Polar Opposites (4)
we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NASB
Trouble with the Curve – “Struck down” might as well be “struck out.” The Greek is kataballo. It is the verb ballo (“to throw”) coupled with the intensifier kata. This is a 98 mile an hour curve ball (if there really were such a thing). No way to hit it. Perfect placement and so fast it is just impossible. Suddenly, wham! You’re out!
Most curve balls are slower. The strike occurs because the ball disguises itself before it gets to the plate. Then it moves away from the batter and he misses. But if you know what to look for, you’re ready for the movement and off you go to first base. Most curve balls can be handled. Then one day we are faced with a pitch that simply overwhelms us. We’re left standing flatfooted when it goes by. We didn’t see it coming. We’re out! That’s when the manager of the team, Paul of Tarsus, says, ‘Hey, you might be out this time, but don’t worry. You are still in the game. You aren’t finished. You aren’t dead yet!”
“Not destroyed.” Ou apollymenoi. From “not” (ou) and “to kill, to destroy” (apollymi).
Apollumi is the combination of apo (away) and ollumi (ruin, death, punishment). You aren’t dead yet!! We need to hear these words – perhaps often. Sin strikes us down. We took a swing at the curve and we missed. We intended to get a hit for God. We wanted to be on base in order to score for Him. But we struck out. That old sinful curve ball got us again. We fell. It’s over!
“No, it’s not over,” says Paul. You aren’t dead yet. So get up and get going again. Get off the bench. Practice more. Talk to the hitting coach. Swing a new bat. Babe Ruth held the home run record for decades – and the record for the most strike-outs. The only thing that prevents you from hitting the curve the next time is your unwillingness to step up to the plate next time. Paul is a great Hebrew manager. As long as you are alive, there will be another “at bat.” The fact that you are still alive means that God isn’t done with you. So don’t give up. Get up and swing! Sin only wins if you stop playing.
If you’re like me, then most of the time you see what the enemy is throwing at you. You’re prepared for the onslaught and you can convert his darts and arrows into missiles of righteousness. But if you’re like me, you have trouble with the curve, especially that one inside pitch curve you didn’t see coming until it was too late. If you’re like me, it sneaks up on you so fast that you just aren’t ready. Down you go. This is the critical time. Will you get up again? Will you go back to the plate again? Sin only wins when you stop. God cares enough to keep you alive so that you can keep playing. As long as you’re not dead, there is still time to get a hit. Consider it done.
Topical Index: not destroyed, ou apollymi, struck down, kataballo, 2 Corinthians 4:9
Many, many thanks to all for their prayers and encouraging words. It has been a week since the ordeal with my brother and as always, God is faithful and then He sends those whom He loves to touch our lives in His name. And of course, especially the last 4 days of TW has been most uplifting and helping me to press on; to finish the race; to endure to the end when I will see Him face to face and that is my desire. And again, thank you very much. Your prayers have helped to ease my burden.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xb-NFowhqk
Life 101
You must be “this tall” to ride this ride! (Fasten your seatbelt!)
It has been said, “perception is everything.” No, – it is NOT!!. There is such a thing as “fool’s gold!” It LOOKS real, – it APPEARS real, but it is NOT the genuine article. Perception is NOT reality, (unless you are a politician!- THEN, we live or die according to public opinion and “perception..” ) Things, (people included!) are NOT always as they “appear!” ~ Man looks on the (outward) “appearance” BUT God looks upon the heart!~
Remember these words? ~ we live BY FAITH, and NOT by sight..~ Less “sight-seeing,” and more “faith-walking..”. Faith comes by hearing (shema O Israel), faith comes by (forgive me,- “shema-ing”) the word(s) of the LORD. To shema (just a reminder) is to (both) hear AND obey! Remember these words? ~ whatever He says unto you… (what?)- DO IT!!!
