Moving On

Today I am concluding my August series of blogs which have primarily focused on 1 Samuel 14. This passage closes with v. 23 that states: "So the Lord rescued Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven," which is a good reminder to all of us that no matter how profound or dramatic a divine moment might be, no matter its significance or its breadth of impact, even if at the end of the day we are able to look back and reflect on what an amazing experience we have just encountered, we must never forget that the battle moves on. At the end of each day, there is a promise of another day's coming. And with that new day comes new battles, new opportunities, new challenges, and new adventures. Even while we celebrate yesterday's victory, we begin today's new journey. And we must engage it with fresh energy and eager anticipation.

We know where to begin: take initiative. We know who God is, so embrace life's uncertainty. Remember that the people we are becoming in Jesus Christ are our greatest gifts to others, so we must use our influence. Every great adventure is filled with peril and danger, but the risk is worth it. We have already been authorized to move forward, so advance. Impact the world by fighting battles that are on God's heart. Move with an urgency that creates a movement. Engage in an adventure so compelling that it causes the dead in spirit to awake. In this moment, each of us will have to choose. Will we seize the power of every moment or let them slip away?

A man stood blind before Jesus and his disciples. Yet, all they could think to do was have a meaningless conversation about whose fault is was that he was blind. The man was blind, but he wasn't deaf. He could hear the callousness of their conversation. They were oblivious to the fact that they were the ones most blind -- blind to his pain, to his disappointment, to his need. Jesus rebuked their insensitivity and lack of compassion. They were friends of God and still could not see the extraordinary opportunity awaiting them. Somehow alleviating human suffering just didn't seem that urgent when there were philosophical arguments to engage God in.

This moment, however, was far too important to Jesus. It was not to be missed. He used this moment to open their eyes to what is clearly an unseen reality. God is at work. Even if we don't care about humanity, He does! Every human being matters to Him. Even this man's blindness could not stop God from doing something extraordinary in and through his life. It was at that very moment, that God desired His purpose and glory be displayed through this man's life. And then He challenged them, "As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I'm in the world, I am the light of the world." In other words, stop wasting time and start chasing daylight. Remember, it just takes a moment to change everything.