“'...Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.'”---Luke 19:26 (Message)
“One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.”---Andre Gide
A man by the name of Charles Dubois once said, “The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.” I love it because it ties in perfectly with the theme that God gave me for the upcoming year (at least the beginning of it).
For a couple of months now, as I've been wondering about where God was taking me next, there are three words that would continuously run through my mind: Kingdom of Heaven. There was also a scripture that would accompany them...well, two...no, actually three.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”---Matthew 7:21 (NKJV)
“'...And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'”---Matthew 16:19 (NKJV)
“Don't you realize that this is not the way to live? Unjust people who don't care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse s*x, use and abuse the earth and everything in it, don't qualify as citizens in God's kingdom. A number of you know from experience what I'm talking about, for not so long ago you were on that list. Since then, you've been cleaned up and given a fresh start by Jesus, our Master, our Messiah, and by our God present in us, the Spirit.”---I Corinthians 6:9-11 (Message)
Kingdom: the domain over which the spiritual sovereignty of God or Christ extends, whether in heaven or on earth; a state or government having a king or queen as its head; anything conceived as constituting a realm or sphere of independent action or control.
Heaven: the abode of God, the angels, and the spirits of the righteous after death; the place or state of existence of the blessed after the mortal life; the firmament; a condition or place of great happiness, delight, or pleasure.
There is a Peace Corps commercial that's currently running on some radio stations here in Nashville. It asks, what would happen if you left for a day...a week...a year...to do things that people in your world never dreamed of? (I'm paraphrasing that part.) Then the slogan at the end says, “Life is calling. How far will you go?” I think it's just awesome because it takes me once more to John 10:10 (NCV):
“A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life—life in all its fullness.”
The theme for this year? How to gain access into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Certain definitions of “kingdom” and “heaven” are in bold because sometimes I think Christians are so “afterlife-minded” that they don't realize just how much LIVING (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13) they could really do HERE if they understood what God gave them NOW (for one, dominion---Genesis 1:26-28) and how to tap into it. Christ himself said that he came to give us life at its fullest and yet I'm sure there are only a handful of people (Matthew 22:14) who are actually living that way...who could close their eyes tonight saying that they have no regrets and enjoyed (or at the very least, appreciated) every minute of THIS LIFE in THIS WORLD at THIS TIME. (2 Timothy 4:7)
To illustrate this point, last night, God gave me a vision. First, I was at a pool. Everyone was in swimming attire (catch that), but not everyone was doing the same thing. Some were on the side, dipping their toes in. Some were in about 6' treading. And then there were some who were in the deep end, swimming; sometimes you saw them, sometimes you didn't (ooo, catch that, too!)...it depended on if they were swimming up top or below. I knew everyone at the pool and so I found myself asking some (from the sideline...bookmark that), “Why aren't you swimming?”
Their response? “I don't know how.”
“Why don't you take lessons?”
Their response? “Maybe later...I'm good.”
Then, it was like I was immediately transported to a beach. Some people were sunbathing. Some were walking along the shore. But then, I saw some that I could barely make out their faces because they were so far out into the water. I asked several of the people walking along, “What is so-and-so doing?” (I say “so-and-so” because I actually knew the people and I don't want to put them “on blast” even though what they were doing was a great thing.)
“Girl, they're crazy. They're deep-sea diving.”
Hmm. Are they crazy? Are they really?
I Corinthians 9:24 (NKJV) asks us, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” What was deep to me about both the pool and ocean visions is that everyone was dressed to swim...they were all at places where they could swim...but not everyone was actually swimming. Those foot-dipping and walking along the shore were content looking like and/or being in the presence of swimmers. Those treading, while they were in the water sho 'nuf, they weren't getting anywhere. Treading is what you are taught to learn how to keep from sinking...it is a survival mechanism (catch that, too). As a matter of fact, I probably saw more treaders than anyone else. But the swimmers and the divers, while they were relatively in the same vicinity as everyone else, it was obvious that they were not in the same space. They didn't want to just look at the water...they wanted to dive in...to experience it...to see what was on top and way down beneath.
In the spiritual sense, exchange the water for the earth and I think most of us represent one of the categories of people in those visions. We may all carry the title of “Christian”...walk like one...talk like one, but how many of us are on the sidelines watching life and all of the gifts/joys/blessings that it has to offer pass us by all because we don't know how to get to them? What's even scarier is that it would appear that many of us are content living that way. We don't know how to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and “we're good” staying ignorant about it.
I'm not. Not anymore. (Matthew 7:7-8)
One of my favorite quotes of all time is actually one by Buddha: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” In order to learn how to swim, you have to take lessons. In order to gain access into the Kingdom of Heaven, you have to be willing to learn...to study...to exercise...to sacrifice...to take risks.
