“Ok, I’ll go if we can sit at the back near that side door exit.” With that agreement, my then future wife and I occasionally began attending her church. My first return to church after eight years proved an uncomfortable experience, as I feared. I was glad we sat near that door so I could make a quiet exit when the pastor gave the alter call for those wanting to commit their life to Christ. This became the standard scenario each time she convinced to go with her again.
I knew the truth of the Gospel—my mom made sure of that. I had even gone to the alter when I was 14 years old. But this resulted in only a short lived commitment. The things of the world drew me into its grips. If it was sinful, I was ready to try it. Yet, the truth of salvation burned inside. Almost every night when I lay down after a time on the town, I asked God for forgiveness. After my initial return to church, when I attended or was around Christians, I felt like a balloon so full of conviction I was ready to pop. My solution, evade contact with anyone who might possibly ask about my spirituality. I became angry and defensive when anyone tried witnessing to me. However, evading the Holy Spirit as it turned out was not as easy. His gentle nudging was deeper than I could bury with my thoughts or any activity I immersed myself doing. Finally, I reached a point in life when I had everything I ever desired, but a big void remained in my heart. I knew only God could fill that empty place, and I surrendered my life to Him one morning in my truck going to my new job.
Even now, I do not fully understand why I resisted committing my life to Christ for so long. Satan did put two common lies in my thinking. I believed I could enjoy life and at some point later commit to Him. Also, I feared what God might make me do. The truth is God never forces us to do anything; rather the Holy Spirit will indwell us, teach us, lead us, and empower us so we desire to please Him. I do realize now the power of His Word, which my mom planted in me during my childhood.
The writer of Hebrews says, For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb 4:12). His Word is not passive intellectual facts. Once in our minds, it is alive and working within us. Jeremiah wrote the effect of the Word when he tried to resist preaching God’s Word. But if I say, “I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name,” Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it. (Jer 20:9).
These truths should encourage those who sow the Word of God in others and those parents who have planted the Word in their children’s lives. Scripture gives numerous other assurances of the power of the Word. So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it (Is 55:11 NIV). For anyone that reads this who is running from the Lord, note those who tried. Adam and Eve hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden (Gen 3:8). Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord (Jonah 1:3). God knew exactly where they were and came to them, not to punish, but to rescue them. God sacrificed the first animal and used the skin to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve that resulted from their sin. The fish in the story of Jonah was not an instrument of destruction, rather it was a means of salvation. The fish carried Jonah back to the shore from the middle of the sea.
King David understood how useless it was trying to evade God’s presence. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You (Psa 139:7-12).
Sowers of the Word, keep sowing. Parents planting the Word in your children, keep planting. Runners, hiders, and resisters, you cannot escape His presence or the Word others have sown into your life. And only the Lord can fill that big hole of emptiness.
Sustaining Word for the Week: “Is not My Word like fire”—the Lord’s declaration—“and like a sledgehammer that pulverizes rock? (Jer 23:29) Past this on to someone who is running from God.