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Letters of Truth - Spirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff WHEN THE TIME SEEMS LONG
by Ray Prinzing"And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that THE TIME WAS LONG; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord." (1 Samuel 7:2).
How grateful we are for the privilege of sharing His Word as He quickens it for our encouragement and consolation. We would confirm one to another of the processings in the experiences that we share, being men and women of like passions and feelings, but also partakers of a kindred desire for the fulness of His Spirit-- for more of His kingdom reality to be manifested in us, through us, and in the earth about us. The vision that He shall redeem us from all iniquity, and conform us to His image, is a precious hope. Yet often THE TIME SEEMS LONG, and the process is slow. But, praise God, He is steadily progressing toward that desired end. There are those moments when we might wonder what it is all about, and if we have missed the "way." Then there are rare moments of a keener consciousness of His divine Presence and we are made to know that He is there all the time. We hold to the promise that He will finish His work in His people, for He is both the Alpha and the Omega of our faith. Concerning many of the details we are losing our dogmatism, for time does have a blessed way of mellowing us and taking care of our idiosyncrasies. His truth shall remain, and as a shining light it grows brighter and brighter-- while the things of earth grow strangely dim.
"Israel lamented after the Lord." The Hebrew word for "lamented" is "nahah" and means: to become wailing, to mourn. It signifies a crying after the Lord-- reaching out with longing, desire. But, as Jesus said, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." (Matt. 5:4). All the longing of our heart shall be satisfied, yes, even all of groaning creation shall ultimately share in "the glorious liberty of the children of God."
In his Lamentations, Jeremiah expressed the inner cry so well, "Why do You forget us for ever, and forsake us for so long a time? Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored; renew our days as of old." (Lam. 5:20-21). For those who are caught up in the rah, rah, rah of a camp-meeting style of program, this cry and prayer means little. But when the shout and the dance are ended, the sham and the shadow disappear, and they are faced with the stark reality that religious exercises are empty, the letter of their creed and doctrine kills, and only in Christ can true satisfaction be found, in that day, and not until then, will they begin to lament after the Lord.
Having "tasted the good Word of God, and the power of the world to come," (Hebrews 6:5), we cannot be satisfied with anything less than such reality, and so we yearn after Him-- reaching out in prayer and supplication, yet knowing that "all our times are in His hand," and we cannot hasten His coming to us, but HE will surely draw us unto Himself. And it is in this interim processing that we are being developed and matured-- in ways and in means that we would not have thought possible. But the Father knows them that are His, and He is working all things together for our good. Our union with His fulness is His plan, and it shall truly be fulfilled. Amen!
There is no doubt but that the elect of God are facing much upheaval and change, for the old orders are being stripped away, and with intense desire we reach out for the new. It has been well stated that-- "We need to take great care that we do not act out of impatience or frustration. We have been greatly weakened in our human strength by the dealings of God, and it is obvious that He is "shutting us up unto Himself." If institutions and programs could have brought us into "the day of the Lord," we would surely have that day upon us. If setting up New Testament churches, and building according to the pattern, attempting to restore "divine order," could have ushered in the Kingdom of God, that Kingdom certainly would have come. If all the teaching and preaching about sonship, the Melchizedek priesthood, etc. could have brought heaven to earth, we would surely see that blessed age dawning upon us. But none of these operations are bringing satisfaction to the tremendous inner cry for reality coming forth from God's waiting sons. We are sensing that HE is moving onward, though we are caught in an hour when His footprints are not always clearly visible. At a time like this what shall we do? Turn back to any of the old familiar places of rest? Devise a new message, or rearrange the old? Give up in despair? No! Praise God, none of these is the heritage of God's chosen ones. The simple answer, we will have to wait quietly until our Father ushers in the next phase of His plan for the ages. No false starts! No excuses for not waiting! Just a disciplined, meek and quiet company of sons who are intently looking into His face, listening for His voice, and in loving trust, find their joy simply in being His." Amen! What a well-spoken word that is.
