Once the Father births a vision in your heart, you become connected to a sense of meaningfulness about why you are here on planet earth. Most people never experience this inestimable privilege. They hit that conveyor belt of whatever culture they are born into and simply take a number and live for whatever everyone else around them is living for. Purpose is important and I believe that the more aware one becomes of the specifics of his or her purpose, the more fulfilled he or she is. Most Christian would understand in a very broad sense that their purpose is to live for God. A smaller number of believers would know more specifically that they are to intentionally bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ with all that encompasses their lives. Fewer still are those who have recognized what their calling truly is, and have committed wholeheartedly to that assignment from God. God does not play peak-a-boo with people when it comes to assigning them a mission. He is willing to reveal that to anyone who desires to know it and who will pursue it. The most satisfied people I know are those who have waited upon the Father to receive their mission, who have committed to that mission without full disclosure of all the details, and are living out that mission day by day as it unfolds. These are the people are doing life with Jesus. I am not sure that anything else can satisfy the gnawing in our hearts.
When you understand and commit to the reality of doing life with Jesus, you will most certainly be opposed. There are going to be seasons wherein you will be regularly hammered. Sometimes those blows will come from the enemy but sometimes the process of the Father shaping you for suitability to His assignment for you will also feel like hammer-blows on your life. The Potter’s hands do not always need to be gentle to be profitable. More than once during your life, He will put the squeeze on you. Yet this is not usually the challenge which sidetracks people from their mission because God activates powerful grace when He ordains a season of purposeful shaping in our lives. I have witnessed more in our ranks become defeated under the cold shadow of opposition more so than the disciplining process from the Father. I, being middle-aged, have observed those who are older than me sit down in exhausted defeat before they reached their finish line. Far more frequently, it is those my age or younger who do not endure the high hills of the marathon of faith. My generation and those younger than me seem to be addicted to comfort and feel entitled to ease. Opposition must come against your calling in life in order for you to have the ability to comprehend the glorious might of the One with whom your assignment originated. He wants us to understand that the He who “calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). This is great news for all who are feeling pressed, discouraged, opposed and wearied. Embedded in every assignment from the Father is your ability to accomplish all that needs to be accomplished.
Opposition is the breakfast of champions – if you are walking with Jesus in the context of your purpose, you can eat opposition up when it comes at you. Pharaoh was the breakfast of Moses. Goliath became food to young David in the valley of battle. Elijah enjoyed a buffet of 450 false prophets on Mount Carmel. Esther gobbled up Haman, Israel devoured the Canaanites and the Lord Jesus Christ consumed the power of death and made a meal out of Satan’s unholy mission. You see, it is impossible for us to have confidence in the overcoming power of the Father unless we are confronted, opposed and fought. It is actually in the midst of the battle when we experience the rushing joy of the sufficiency of our God.
So let’s not shirk the fight. Let’s not crumble under the reality that our purpose is being forged in the fire. By all means, do not allow your name to be placed on the list of those who gave in to a season of exhaustion, bewilderment or frustration with a lingering challenge. Every good thing that I have committed to in the Kingdom has been fought. Truth be known, I have not been battle-free for nearly a decade. I do know that there is coming a time and place wherein I will walk in unopposed victory and unmitigated triumph. We call that time and place Heaven. Until then, let our hands be strengthened for the fight. You were born for war so do not let the smoke of the battlefield cloud the vision from God over your life. You must decide which one you are more impressed with: the God of your mission or the opposition against it. He is with you today, so remember…
“The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Awesome, powerful message! Glory to God!