Pastor’s Blog 9.12.18

Suddenly…

Proverbs 28:18
18 Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall. NKJV

Mark 13:33-37 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming — in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning — 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” NKJV

It seems our lives are comprised of waiting on “suddenly”. It always seems so simple after the fact. The old adage hind-sight is 20/20 is very true. The blessings and curses that can happen in our lives seem to happen suddenly, but that is really not the case.

Blessings and curses usually occur after a process has been working. I am watching the “me too” movement take down some of the most powerful people on earth. Bill Hybels, after building one of the most influential church organizations in modern history, has ended his ministry in disgrace after several women in his life have accused him of sexual improprieties. There are some who rise to prominence after years of obscurity and have the appearance of overnight successes, but the reality is their success has only come after years of patient labor. The suddenly of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit came after 4000 years of God orchestrating behind the scenes. There are suddenlies scheduled in your life. Right now there are forces at work, both good and evil, setting you up for success or ultimately failure. What do we do?

“Watch and pray!”

One day my cell phone rang “suddenly,” and on the other end was a nurse telling me I was a very sick man. Well, the truth was I didn’t suddenly become pre-diabetic and have chemistry of heart disease, I had been breaking the nutritional rules of health for 45 years. To reverse the curse I had to work in the other direction. I am still waiting on my “suddenly” of a report of perfect health, but I am working in the right direction now, and things are changing from curse to blessing in my health.

The “suddenlies” we generally experience in life have actually been growing to a harvest for years. There are types of bamboo that will barely grow a couple of feet for five years and then in the sixth year will grow sixty feet! As we daily watch and pray, we become aware of the things that are happening behind the scenes, and are reminded to keep doing what is right. And when we do “suddenly” a harvest of blessing will come!