The Press Of Life

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do…
I press toward the mark…”
Philippians 3:13-14

The apostolic fathers of our faith were not complacent in their pursuit of Him; they were ever found pressing in spirit. Complacency and apathy are the result of spiritual blindness but those who have touched His Spirit feel the immensity and weight of His Glory. His depths and His Ways are beyond the finding out.

The true depth of His mercy is known when, by grace, He unveils Himself to the hungry, the broken, and the pure in heart. He is the prize, the rare gem of the universe. He hides Himself from the proud, the unforgiving, the wise, and the rich of this world. Spiritual blindness is the fruit of obstinacy and self-will.

“…With the pure You will show Yourself pure,
and with the perverse, You will show Yourself contrary”
Psalm 18:26 (AMP)

Within the religious world are a multitude of voices, expressions, and varying degrees of light according to the temper of an individual’s heart. Jesus spoke to all of these in His discourse using parables.

“This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears, they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.”
Matthew 13:13-15 (ESV)

For a time, I was bothered by this statement of Jesus until I realized “their eyes they have closed”. The obscurity was God’s response to their hearts. So, His word remains an enigma to all who harden themselves to Him. He is very clear about those to whom He is drawn.

“…but to this man will I look,
even to him, that is poor and of a contrite spirit,
and trembleth at My word”
Isaiah 66:2

If we could only comprehend that light (His Light) is more than words and mere information. His Light is His Life. He is the “Light of the world” and only to the extent that He dwells in our hearts do we in corresponding measure become His light to the world around us.

“In Him was life,
and the life was the light of men”
John 1:4

There is a carefulness in God concerning His unveiling to us; it is measured in proportion to the condition and purity of our own hearts. Years ago, the Lord spoke a life-changing word into my heart:

“The heart is the lens through which we see God.”

The intellect may grasp data concerning God but only the heart can receive the Spirit and the Life of God. His magnificence is manifested to the broken, the contrite, and the poor in Spirit. There is something within His nature whereby His strength is drawn to human weakness. The compelling truth of John 3:16 reveals His motive in sending His only begotten Son into this fallen world: love and the inherent need of His own nature to fill every broken and empty heart with Himself.

“He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent away empty”
Luke 1:53

Even with His own, He measures truth according to the inherent condition of the heart. No good and wise parent gives responsibilities to their children that are beyond their capabilities. Feel the heart of Jesus as He walked with His disciples:

“I still have many things to say to you,
but you cannot bear them now”
John 16:12

Here we see the depth of the wisdom of God. We begin to understand His dealings with us and the longsuffering He bestows in our journey.

“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come,
He will guide you into all truth”
John 16:13

While many glory in revelations and giftings, Jesus is clear that we must be guided into all truth. Truth by its very nature (Christ Himself), can only be received by our walking with Him in the context of our daily lives. It takes something far beyond mere “belief”. It necessitates an intimate interaction with Him for us to be transformed.

Can we hear His invitation to all who would hear?

“Take My yoke upon you,
and learn of Me…”
Matthew 11:29

To really know Him, to comprehend His nature, and to uncover His wonder, we must walk with Him. We must go beyond belief and statements of faith, and launch ourselves into the unknown way of faith. This faith requires that we forsake all other desires and relationships; anything that clouds our devotion to following Him. He is never static as we know it, His love is always reaching and drawing all things unto Himself.

Complacency

Complacency is the dread and terror that haunts the human heart. It is a spiritual malaise upon those in whom the love of God has grown cold; those who find contentment in knowing the words of God apart from the presence of God. When our beliefs have replaced the invigorating power of faith it is time to turn from our ways and find Him afresh. A Faith that has become a statement rather than an inner power is the complacency of religion.

Wherever faith resides there will be a pursuit to know Him. The power of faith in the heart of Peter impelled him to venture out of the boat. The impulse of faith urged Abraham in obedience to go without knowing his destination.

“By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going”
Hebrews 11:8

Faith must always bring a life into obedience. Obedience is the revelation of our faith. The works of which James speaks are the consequences of our faith. A life without works is a life without faith.

“Faith without works is dead”
James 2:20,26

It is the Laodicean spirit that declares:

“I am rich,
and increased with goods,
and have need of nothing”
Revelation 3:17

See Related Post: The Pressings Of God

Brian Troxel