While Jeremiah, along with all Israel, lamented after the Lord, we also find some significant dealings in his life that the Spirit quickens as being applicable for our times. We read that Jeremiah sent word "Unto us in Babylon, saying, THIS CAPTIVITY IS LONG: build houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them... (Jeremiah 29:28). It was a GOD-ORDAINED CAPTIVITY which was to last for seventy years. Some were not happy about that-- they wanted instant deliverance, pray me out, prophecy me out, etc. But the Lord said that any one who would cater to such desires was a false prophet. God controlled the TIME SPAN, and gave instruction on how to occupy until the ultimate day of deliverance. Likewise in our day-- there are those who search out every voice that will tell them it has arrived, that they can claim to be in the "now" and possessors of all the promises. Truth is mixed up with error, and confusing signals are sent forth-- we've got it, but we don't; it is here, but it isn't; just claim it by faith, and eventually you'll see it manifested. It's by grace, only keep working at receiving by prayer, fasting, confession, quoting the promise, etc. One voice contradicts another, and in the confusion many are becoming disillusioned. Yet God does have a PLAN FOR OUR DAY, and a timing that is perfect-- we need only keep our eyes single to Him, worship Him.
Many long years ago we were asked "how long" we felt it would be before we saw manifestations of the sons? And caught up in the exuberance of truth which the Spirit was revealing, we said we thought it would be within two years. But time slipped by and twenty years later we were still hoping it would "happen" within two years. Finally we ceased the "time projection," knowing that the VISION IS SURE, though the time seems long. (this article from 12-93 [web ed.]). Fortunately on our part, the Lord has always directed our day by day occupying, and so we did not just sit around twiddling our thumbs, but in obedience we walked out each day as He led. Uniquely enough, the vision has grown steadily brighter, and our hope more sure, even though the waiting continues. There is a sureness in the promise, that though hell rages, and people imagine a vain thing, still nothing shall hinder the purpose of God-- it is for an appointed time, it will neither be early nor late, HE IS JUST RIGHT!
One fact is certain, we each need a direct Word from God for our own path. Peter writes that we need to "Be established in the present truth." (2 Pet. 1:12). We can readily take this in a dual application, for there is both a CORPORATE TRUTH and dealing of God, and there is a personal present truth as He speaks a Word into our heart for our individual circumstance. There is a Word for our day-- being confirmed all across the land, to shake off the dust of form and ceremony, and to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. To surrender to His sovereignty, that He may be LORD in our life. And there are personal applications as He deals with us "one on one."
At the time of Israel's departure from Egypt, the PRESENT TRUTH was for them to eat their passover meal "with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand..." (Exodus 12:11), and be ready to march out of the land on an instant notice. It was fulfilled exactly as Moses had told them-- an immediate and sudden deliverance from the land of bondage.
But that was not present truth for Jeremiah's day. It would have been so utterly foolish for them to have packed their suitcase, and sat by the side of the road, outside the city gate, expecting an instant word to return to their homeland. GOD had placed them in their captivity, AND THE TIME WAS LONG. There were seventy years to be fulfilled before a release would come to them, and that's a long time to sit by the road with their suitcase.
But the question remains: If the captivity is long, what do I do while I wait? How do I occupy, retaining a fervency of spirit in my committal to the Lord, and still live out the days? The PRESENT TRUTH in Jeremiah's day was to "build a house, plant a garden, etc." as a proper occupying which produced growth and prepared them for the greater things to come. "That you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captives: for in the peace thereof shall you have peace." (Jer. 29:6-7). There must be an acceptance of our circumstances from His hand with an honest submission to His will for each day. When HE is our PEACE, and He dwells within us, then we ought to readily LIVE AND WALK in that peace. There will be an INCREASE, growth that will glorify God, and prepare us for whatever lies ahead. Yet many are diminished by their captivity-- they lose hope, faith grows weak, they not only question the vision, but they turn away to the pleasures of the world and focus on the things of the flesh-- that is very DIMINISHING.
Illustration: Call it captivity, or necessity, but you have a job that you report to day by day. You can inwardly resist and fight against it, or you can "seek the peace of that city," i.e. pray God's blessing upon the place, upon your employer, upon your fellow workmen, etc. And thus God uses every day happenings in the nitty-gritty of life to develop and process us. When we find our PEACE "in the city" where He places us, we have come a long way in our spiritual maturity. It is a steadfast seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, not in ethereal dream clouds, not false visions of escapism, but in the common place of daily living, finding HE IS THERE.