When I went to God saying, “I don't want to just tread or swim in the pools (man-made places...catch that). I want to deep-sea dive in oceans (God-made places)”, I was brought to tears by the scripture that he led me to; one that I don't recall ever seeing before:
“'Yes indeed, it won't be long now." God's Decree. 'Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won't be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills.'”---Amos 9:13-14 (Message)
By wanting to “go deeper”, blessings are an automatic benefit, so if you are someone who wants the same, that is definitely the plus side of this kind of request. Oh, but there is a heed of caution as well. I was recently reading an article about deep-sea divers. I found this excerpt to be very fascinating:
“Skills that are needed to work underwater, should first be taught above the water. Training usually lasts four to thirteen months before becoming a journeyman. You must also be in good physical health. Another skill needed before entering a diving school is mechanical and swimming abilities.
Deep sea diving can be very dangerous, but only if not taken seriously. Dives are made in clear blue water and range from 80 feet to 200 feet underwater. Diving is very hard, dirty work. One must work on anything that is underwater.
The advantages are endless if you want an adventurous career. Diving is exciting, demanding, and different. You are required to travel and see places that are not an everyday site. If you're good, the pay is great and promotions are regular. There is satisfaction, pride, and respect in the diving career.
Along with advantages, there is a number of disadvantages. Obviously, if you don't want a demanding profession, deep sea diving isn't for you. You have to wear all of the diving gear in cold water and it can become very uncomfortable. Commercial diving is not an easy profession and can also be dangerous if you are not careful.”
Skills are taught above water.
It can be dangerous if not taken seriously.
It is hard and dirty work.
You are required to travel and see things that are not in everyday site.
It is demanding and the gear for your protection can become uncomfortable (at times).
Do you know why I didn't see a lot of deep-sea divers in my vision? Because not everyone wants to pay the price to be one. Do you know how Peter was able to walk out onto the sea to meet Christ? (Matthew 14:22-33---NKJV)) I believe a big part of it was because he asked to learn how:
“Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, 'It is a ghost!' And they cried out for fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.'
And Peter answered Him and said, 'Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.'
So He said, 'Come.' And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, 'Lord, save me!'
And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?' And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”
What Peter did was miraculous, but it came with a price. A price of faith, risk and surrender. Why do I say “risk”? How could serving God ever be a risk? Because the Word says that the flesh and spirit are constantly at war with one another (Galatians 5:16-17) and I Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV) states, “But the natural man does not receive the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” I also love (love, LOVE) how the Message Version puts it:
“Spirit can be known only by spirit—God's Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God's Spirit is doing, and can't be judged by unspiritual critics.”
A risk is simply consciously doing something at the chance of a loss. In the spirit realm, it could be the loss of your family/friends...your pride...your comfortable way of living...your carnal habits/lifestyle...your way of seeing things and how you think life should be. (Luke 9:23) Exchanging what you want for what God has for you is always your best bet (Psalm 84:11), but yes, in doing that, loss does occur. (If it didn't, there wouldn't be so many of us battling with releasing our will for his.)
Did you catch how much pay off there is for deep-sea divers, but also how much risk therein lies as well? It's hard. It can be uncomfortable (makes me think of the spiritual armor that we are required to put on---Ephesians 6:10-20). It's demanding. And, my particular favorite: It requires travel and seeing places that are not in everyday site. What does 2 Corinthians 5:7 tell us? That we walk by faith and not by sight, right? Spiritual deep-sea divers don't settle for what they see...they are willing to swim out into the unknown in hopes of gaining something greater. To live this way can be rewarding, but yes, also dangerous if not taken seriously. (Love that!)
And so, this is where we will begin. The Holy Spirit (Luke 12:12) has already given me four things that hinder people from accessing the Kingdom of Heaven...from “deep-sea diving” into heavenly treasures: Unforgivingness. Pride. Selfishness. Vanity.
“Why aren't you deep-sea diving into the Kingdom of Heaven?”
“I don't know how.”
“Why don't you take lessons?”
“Maybe later...I'm good.”
I'm tired of just looking like an average swimmer. I don't want to dip my toes in. I'm no longer happy treading to survive. I can swim pretty well, but I want to go deeper. Learning how to forgive...to release pride...to not be selfish...to remove all vanity? It's hard work...it's uncomfortable...it's demanding...and oh, it can be dangerous when not taken seriously. But, in the end, after the skills have been learned (Acts 1:7—-Message), the rewards are great.
We'll start with unforgivingness (whew!) some time this week.
If you wanna go deeper, stay tuned.
©Shellie R. Warren/2008
Posted By: Denise Henderson
Thursday, January 1st 2009 at 3:53PM
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