Currently, I'm moving through Tim and Kathy Keller's insightful devotional, The Songs of Jesus. The devotional for August 3rd was especially impactful: "...sometimes periods of spiritual darkness can last a long time..." (Tim Keller, The Songs of Jesus, p. 215).
The inference: sometimes we're called to 'hang in' with the Lord for some time.
One biblical character who knew the requirement of longevity was Caleb. Why God promised Caleb the land of Hebron. But 40 years passed before Hebron is given. Finally when Caleb was 85 God fulfilled his promise (Joshua 14:13). But why? Joshua 14:14 tell us: “So Hebron belonged to Caleb….because [Caleb] followed the Lord…wholeheartedly…” Joshua 14:14.
But sadly many become half-hearted; we don’t persevere. Ironically, such resignation often happens ‘late in the game,' right before God’s response; translated: often we quit, right before our breakthrough.
One of the greatest discoveries of gold occurred in 1922, by archaeologist Howard Carter when he discovered the famed tomb of King Tut, in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. Why Carter spent months digging and digging, but eventually he found King Tut’s tomb, filled with hundreds of pounds of gold, embedded in a mind-boggling 5,398 items!
Ironically, however, Howard Carter was not the first person be on the doorstep of King Tut’s tomb; why eight years earlier in 1914, archaeologist Theodore Davis was there. But Davis got tuckered out and stopped digging. Translated: Davis quit, declaring: “I fear the Valley [of the Kings] is now exhausted.” But ‘the rest, as they say, is history’ – as Howard Carter picked up where Theodore Davis left off – continuing to explore, doggedly -- in spite of fatigue -- literally striking gold, ironically, just a few feet from where Theodore Davis had stopped digging. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/kingtut.html#ixzz1cfdEy4HH
One of the greatest discoveries of gold occurred in 1922, by archaeologist Howard Carter when he discovered the famed tomb of King Tut, in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. Why Carter spent months digging and digging, but eventually he found King Tut’s tomb, filled with hundreds of pounds of gold, embedded in a mind-boggling 5,398 items!
Ironically, however, Howard Carter was not the first person be on the doorstep of King Tut’s tomb; why eight years earlier in 1914, archaeologist Theodore Davis was there. But Davis got tuckered out and stopped digging. Translated: Davis quit, declaring: “I fear the Valley [of the Kings] is now exhausted.” But ‘the rest, as they say, is history’ – as Howard Carter picked up where Theodore Davis left off – continuing to explore, doggedly -- in spite of fatigue -- literally striking gold, ironically, just a few feet from where Theodore Davis had stopped digging. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/kingtut.html#ixzz1cfdEy4HH
Where are you tempted to stop digging? Know, however, you’re only a few feet from 'striking gold' -- from God’s response.
And so don’t stop digging! Yes, it's tough; it's exhausting. But don’t give up. Rather, remember: [you] are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness] -- [thus strip] off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles...[and]...run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before [you]..." (Hebrews 12:1)
For -- "if you can force your heart and nerve and sinew -- To serve your turn long after they are gone -- And so hold on when there is nothing in you -- Except the will which says to them -- 'Hold on!'... If you can fill the unforgiving minute -- With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -- Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!”
Most importantly, you'll be a Man or Woman of God -- recalling not only waning, weary emotions -- but resolute, rugged conviction, that God makes a way -- when it appears there is no way (Philippians 2:13-14; Isaiah 43:16)!
And so don’t stop digging! Yes, it's tough; it's exhausting. But don’t give up. Rather, remember: [you] are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness] -- [thus strip] off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles...[and]...run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before [you]..." (Hebrews 12:1)
Most importantly, you'll be a Man or Woman of God -- recalling not only waning, weary emotions -- but resolute, rugged conviction, that God makes a way -- when it appears there is no way (Philippians 2:13-14; Isaiah 43:16)!
Once, the Duke of Wellington was quizzed why the British defeated Napoleon and the French at Waterloo. Why it wasn't because the Brits were braver than the French, Wellington commented. It was because the Brits were brave -- five minutes longer!
Be brave, five minutes longer!
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