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Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones?

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Philippians 1:12-13 Now I want you to know and continue to rest assured, brethren, that what [has happened] to me [this imprisonment] has actually only served to advance and give a renewed impetus to the [spreading of the] good news (the Gospel).13 So much is this a fact that throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest [here] my imprisonment has become generally known to be in Christ [that I am a prisoner in His service and for Him].

What does it take for an individual to be more free and at peace in prison than a person walking free outside of the prison? And what does it take to triumphantly declare my imprisonment has become generally known to be in Christ…? In other words, What caliber of man is able to triumphantly state, Christ put me in this prison?

In 1873 William Ernest Henley confided in a friend: “I am afeard my marching days are over” when asked about the condition of his leg. Who is William Ernest Henley? The man who was afflicted with tuberculosis at the age of 16 and had to have his left leg amputated below the knee owing to complications arising from the disease. He is the man who 5 years later was told a similar procedure would have to be performed on his right leg. Instead of accepting the diagnosis and treatment he traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland in August 1873 enlisting the services of the distinguished English surgeon Joesph Lister. Dr. Lister was able to save Henley’s remaining leg after multiple surgical interventions on the foot. While recovering in the infirmary, he was moved to write the verses that became the poem “Invictus”. You might recognize some of the lines that were written while Henley considered his marching days to be over: It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. Still doesn’t ring a bell? Possibly you have heard of Nelson Mandela who lived 27 years of his life in prison and who utilized this poem to encourage himself and his fellow inmates to not allow circumstances to determine the condition of their soul. Mandela, a survivor of turberculosis himself, also overcame racism, imprisonment, and the temptation to become a bitter and angry man. One author, Sharon Bloom wrote: Mandela persevered as the master of his fate. His lasting gift was his power of forgiveness—a gift we remember in his inimitable smile.

The Apostle Paul, and Nelson Mandela, chose to not allow themselves to become victims of their circumstances. Once we begin to think we are victims of our circumstances, or those we perceived created them, we become enslaved by them. This is referred to as a victim mentality, or victim syndrome. It is defined as, a way of thinking where someone perceive themselves as consistently wronged or powerless, often blaming external factors (or others) for their circumstances and struggling to take responsibility for their actions. Paul saw his prison cell as created by Christ for Christ. He saw his circumstances not as an opportunity to pity himself but to better himself and others. I was pondering how many of the books of the Bible were actually written by those who suffered horrible things usually ending in death (like the Apostle Paul being beheaded). Yet, their writing through suffering became their purpose for existence. Years, if not centuries later, their writings offer hope and life. As Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 4:11-12 For we who live are constantly [experiencing] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced through our flesh which is liable to death.12 Thus death is actively at work in us, but [it is in order that our] life [may be actively at work] in you. Your circumstances, good or bad, are not your savior nor are they your enemy. In each one you have a choice to make: Will I become better – more like Jesus – through this or bitter? We all have choices to make and our lives – good or bad – are the sum total of the choices we have made. There are those who seemingly have everything going their way yet their lives are a disaster. Conversely, there are those who live through horrible circumstances and are actually growing through them without a bitter bone in their body. A Jesus-honoring life, is made up of those who have turned stumbling blocks into stepping stones.

John Gardener wrote: Self pity is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality.

Richard Bach wrote: If it’s never our fault, we can’t take responsibility for it. If we can’t take responsibility for it, we’ll always be its victim.

Erica Jong wrote: You take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.

Don’t Pass Me By

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A man recounts a time when he had to enter the military while the draft was still in place: I didn’t enlist in the Army — I was drafted. So I wasn’t going to make life easy for anyone. During my physical, the doctor asked softly, “Can you read the letters on the wall?” “What letters?” I answered slyly. “Good,” said the doctor. “You passed the hearing test.”

In the last meditation, The Call of the Wilderness, we discovered the call to seek God through prayer and fasting is a call to seek to join Jesus in the wilderness. This call turns into a series of tests similar to Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness. We see this “testing” taking place throughout Scripture. In Marks Gospel it states: And having seen that they were troubled and tormented in [their] rowing, for the wind was against them, about the fourth watch of the night [between 3:00-6:00 a.m.] He came to them, walking [directly] on the sea. And He acted as if He meant to pass by them,…(Mark 6:48) In the Gospel of Luke another account is given of Jesus passing by: As He came near to Jericho, it occurred that a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he asked what it meant. They told him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. (Luke 18: 35-37) Another passage in Luke reveals a similar theme: Then beginning with Moses and [throughout] all the Prophets, He went on explaining and interpreting to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning and referring to Himself. Then they drew near the village to which they were going, and He acted as if He would go further. But they urged and insisted, saying to Him, Remain with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. So He went in to stay with them. (Luke 24:27-29)

When we are seeking God through prayer, fasting, or simply trying to draw nearer to Him, it appears that Jesus has passed us by. Even more painful than this is the news of someone He hasn’t passed by. The news that he has healed them, come near to them, or performed some outrageous miracle – while you sit alone with no answer. Jesus has passed you by – or so it seems.

Truth, we know is more than a concept, but a Person – Jesus, the Christ. And Truth lies hidden in these moments in which it appears Jesus has passed us by. Truth lies hidden in the Gospel accounts that apply to all of us who may feel neglected, or hidden in the wilderness. In the passage of Jesus walking on the water there’s an overlooked detail. Jesus had sent His disciples to go ahead of Him in their boat to the other side so that He could pray. While praying a storm broke out. This storm was no ordinary storm. Many scholars believe it was demonic in origin. It is a known fact that the location of the Sea of Galilee, which is 686 feet below sea level, and surrounded by mountains (Mt. Hermon rises to the altitude of 9,232 feet), that unusual and violent storms break out on its waters. Waves have reached levels of 70 feet or more. While encountering this storm, seasoned fishermen assumed they were going to die. Just hours before they had watched as Jesus miraculously fed 5000 men (not counting the numbers of women and children) fish and bread. Now all of that seemed a distant memory as their small, sailing boat was tossed by the winds in the middle of the sea. Mark’s account suggests that, since they were sailing against the wind, they were “straining at rowing,” a word which conveys the sense of torture, or distress. They had endured this nautical torment for “three or four miles” (Jn. 6.18), and were still no closer to their ultimate destination. Both Matthew and Mark indicate that the disciples were still enduring this hardship “in the fourth watch of the night” — somewhere between three and six in the morning (Mt. 14.25; Mk. 6.48)! Yet, while they were at the end of their strength, Jesus appears, walking on the water. To make matters worse, it appears, He is going to pass them by. But take notice: they were at the end of their strength. When it appeared that the blind beggar was going to be passed by he cried out for the Lord to have mercy on him. The crowds attempted to silence his enthusiasm but this only encouraged him to cry louder. The disciples on the road to Emmaus were kept from recognizing Jesus and when it appeared that He was going to keep walking, they urged and insisted that He remain. They all passed the test. They didn’t give up in their seeking, and they didn’t give in to feelings of rejection and self-pity. A demonic storm, darkness, physical blindness, pressure from crowds to be silent, and the crucifixion, and death of Messianic salvation were not enough to prevent them from seeking.

In the silence of the wilderness what will you do? Will you keep rowing, crying out, and urging and insisting that Jesus stay with you? Our wilderness is not made for our soul, or carnal man. It is designed to cause our spirit man to rise up and be strong. Are you rising up to meet with Jesus? Are you passing the tests?