IF YOU CAN SEE IT...YOU CAN BE IT! (Part IV)

IF YOU CAN SEE IT…YOU CAN BE IT!  (Part IV)

 THE GOD-KIND-OF-FAITH, which is the heritage of every winner-believer, is tantamount to sustained CONFIDENCE in God’s Word.  It is vital for the disciples of Christ to understand that, although faith is fabricated within the heavenly halls of eternity, it is executed within the frail framework of human time and space.  Consider this.  Time allotted for Kingdom service is indeed a precious gift from God, albeit it is a gift that is shared in pre-measured and finite proportions.  Our time is limited; therefore, we have a definite number of days to get the job done! (Psalm 90:12)  

 Knowing this, believers can never afford to squander those important opportunities that are sown within our environs by opting to major in minor matters.  Time represents potential, i.e. distinct possibilities for the present and future.  Therefore, every faithful and wise steward will ‘milk each moment’ of service for The Master. (I Corinthians 4:1-2) Never waste time complaining, because every second is a precious allotment that must be used productively to cultivate God’s gifts and maximize one’s potential.

 There is a rather humorous story about an Italian monk who joined the Monastery of Montserrat in Spain.  One of the requirements for being a monk at Montserrat was an oath of perpetual silence.  [Editorial Note: That’s a definite disqualifier for most of us]!  Those monks were only allowed to speak after two initial years had passed, and then they could only say two words.  After two more years would pass by, they would be allowed to say two more words.  Two additional years…two additional words…and so forth.  You get the picture.

 After the new monk’s first dual-year stint, he was called before his superior to offer his initial two-word statement.  The first two words out of his mouth were “Bed hard!”  Two more years passed.  His next two words were “Food bad!”  After another couple of years, the monk mumbled “I quit!”  His superior looked him over for a moment and said, “Doesn’t surprise me.  All you’ve done since you’ve been her for six years is complain, complain, complain!”

 It’s a funny story, but the point is well taken.  We don’t need to expend our limited time and energy focusing on the negative side of things.  Life is far too short, and our time of Kingdom service will expire before we know it!  Complaining is a satanic distraction that accomplishes several undesirable ends.  Firstly, it affects our state of mind along with our ability to think, and actually makes us miserable. (Philippians 4:6-8)  Secondly, it disturbs the atmosphere around us.  There is something distinctly troublesome about being in the presence of a chronic complainer. (Job 16:1-2) Thirdly, it wears away at our faith foundations. (Psalm 27:13) Fourthly, it impacts our health and our emotional well-being since “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21) Finally, negativity absolutely nullifies praise.  We who truly love God exercise a level of self-control that allows us to set and maintain a firm focus on praise. (Psalm 35:28 and Psalm 84:4)

 Bottom-line: Do not waste valuable time ‘SEEING’ or ‘SPEAKING’ anything other than the powerful promises of God into your present and future life.  During my early years of seminary, I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with the late Dr. Benjamin Mays, the distinguished former president of Morehouse College in Atlanta.  In fact, he interviewed me for a master’s degree fellowship sponsored by The Rockefeller Foundation, a.k.a. The Fund for Theological Education.  It was quite an honor to be in his presence.  Dr. Mays’ customarily mentored his young African-American male protégés via the recitation of his signature poem:

 Life is just a minute,

Only sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon you, can’t refuse it;
Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it.
But it’s up to you to use it;
You must suffer if you lose it.
Just a tiny little minute,
But eternity is in it!

 Since time wasted can never be recovered, it is incumbent upon each of us to invest each and every moment wisely.  Indeed, we must decide to SEE all the good that God has designed for us (before the foundation of the world), and we must praise Him for it, even in the midst of adverse circumstances.  Why?  Because an ATTITUDE OF PRAISE always mobilizes positive responses to current conditions while it stimulates an  EXPANSIVE AND ENERGETIC VISION FOR OUR FUTURE. (Proverbs 29:18)

  My friends, never forget.  IF WE CAN SEE IT…WE CAN BE IT!Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!