Obedience brings blessing!! (a state of happiness and joy!) Remember these words? ~ I DELIGHT to do Your will? ~
Life, (as we know it!) is lived on three levels: drudgery, duty, or delight! Slave, Soldier or Son? As a Slave, Is “life” a trudge or a drudge? Do you find yourself “dragging” through your day? (Oh?, do I “have to?”) Or as a “good Soldier,” are you (only) doing your “duty?” Are you going the (required) one mile? Or as a “SON!!” (Yes, we are now the sons and daughters of the Most High God!!- El Elyon!) God, dear friends.. God, – dear brothers and sisters.. is OUR ABBA-FATHER!! ~ Behold.. (Yes, take a good long “soaking” look!) Soak this in.. Marinate. Meditate. Be still and KNOW (this). God is YOUR compassionate, caring, kind, tenderhearted, warm, loving, infinitely able, always present- FATHER!!- And when you pray.. (not “if!”) but “when” you pray, say (what?)- say “Father!” ~ What manner of love is this? Way, way beyond my “pay grade!”
If we love someone, (anyone) it is our “delight” to please them in any way possible. What may I “do” for you? What can I get you? – How may I SERVE you? (a servant’s heart). Remember “abad?” ~ Work-worship-love-serve (abad) one another! ~ Serve one another in love! ~ And? .. (the results? the wages? the consequences? of our “obedience” to the loving, life-giving instructions of our Father? We (ourselves, dear brothers and sisters, will dwell together (life together!)- in UNITY! We will be ONE in the bond of love! We will love Christ, and we will love one another with a pure (purified!) heart- fervently!
Where was God when (our brother) Joseph was in the pit? He was “there”- all the time!! But Joseph was an inexperienced “youth”- what at this time in his life did he have to “draw upon?” Where did young Joseph find his strength? His wisdom? His encouragement? And look what we have now! So much more!! We have the words of the Sovereign-Shepherd-Singer, ~He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand ~
(Read more: http://www.miry-clay.com/)
So many “others”- are also in the pit (of despair and despondency!)- In a dark, desolate and desperate place! And they too cry out, God, “where are you?”
“There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”
― Corrie Ten Boom
Another one of our “heroes of the faith!” One who has certainly “been there,-done that!”
No, Joseph did not remain in the pit! No, not at all! God had other plans for this life! So.. what is “the REST of his-story?
Are U starting to see a “pattern” here? Our faithful Father has a long history of delivering His people! Remember? ~ God is able also to do “exceedingly abundantly” (I love these two words together!) above all that we ask or think! ~ Yes, what a mighty God (El Elyon) we serve!
Again, “THROUGH” the fire.. Again, “THROUGH” the flood.. Again.. “THROUGH” the valley of the shadow of death.. And again? ~ let us go over to the other side!.. ~ Master, do YOU not care that we perish? ~ How can YOU possibly sleep in a “storm” like this? – And He awoke and spoke to the storm.. and said.. ~ “Peace..-be still.” Only one word from our Master will “still” any storm!! But we MUST hear Him speak!! We must LISTEN, and we MUST obey! We must DO His will.. We MUST do what pleases Him..- and then? ~ then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land ~
Our obedience is the first step toward revival (to live again!) and to healing. ~ My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.…~ Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD! ~ (Lamentations 3.40)
Perhaps Joseph remembered Job! ~ Behold, we count them happy who endure. You have heard of the patience/endurance/long-suffering of Job, and have seen the end of the LORD; that the LORD is very compassionate, and of tender mercy ~ (James 5.11)
Please be patient.. God is NOT through with me yet!! ~ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us ~ He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all–how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? ~
I envision Job as a man with a limitless supply
of Louisville Sluggers, who just kept coming
back up to the plate.
I also see Job as a man whose walk with God
got him more and more familiar with God’s ways.
Job’s personal oneness with our Lord strikes me
as similiar to Paul’s. Neither intimate tragedy or
the pain of imprisionment could deter their hearts
or alter their steps.
Both these chaps trusted God above all that could be trusted.
And they both “walked in the light as He is in the light.”
Both serve as perfect examples of Skip’s message today.
Batter up!