Gratifying Foolishness

On a Monday morning of September when my eyes first caught the glimpse of light, I was about to take a couple more hours of sleep right back till my mind started working. My first thought was striking: "I used to fly for my dreams, now I'm flying for Jesus". There are moments when thinking about what God has done (and is doing) in my life still leaves me in total shock and wonder. It was one of those moments.

But then again, it's not about the "thinking". It's about the "leading" of the Spirit. God's knowledge and understanding disposes human logic. Even so, He's the one who gives insight and wisdom completely incomparable from those that are being instructed in the world. His ways are beyond comprehension. The Scripture says:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

     neither are my ways your ways,' declares the Lord.

As the heavens are higher than the earth,

     so are my ways higher than your ways

     and my thoughts than your thoughts".

-Isiah 55:8-9

There are a lot of people whose lives had a complete turn around in ways that not even their wildest imagination would have projected. This is what the grace of God does to individuals whom He has already foreknew, predestined, called and justified (Romans 8:29).  In this wonderful time of harvest, the Jubilee year that we are entering, we can witness the greatest testimonials of all time that exceeds all tales of 'rags to riches'. These are the testimonials of the souls which are 'lost and found'. Sit in a fellowship with some true worshipers and it is impossible not to hear about a story or two that testifies an extraordinary transformation; from sinners to forgiven, from broken to healed, from hopeless to hopeful, from blinded by riches of the flesh to the enlightenment in the true riches of the Spirit. This is the kind of renewal that the Word can grant us. Whether it be instant or procedural, still we experience both internal and external transformations. Not even the greatest odds can halt the full force movement of the Spirit. Let us recall Paul's great revival in his road to Damascus:

3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 

4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.

6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

-Acts 9:3-6

Note that Saul's initial purpose of going to Damascus was to persecute and imprison Christians. He was a great unbeliever, a murderer even. In almost an instant, God chose to reveal His glory to this man. God revealed Himself (not because Saul is worthy obviously, but because the Most High chose him). As in John 15:16 where it says, "you did not chose me, but I chose you.." He became a great apostle intensely used by God whose letters comprises more than half of the books in the New Testament since the Book of Romans and so forth. In just a single trip along the road to Damascus; a persecutor of Christians became one himself, a hater of Christianity became a devotee of the gospel, Saul became Paul. How insane is that?

Insane indeed in a modernized intellectual point of view -- but still we see Christians leaving home to preach, Christians turning against the verdicts of society, Christians surrendering their will for ambition, Christians laying down service and finances and brethren support, even Christians getting beheaded for faith around the corners of the world. Why is that? What is it with these Christians? What is it with us?

It is because of the penetrating impact of the Living Word. Where the truth is where the Spirit is, and the Spirit produces fruits (the fruits of the Spirit at Galatians 5:22-23). Remember that Paul left his high ranking and influential position among the Jews to be among the lowly Gentiles so as to pursue his purpose. Just as Paul addressed, "We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! (1Cor. 4:10)".  This however, is the true character of Christianity, the one that abides to God's will and do things not in account of his own but in account of the Most High who is the constant source of everything in heaven and in earth. Being a fool for Christ is the only form of foolishness that gratifies our spirit. The Scripture says:

"But God chose the foolish things in the world to shame the wise;

God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong."

- 1 Corinthians 1:27

So whether it be to give up something very valuable or to leave one place for another. No matter how irrational it is or how foolish it may seem under perspective of the world. If you hear this clear directed message from God in an impression that speaks to your entire being, impressions (or dream and visions) that are hard to ignore without compromising your spirit -- just go for it. No one else has the same exact message as yours, He knows you and calls you by name (Isaiah 43:1). Maybe grab that ticket too and take a leap of faith. 

"In their hearts, humans plan their course, 

but the Lord establishes their steps." 

-Proverbs 16:9

*All bible references are taken from the New International Version