But then….

But then….

by

Rocky Fleming

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but thenwe will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”  1Corinthians 13:12 NLT When a time comes that you have no place to put your eyes except to look at the ground and admit defeat, then you have entered into Brokenness.  But then,if you lift your eyes only to God for the source of your salvation, you will abandon your idol of illusions and will find His help. When you can no longer plummet your past thoughts to find a remnant of encouragement there to tell you the path you are on will eventually end well, you have entered into Brokenness.  But then, if you will trust that at the end of the path you are on leads to God's rescue and His alone, you will abandon your idol of false hope and will find His help. When you can no longer summon the inner strength that has sustained you through your past trials and gain a measure of hope, you have entered intoBrokenness.  But then, if you put your trust in the Lord's strength as your hope, you will abandon your idol of self-sufficiencyand you will find His help. When you can no longer look to friends or family for relief and must instead cast yourself on the mercy of God to do what He will with you, you have entered into Brokenness.  But then, if you will seek God with all your heart, you will abandon your idol of dependency on your fellow man and youwill find His help. When you can no longer find the mental edge that has sustained you before to help you reason your way through the thing that harasses you, you have entered into Brokenness.  But then, if you will throw away the idol of your self-perceived adequacies as filthy rags, you will enter into Oneness with Him andyou will find His help. When you can no longer purchase or borrow or steal a remedy that will bring any relief to your fears or the threats that assail you, even if it is a temporary one, you have entered into Brokenness.  But then, if you will accept the payment through Christ that has been made for you to give you that remedy, you will abandon your idol of mammon and you will find His help. When you truly seek Him you will find Him.  But you cannot be double minded and ask Him to join with you in those things He is opposed to.  But then, if you will clean yourself with repentance, and be washed with His forgiveness, He will come and fellowship with you. Our God is a jealous God and He will have no other gods before Him in your life.  The idols that you hold onto will always be a hindrance to deeper fellowship with Him, and even His help.  Is there anything in your life standing in the way?  Is there anything worth keeping that is of greater value than the Treasure of the Universe, and the peace you seek?  But then, if you will tear those idols down in your life,He will fill the empty space with His presence. What is an idol?  Is it not anything that which comes between you and God?  Do not find comfort that there is no ancient graven image in your life as was seen in Biblical days.  Though you do not bow down to Baal or Ashtoreth, is there any other thing that has stolen your love for your King?  Is there anything that has greater pull over you than Him, and your obedience to Him?  Is there any fear or threat that has stolen greater respect from you than God's ability to overcome it? Think deeply about this one thing, for if the power of this threat is greater than your faith in God's love for you and His power to overcome what is against you, you have an idol in your life, and this keeps you from God's help. But, if you will cast this idol of fear down, and instead put your trust in the King of Kings, your God will conquer this threat in your life. As God's child, you are meant to live as royalty.  Do you not remember that as His child you are a member of the “Royal Priesthood?”  Then think like it, live like it, and embrace your God given right to appeal to your Father for His help.  Only remember, He will have no other gods before him in your life, even if you are His child.  When your idols are gone from you, then you will be right with Him, and the power of Heaven will come to your rescue. Allow your brokenness to complete its work in your life.  Open your eyes to what awaits you with the intimacy you will find with the King of Glory.  It is time to identify those idols, and one by one tear them down.  Let it begin now.