The pre-existence of the Word

 Tell the righteous that it shall be well Part 20

Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, For the reward of his hands shall be given him (Isaiah 3:10, 11).

 

There is seed of greatness in you I

Most people in the universe find themselves having been born in families with dark histories of poverty, lack, witchcraft, genetic disorders, barrenness and moral failure. However, this dark past is neither supposed to determine our future, nor limit our destiny. Allow us to briefly highlight the biography of Barack Obama the 44th President of the United States of America. Barack Obama is the first African-American President to serve in that office, being an African-American disadvantaged him in a nation where racism plays a great role in the national politics (Zahra, 2019). Over and above the hostile environment, that threatened his dream, he was born of a teenage lady Ann and Barak Sr. who wedded in 1961, Barak Sr. abandoned the family in 1963, when Barak Obama was only two years old, then the parents divorced in 1964 (Falk, A. (2009). This portrayed a tough beginning for the young Barack Obama, but all the way through, he refused his past and background to limit his dreams, or discourage him from working towards a great destiny. In the Bible we had a man by the name Jephthah who happened to be disadvantaged in the same manner, but, he appreciated that he had greatness in him.

 

Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah. 2 Gilead’s wife bore sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have no inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of Tob; and worthless men banded together with Jephthah and went out raiding with him. 4 It came to pass after a time that the people of Ammon made war against Israel. 5 And so it was, when the people of Ammon made war against Israel, that the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 Then they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our commander, that we may fight against the people of Ammon.” 7 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” … (Judges 11:1-10).

 

Jephthah found himself in a hostile environment of rejection, just like Joseph who was sold by his brothers as a slave to Egypt. Nevertheless, Jephthah had to survive in the new hostile environment and he banded himself with vagabonds and started raiding with his new friends. Jephthah refused to remain under weather and dwell in pity party. He decided to carry his own weather. The world is hostile and more often than not it brings our way unbearable storms. All in all, we must appreciate that the stormy seasons are temporal. Hence, proactively come with strategies to overcome the storms.

 

Do not give the keys of your joy to people or situations

People and situations may usher us into hostile environments, nonetheless, the future is not determined by their actions but, by how we react to the stormy environment. A strategic and proactive action is bound to propel us to higher heights, while cowardly, defeatist reaction may drown us in to the deep sea of regrets, complains and hopelessness. Do not give the keys of your joy to people or situations. Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls. 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills (Habakkuk 3:17-19). Habakkuk refused lack, drought, misfortune to steal his joy, like David, he encouraged himself in the Lord, anchored his faith in Him who changes not, but remains the same yesterday today and forever. He trusted God for his victory amidst challenges.

 

Refuse to be distracted

Focus in the long journey of life is critical, were we to look for issues to distract us, they are numerous. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise (Ephesians 5). Nonetheless, we can decide to remain purposeful, focused and a life worthy of our vision and mission despite the opposition. Lack of foresight or scope, result to taking the path of least resistance, following the current, even when we are faced with the choice of determining our path. Character and maturity demand that we choose the right path, even when it is not popular or convenient. Pressures and pleasures should not influence our decisions and path of our destiny.

 

Be well guided

Bad company corrupts good morals. Choice of friends, those who instructs us and mentors is crucial, as their counsel influences our decisions. For this reason, David exhorts us on having discretion on our company and places that we visit as we cannot avoid trading with the devil, yet we are common visitors in his market place. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night (Psalm 1). This narrows down even the materials we consume in terms of literature, videos and photographs, putting more emphasis on studying the Word of God and meditating upon it. David a popular Psalmist had developed love with the Word of God, which we may credit to his victory in battles and excellence as a King. Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. ...Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:97, 98, 105). This takes us back to the time, that Moses leadership was transitioning to Joshua’s leadership.

 

Great people in history and in this contemporary life, faced tough storms in life, but they chose to be invincible and resilient. God instructed Joshua to be strong and courageous. However, God understands, for Joshua and us to be strong, we need to meditate upon the Word of God that we may prosper in all our endeavors. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success (Joshua 1:7-8). There is victory, when we agree with God, but we cannot agree with Him until and unless we are aware of what He requires of us. In addition, without faith we cannot please God, and faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The Scriptures, help us to guard our hearts and in return guard our destiny from the attacks of the enemy and the mediocrity that is fronted by the limitations of the flesh and carnal mind.

 

Falk, A. (2009). The riddle of Barack Obama: a psychobiography. African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 8, 334–355. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJPSIR08.060.

Zahra, A, F. (2019). The Leadership of Barack Obama. Bantul, Indonesia, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta.