– Joseph Rozario (Bangalore, India)
RETURNING TO GOD’S ORIGINAL PURPOSE – II
We had seen earlier that in God’s original manifesto, two fold purposes were intended and envisioned, i.e. to raise up 1) a Christ-like human generation that will qualify, and 2) to rule and reign on this earth.
While the second intention is objective the first one is subjective. Objectively we have the knowledge of where we are heading to. But there is also the need to work it out practically, in our day to day life as well.
Psalm 118:24 reads, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” We have a tendency of quoting this scripture whenever we are gathered in the house of God, like on a Sunday morning. But I believe that the very fact that I am allowed to see the dawn of another day is the cause of my rejoicing. Because, while in the case of those who have not been so fortunate to see another day for God’s work of transformation, the period of grace being over in their lives, I am given to see the light of another day that God can work out in me what is most precious to the heart of God. In another 24 hours all kinds of things can be happening around me. But above all those activities, God is primarily interested in ONE thing. And that is to conform me to the image of His son. That being His primary concern and to accomplish that, He has arranged, engineered, aligned and realigned all situations and circumstances good and bad.
In fact, each day God has foreordained a particular path for each one of us to follow, that we may progressively arrive at our destination. “For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto Good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”- Ephesians 2:10. The one who understands that God is working out His original purpose behind the scenes will constantly and consistently keep asking the Lord to reveal this foreordained plan every day. He will have the joy of moving from one obedience to the other.
During my recent visit to the USA, I saw that everyone driving a motorized vehicle on the roads was following the GPS without exception. To any town or city you went, the GPS is an imminent and integral part of the American culture there. You are lost without one. You can never ever arrive at your destination without it. The GPS shows the route that you need to take, the ETA at your destination and the density of the traffic in the particular route you are taking. One remarkable feature of the GPS is, if you ever take the wrong turn and miss the intended route, it immediately shows the remedial alternative way out to bring you back to your original destination. Kudos! So much for the GOOGLE invention!!!
Similarly, God too has a GPS, the Holy Spirit to guide us in our originally intended plan. If ever we have sinned and missed out on that original path, immediately, we can, not only ask for the cleansing, but also to humble ourselves and ask God for the remedial alternative plan. Let us lift our eyes in faith to His alternative blue print in heaven. Remember, The Lord’s Prayer (Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven)? To a truly penitent heart, God’s fatherly heart will certainly show His reorganized plan. “Let us therefore boldly come to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16. Yes, His mercy to deal with our past and grace to assist in the future.
But many a times, not understanding His hidden plans for me, I choose to go my own way. When conditions are not favorable, I grumble and murmur. I often provoke Him to anger. I am often stubborn. I keep offending him, time and again. But God never gives up on me and the plans he has envisioned for me. He gives me yet another day to start all over again. The Hound of Heaven relentlessly keeps pursuing me with new promises, new power and new provision.
The Hound Of Heaven
By Francis Thompson
I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the midst of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
……………………………………………..
‘Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom thou seekest!
Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me.’
