Mining for Gold!
I have an uncle in Northern Canada (Whitehorse, Yukon) that is a heavy equipment mechanic, and a gold miner in the summer. From what I understand, over the past couple of hundred years, prospectors have panned most of the creeks to retrieve nuggets and easily recovered gold deposits, but there is still much gold in the north. In order to retrieve it though, one must move tons of earth, and run it through huge sluice boxes, that separate the dirt from the gold. Since the price of gold is so high currently, it is worth the time to fly bulldozers and earth-moving equipment, deep into the bush, to carve into the gold rich soils. Fortunes have been made in doing this.
Well, I am mining a different type of gold, the more precious gold of spiritual revelation and truth, eternal in its worth and consequence.
Recently, I saw a Bibliography in the back of one of the ‘Go get em’ motivational business books I had just read, and I decided to photocopy it, and to deliberately read these books, at a rate of two per week. Compared to study of the Word of God, I find them light reading, and I have been able to blaze through many of these books, quickly.
What I am looking for, is revelation, truth, principals of motivation, leadership, and success that are applicable to raising up the strong end time Christian ministries, I am called to develop.
As I was reading a classic entitled: ‘As a Man Thinketh, by James Allen’, I came across the following excerpt that jumped out at me, and I hope it blesses you:
“All that a man achieves or all that he fails to achieve is a result of his own thoughts. In a justly ordered universe, where loss of equipose would mean total destruction, individual responsibility must be absolute. A man’s weakness and strength, purity and impurity, are his own, and not another man’s: they are brought about by himself, never by another. His condition is also his own, and not another man’s. His suffering and his happiness are evolved from within. As he thinks, so he is; as he continues to think, so he remains.
A strong man cannot help a weaker unless the weaker is willing to be helped, and even then the weak man must become strong of himself; he must, by his own efforts, develop the strength which he admires in another. None but himself, can alter his condition. Pages 45,46.
As I thought about this, I had several Scriptures flash across my mind, for your consideration and meditation:
Pr 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:
De 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Isa 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
Joe 3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
Ro 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
1Co 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
2Co 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
As I read an article entitled ‘Individual Responsibility before God” I read:
“The practical outcome of this for Christians everywhere was twofold: on the one hand, they were freed from the tyranny, superstition, and oppression of Rome; but on the other hand, with freedom came individual responsibility before God. No longer could the individual Christian rely simply on his membership in the physical organization of a church for the salvation of his soul; to a large degree, it now devolved upon him. Salvation was not something one was physically born into because one’s parents were Christian or because one had received “infant baptism” and made a member of the church before he could even understand what he was doing; but salvation was something spiritual which one had to enter into as the result of a conscience decision he alone had made.
“No longer could anyone else decide this matter for the individual – not one’s mother or father; not one’s priest or bishop; not one’s pastor or elder – it was an individual decision for which the individual alone was responsible. From this point on, no human intermediary could stand between God and man: man now stood naked and alone before his Maker. The frightening words of the Apostle Paul loomed heavily over his head: “Wherefore, my beloved … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling!” (Phil. 2:12)
“Heaven or Hell? – it was his choice! Remaining an “infant in the Lord” or growing up into full Christian maturity? – it was his choice. Being obedient or disobedient? – it was his choice!
“The church could assist by providing the Christian with a nurturing and Biblically-based environment which was conducive to growth in the Spirit; and other Christians could help in their fellowship and friendships – but even here, the individual had to make a conscience decision to avail himself of these “helps.” There was no way other Christians and/or the church could force themselves on the individual and decide for him. In the end, he alone was responsible, and he alone would have to answer for his decisions.”
November 21, 1998
Written By S.R. Shearer
This thought is why Paul had us ‘press towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
2 Tim 2:19 ¶ Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
Each of us, will stand before God, alone, to give an account of our lives, personally. Not only for what we did, but I am convinced also, for what we should have done, had we fully obeyed Jesus in our generation.
As I read through these ‘Go get em’ motivational books, I find a blend of Biblical principals (which always bring true success), and humanism, where it seems as if the works of men, will add to the power of God.
While it is true, that works of faith, performed in obedience to the Holy Spirit, will produce tremendous results in both this world and the next, works of man, done according to Biblical principals, may allow a person to amass great wealth in this life, but without eternal reward. God honored His Word in the person’s life, yet the man may or may not have done with the fruits of his labor what God intended, hoarding up for himself the blessings of God, without concern for the gospel,and the needs of humanity. The blessings remain temporal, rather than eternal, and are no indication of that mans true state before a holy God…
So, I exhort you:
Matt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
I believe, that in this hour, the regular schedule and business of life will not suffice.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
‘God is calling a people to Himself, and is wanting to be sought out, for His plans, purposes and pursuits in this generation.’ quote from Kenneth E. Hagin
I exhort you to deliberately carve time out of your busy schedule, even if it means skipping a couple hours of sleep each morning, to spend time in the Word, in prayer, in praying in other tongues, in worship, seeking His face, until He speaks to you specifically and clearly about your particular giftings and callings. Your appointment in this life…
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Let’s pray:
‘Father, help me to discipline myself to deliberately seek you, in prayer, praise and Your Word, daily. Speak to me today, and correct me, and redirect me, where I have gone astray. Meet with me Pappa God, and meet the deepest hungers in my heart with your love and truth that makes me free, as I honor and serve You Lord Jesus, free indeed! Amen!’