Solomon made an interesting observation, stating: "To every purpose there is TIME and JUDGMENT, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. For he knows not which shall be: for who can tell him WHEN it shall be." (Eccl. 8:6-7). TIME and JUDGMENT, and both are in His hand. The time for our sowing of seed, expressing whatever nature is in us (self, or His), and then those processes of judgment which correct and assure that all is conforming to His image. I perceive that God's judgments are something far beyond the natural dimensions of hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, fires, etc. These may in a small measure be used in our conditioning processes, but the judgment of God is an EDICT FROM THE THRONE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and then follows whatever action is necessary to bring this to pass. If there is swift obedience, and the goodness of God leads us to repentance, then all is well. But if there be rebellion on our part, then severer measures are needed to turn us around in willingness for HIS WILL to become our will. Time and judgment, He controls them both, and since we know not WHICH shall be, nor WHEN it shall be, then every day is lived out walking softly before the Lord, and inner peace is maintained.
Another example of a LONG TIME, Joshua 11:18-20. "Joshua MADE WAR A LONG TIME with all those kings. There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle. For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them..."
We also read that, "There was LONG WAR between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker." (2 Samuel 3:1).
Both Joshua and David prefigure in type for the spiritual man of the new creation within; while all the kings, and the house of Saul, stand in type for the carnal realm of the flesh. "The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things you would." (Gal. 5:17). There has been A LONG WAR WITHIN US, but, praise God, the Christ life waxes stronger and stronger, to overcome the carnal nature and bring it to an end.
Significant that as Joshua, and the warriors of Israel, came up to a city, instead of that city seeking a peaceful surrender, THE LORD WOULD HARDEN THEIR HEARTS, they would insist on doing battle, and would be destroyed. I have experienced betimes that God will HARDEN "a king" within us, our own self-will crystallizes into a firm rebellion, that He might draw out that which is within us, until He has purged us, and IS LORD OF ALL WITHIN. All of this serves as a parable for our spiritual walk with God. It's amazing the "nations" that have been resident in us, which He now draws out into battle, to conquer. For, WE BECOME OVERCOMERS IN CHRIST TO THE DEGREE THAT WE ARE OVERCOME BY CHRIST. Thank God, "In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed... it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." (Daniel 2:44).
There are those who search the newspapers to see how the kings of earth are lining up, and how "they think" prophecy is being fulfilled. But there is an INTERNAL WORKING that is of far greater importance, and it is this LONG WAR WITHIN US. The kings of self, the passions and lusts of the flesh, the rudiments of the old Adamic nature-- all of these must be DEALT WITH BY HIS CROSS. It is not just one grand leap of initial salvation into the fulness of His kingdom. Rather, His seed of life is planted within, and then there is an on-going process, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30)
Paul wrote of the internal warfare, Romans 7:24-25, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD." And HE, THE SON, "must reign, till He has put all enemies under His feet." (1 Cor. 15:25). Yes, there will be a universal fulfillment of this! The outreaches thereof stagger the imagination. But there is also an individual inworking, as He now wages THIS LONG WAR in us, riding within, "conquering, and to conquer." (Rev. 6:2). Praise God, the victory is HIS, reigning supreme until He is Lord of all within us!
We speak of being conformed to His image, being a partaker of His divine nature, rising to the lofty height of spiritual maturity, "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." (Eph. 4:13) This vision is "for an appointed time," but THE TIME SEEMS LONG, and many cannot wait for GOD to finish His redemptive work within us, so they would try and force the vision into fulfillment with their own action-- mental gymnastics and self-motivated exercises of man, if we confess it often and loud enough, maybe it will force God to "honor my faith" and do something.
How often we hear people quote the verse, "The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." (Matt. 11:12). They take this to mean that they must become violent, claim it, demand it, wage warfare to obtain it, etc. It is a gross mishandling of the truth! The Amplified translation of Luke 16:16 gives clarity. "Until John came, there were the law and the prophets; since then the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God is being preached, and every one strives violently to go in-- WOULD FORCE HIS OWN WAY, RATHER THAN GOD'S WAY INTO IT." The emphasis is ours, we want those words to stand out before our vision. The kingdom suffers violence because people try to force their own way in-- "He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." (John 10:1). One of the reasons for our ongoing processing is to mature and qualify us to be able to handle the riches of the kingdom once we have fully received them. But all of this eagerness of the flesh to appropriate what He has not yet given, often will result in a gross misuse of power, and a perversion of the truth. Hence HE measures out the time-- and in many cases it may seem very long-- but He will have a prepared people at the appointed time, and all to His praise.
