In the early days of my Christian walk I was frustrated because things weren’t happening fast enough. I would read books about Christians who had visitations, Angels and instant miracles and I wanted that too. Funny that most of these amazing things only seemed to happen in the United States? I would go away to be with God, and fast or visit a conference hoping for some wonderful experience that would change my life. I would come back time and again disappointed as nothing outwardly seemed to change. I realised later that I was changing.
Once when I was having a pity party after another disappointment, God gave me a vision of a high rise building being constructed. He showed me the long laborious job that was necessary for the foundations to be prepared. Instead of going up, the work first went down and it was for a long period. The bigger the building the bigger the foundations. When I returned to Mutare in Zimbabwe where I was then ministering at the time, work had just commenced on a similar high rise building to my vision and it still wasn’t finished by the time I left Mutare. I was reminded often while there that the way up is at first down. Many years later I did return to Mutare and saw the finished article.
We need to realise in this instant society of microwaves, digital photos and emails that God’s enduring work takes time and there can be no short cuts, especially if there is a calling on your life. God wants to deliver us from a ‘microwave mentality’ and understand that its only with faith and patience we will inherit His promises. God has a big work for us to do in these Last Days and it requires deep foundations. As prophesied, there will be a lot of shaking going on in the earth before Jesus comes back and we need to be strong enough to withstand it. Haggai 2:6-9 KJV
Look at the parable of the man who built his house on the sand in Matthew and how we are told to build strong foundations.
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew 7: 24 – 27
In New Zealand there is a major problem with earthquakes and most of the houses are made with wood so that they can bend with the strain of a big tremor but their foundations are not deep. However when a high rise building is constructed, the foundations have to be very deep and strong and there is a strict building code. The trouble with wooden houses is that they don’t last long and there are very few left after 100 years for the wood rots and wood borer gets in.
Most of us want to enter our inheritance in an instant and come for prayer expecting to walk away changed with all our problems solved, but this rarely the case. Sometimes things do happen like this but God’s way is usually a building process, line upon line, brick upon brick. We do not realise that some of the people we would love to be like have gone through great trials to bring them into that ministry. Look at an iceberg in the sea. What you see above the water line is only a fraction of its size for most of it is underwater. A person’s ministry before men is only a fraction of what has gone on behind the scenes through trials of faith and their patient endurance.
God’s way with us is usually a slow process, just like a high rise building under construction rather than a ‘Porta-Loo’ being shifted onto a site that is easily blown over by a strong wind. (Hopefully with no one in it.) It’s more like an oak tree growing over many years than a mushroom that springs up overnight as is gone in a few days. God’s desire is for a more permanent construction that can endure the work of time and bring forth much fruit for Him. Especially in these days of great shaking, He doesn’t want weeds or mushrooms, He wants big oak trees.
In Zimbabwe, some huge Baobab trees have been there for over 1000 years. They may have begun their life when Jesus was born. They can be so big that some Africans have made their homes inside its trunk. There are also 3 foot high mushrooms there that only last a week.
Jesus’ ministry of miracles and taking upon himself the sin of the world had a 30year foundation. We may want the miracle part of His ministry by just listening to a set of tapes, having hands laid on us or going to a “Big Name Conference’ but that is unrealistic. We need to realise too that if He did give us what we asked for without a strong foundation and strength of character it would destroy us. He loves us too much for that.
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:32
The building process takes time and its God’s word that helps put it all together. It grows brick by brick, layer by layer until God has produced His masterpiece. We may not want to wait but don’t be like an impatient farmer who ended up eating his seed then had nothing left over to sustain him in the future. We too can often think we are ready but God allows knocks and shakes to show us that He isn’t finished with us yet. Be patient and let Him do His work.
"If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” Jeremiah 12:5
We need to be patient while God deals with us, learning to enjoy the ride and His presence, for it’s only with faith and patience that we can inherit the promises.
“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Hebrews 6:12
Moses was called the meekest man on earth, but this didn’t happen because of the burning bush experience. He did do amazing miracles and led millions of Israelites out of Egypt but it came through a process of time rather than just a visitation. He spent 40 years in Egypt and 40 years in the wilderness that gave him the strength of character that made him ready for the task.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
All you are going through right now is not wasted as its part of the construction process for the great future you believe God has spoken to you about. Don’t give up, let it all work for your good no matter how unpleasant it seems. When you are ready God will come for you. He has your address and a date on His calendar with your name on it. It is possible that you can miss your calling too by giving up. You will still be rewarded with heaven, but not finish the work He had for you on earth. This verse has often helped me not to give up.
“Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.” 2 John 1:8
I want a full reward, not a half reward, don’t you? Many Christians don’t have the endurance, patience and stamina to stick out a trial and end up cutting short God’s work preferring to build quickly on sand rather than on rock with strong foundations.
We are programmed on TV to see problems sorted out in 30mins to 1 hour and expect the same type of result in our lives, but that’s not realistic. If Jesus had to spend a whole night in prayer to find out who His 12 apostles were, and Jeremiah the Prophet had to spend 10 days seeking guidance for the remnant of Jerusalem, then what makes us think we can get an answer in 10 minutes?
Time is running out and I believe there will be a great move of God very soon. God has Christians waiting in the wings that He has been preparing all their lives to help bring about His plan. They know there is a calling on their lives and can’t shake off the dream that God has put in their hearts. Like Joseph, they find themselves experiencing the complete opposite to the dream they originally had. They are prisoners of hope hanging onto His word believing that God is faithful and will bring them out to reign. Just like Joseph, they will be brought ‘suddenly’ out of prison and everything will change - believe. What God has for you is beyond your wildest dreams and will feed those needy people around you with amazing blessings.
“Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.” Ephesians 3:20 The Passion