glorious this time of year. I love to walk and be outside, especially at this season of change and anticipation. Fall always gives me that vibe, that something exciting is on the way, transitions are emerging, and a new perspective, a new goal in on the horizon.
I’ve been challenged as of late to question some age old patterns of thinking that were producing the same miserable results in my life over and over again. Trying to fit a square peg in a round hole can be a frustrating experience. Sadly I’ve wasted years on this pursuit and the fruit of this quest has got me thinking, as these orange and gold leaves come to life all around me. Like the leaves, I am ripe, to see things as never before, to make some changes, to take a leap in the dark as it were, a leap of faith.
For some 30 years my thinking has been as stoic as a stone, unmovable, blind. I’d see things, but as the Word of God states, I had not observed them. I had not learned what the precious Lord of heaven was so patiently trying to teach me. I’ve not been a good student, as my thinking inside my own box prevented me from seeing the truth on so many levels. Some things can’t be taught, they must be experienced.
” Come ye out from among them and be ye separate sayeth the Lord, and I will receive you.” I’ve never fully understood this passage. I always thought it meant, “repent of your sins” but like so many other mysteries in the Bible, it had a deeper meaning. On reflection, I’ve discovered for myself a profound application to this verse. Who does Jesus warn us about in the New Testament? Of whom does he say” Beware of them”? Who does He stop speaking to plainly and only in parables? Who has he the most disputes with? Come ye out from among them, he warns. Who are they?
It astonished me how blind I could be. How self deceived I could become. What is so well hidden in plain sight is the very thing that often trips me up. I wanted to be good, I wanted to be religious. I wanted to go to heaven, to associate with ” godly” people. Did I check my own heart before I pondered such lofty goals. Not likely. My eye was set on the prize. It has taken me a long time to see that what I truly sought was a booby prize at best. It’s not out there, this reward I hoped for, in fact, I wasted a lot of time seeking a twisted version of what the world seeks all day every day. You see that apple, that sinful apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
To follow Christ in truth, I’ve found out, is to be hated by this world. It is to be the ” offscouring of all things.” it is to take up my cross following Him and to become one of no reputation in this life. It’s a lonely road and one of pain, suffering, and rejection. It is being misunderstood, undervalued, and tasting meekness. The road our Lord traveled on earth was not lined with glory land praise or worldly acclaim. It was one of humility, marked by unpopularity. The fanfare of all the horse and pony shows going on in Christendom bear no likeness to this difficult path, nor are they, pursuing such things, or interested in the lessons of this road. What I’ve learned, however, in these lessons is that if you want to know Christ, in truth, this is the way. There is no other way, and it’s not gloryland down here. If the world loves you, you are probably not on this road at all.
I’ve come to a crossroad because the truth beckons me, but it requires a decision, a reality I didn’t anticipate, and it comes at a cost. To have fellowship with His suffering was all along a part of His plan. In fact, it wasn’t just part of the plan, it was the plan. When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and receive His free gift of forgiveness and salvation, we die and are quickened to life and oneness with Him eternally. This automatically brings suffering as we become the targets of hate by this world.
Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, and He will embrace you, fellowship with you and show you the truth.
Sarah Hopkins Art 