In the parable of the talents, (Matthew 25), or the pounds, (Luke 19), one fact stands out, they were only given A LIMITED PORTION, be it one talent or five talents. They did not have unlimited resources. They were being TESTED AND PROVEN by their handling of the measure that was entrusted to them. The quantity of increase was not the issue. FAITHFULNESS WAS THE ESSENTIAL PRE-REQUISITE. "Well done good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your Lord." (Matt. 25:23). In all your occupying, hold the vision as a frontlet before your eyes. Faithfulness to that to which He has called you-- "It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." (1 Cor. 4:2). Faithful in believing the vision, yes, and faithful in what you do with whatever He has entrusted to your care.
Note the phrase: "I will make you ruler." Both position and qualification are of HIS MAKING in us. You cannot make yourself spiritual nor manifest any more than what He has worked within you. We are what we are by the grace of God, as He works within-- to will and to do of His good pleasure.
But TIME often brings an individual crisis. We examine ourselves to see if we really have heard from God, and the vision is from Him. And if we are persuaded that it is true, then we simply have to "hold fast" until God fulfills it. But then a strange occupying sometimes springs up-- we find that some people become "religious critics." To judge and condemn everybody that doesn't measure up to the standard as they perceive it to be. God forbid! May we learn to not condemn what we cannot accept, to simply leave it behind, and walk on in the light He has given to us. Inherent in our occupying there must be a WALKING ON IN THE LIGHT! As concerning all your fellow brethren, Jesus said to Peter, "What is that to you? Follow Me." (John 21:22). Love your brethren-- for "Love covers a multitude of sin." And entreat and encourage one another to press on in whatever light God has given them. But it is not ours to judge their walk. "To his own master he stands or falls. Yea, he shall be held up: for God is able to make him stand." (Rom. 14:4). How merciful and loving is our God!
Yes, THE TIME MAY SEEM LONG, with the fulness of the vision out there before us-- and we have to WAIT FOR IT. Yet, while we live today in the light of tomorrow, we do not wait until tomorrow to begin to live. There are blessed measures of His life for each day-- "He that has the Son has life." (1 John 5:12). "And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." (Gal. 2:20). HE IS OUR CONTENTMENT AND OUR PEACE-- however long the time.
There appears to be two extremes in man's thinking:
Those who think this life is everything, and the future is nothing.
Those who think this life is nothing, and the future is everything.Present life to some is a dismal waiting, resignedly they pray for God to
speed its close, so they just hang on, waiting for the end. If they could escape it, they would. The "rapture doctrine" caters to this mentality. If by any means, just get me out of here. Not much overcoming in this theory.In contrast to this we have the "eat, drink, and be merry" crowd who give no thought to the morrow, or what God might be working out through all these times. Not sure of what the future holds, they try to grab whatever "fun" they can out of present times. Such is the manner of the world.
But there is another, far different approach-- the Psalmist said, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply out hearts unto wisdom." (Psalm 90:12). Number our days-- take note of each one, and consider that every day is valuable for the outworking of God's will in your life.
Then APPLY-- the Hebrew is "bom", meaning: to cause to go in. It speaks of an ACTIVE PARTICIPATION. We are to "apply our hearts unto wisdom." Seek to learn His way-- "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls." (Matt. 11:29). The more we learn to DO IT HIS WAY, the easier it is to bear our load. The criterion for all occupying is found in Christ, and He said, "I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which has sent Me." (John 5:30). The word "seek" is an action word. It bespeaks of diligence in desiring to know His will at all times, for all our doing, so that we might be found to His praise. No wonder each day is to be undergirded with prayer, "Not my will, but Yours, be done." And then we find "His yoke is easy, and His burden is light."
God places His own in some very unusual circumstances where we must account to Him. The issue is not where we occupy, BUT ARE WE TRULY BEING LED BY HIS SPIRIT? Then we can live in joyful obedience, and not just exist in a form of resignation. "Whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men... for you serve the Lord." (Col. 3:23-24)
Often we might feel we are all alone in our stand FOR THE VISION, truth as He has revealed it to us. It is a familiar feeling, Elijah felt it, "Lord, they have killed Your prophets, and torn down Your altars; and I alone am left, and they seek my life. But what was the answer of God to him? I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal." (Rom. 11:3-4). Elijah had no idea there were these others-- he had not heard of them. It does no good to count heads. As one said, the people who COUNT cannot be counted. They are hidden in the places where God is processing them-- not out on display, available for the counting.
Yes, perhaps for you THE TIME SEEMS LONG, because we yearn for much more of His reality. But in applying our hearts unto wisdom, we find that it is most profitable to take each day and walk it out with an attitude of praise and worship to Him. "This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24). Praise His wonderful name!