The purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
How often I forget this time honored truth.
Which Way?
It seems with every change of life, we forget that there is this one purpose to keep us on track. Yet, we struggle with wondering what does God want us to do? Which direction does He want us to go?
If we don’t see the way clearly, maybe we can ask ourselves if our currently chosen way will glorify God before we go there?
Obscurity
When I think of which way to go, I can imagine that I see fog swirling on the street. It might be a crossroads in front, but the fog obscures the view. If I squint well enough, maybe I can see where a lantern is diffusing a faint light through the fog. I would much rather not linger here.
Showing His Glory
I have a favorite place to go that looks like a piece of God’s glory. It is a wildlife refuge and right now it is shrouded in winter. Nevertheless, the river that rolls in the middle is still flowing. Creatures in the river are moving. Creatures on the land are moving, too. I saw deer and osprey and I know there are more. None of these worry about directions. They do what comes naturally because that is how the Creator made them. They reflect His glory just by doing what He made them to do.
As I sat and watched, I thought there is a lesson here. Perhaps we don’t have to try so hard.
In the winter season, we are in the shadow of His hand. He reaches out to take ours. Do we hesitate? Is it a trust issue? Are we afraid of where He will lead us? Perhaps that IS the issue—fear of where He will lead us.
Perhaps it’s time that we reorder our hearts to align with His mercy. Why mercy? Because He understands our weakness and still He offers Himself to us. Then we can stretch out and take His hand extended to us. And this is part of showing His glory in our lives.
Focus
I think that there is not much time left to show God’s glory on earth.
Focus is easier when we have allowed our hand to be enclosed, and permit ourselves to receive simple instruction from Him. He is faithful to lead and guide us. His righteous right hand is always held out to us.
Joy (the confidence that He will always carry us) will come. And He will be glorified in us.
“He will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart” Ecclesiastes 5:20.
I long for the warm sunshine when we can visit our own wildlife refuges and bathe in the presence of Elohim, soaking in the glory of His presence. It’s been a long winter. I’m glad He’s just as present in our warm homes. A great invitation to just soak.
Hi Lynn: Soaking, yes. I really love that imagery. It certainly has been a long winter and seems determined to stay. Big flakes are coming down as I write this, but God has given us beauty and nourishment, even in the winter. Stay warm, my friend.