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I found my camel
It seems that everyone was saying, “The camels are coming, the camels are coming”. I got excited about the camels coming because I understood the camels meant prosperity in one form or another (but hoping for material goods). I also heard about the “great transfer of wealth” was coming. Yes, I accept that, from “somewhere out there” to my bank account.
In my pondering I ask myself, “what will that look like?” At first all I could envision were bills paid, new tires on the car, money to give to missions and the church, and a well-deserved vacation; maybe even a mission trip. Wouldn’t that be wonderful.
Since I know that all God’s promises are conditional I decided to find out what those conditions are. As a business person, I structured my search with a SOP (standard operating procedures). What is the purpose of me being on this planet? As a Christian I am to carry out the works of my Father in heaven just as Jesus did. He set the example for me. What exactly were the “works” that Jesus did. Jesus said as recorded in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” I John 3:8 states, “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” Paul stated that we have the mind of Christ in 1 Cor. 2:16, “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
So I can deduct that my purpose is to destroy the works of the devil. So that is why I have the Sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” What will that Sword do? Paul says in Heb. 4:12, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” So the Word is a discerner of the heart which is why we are to be mature in the Word, Heb. 5:14, “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Paul goes on to list the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Cor. 12 so that we would not be ignorant (unskilled) in their uses. Verse 10. , “to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” It appears that the purpose of a Christian is to destroy the works of the devil wherever his works can be found. Jesus said , “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12) Our Father has given us everything we need for this mission. Peter states in 2 Peter 1:3, “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,”
So one aspect of the camels coming is to give me the resources, so that I may “destroy the works of the devil”. When I unload my camel I will not have preconceived ideas of what is on the camel. If I do I may be disappointed. I know Father will give exactly what I need to carry out my mission without encumbering me with “neat” but useless stuff. I take the writer of Hebrews counsel in chapter 12:1, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith………”
As a side note, the camels have always been passing by, but due to the seasons in my life, my spiritual eyes have not been able to “see” them. In some areas of my life I have not been fulfilling the conditions which would allow me to “see” the camels.
Here are the “conditions” in my life that will bring about the fulfillment of His promise of the camels.
First, I am content that what I am currently doing is what the Father asks me to do. I am doing it with His blessing. Therefore, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”(Col.3:23).
Secondly, Matthew 6 is foundational to my understanding the mind of Christ. “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16). I have read and meditated on this chapter. I made it a part of my thought life. Some verses that are very important to read are: Verses 6, 7 "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen [do]. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
Verses 16-18 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who [is] in the secret [place]; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Verse 24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Verse 25"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”
Verse 28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;”
Verse 31, 32 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear? For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”
The key to chapter 6 is in verse 33, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Thirdly, As King David says in Psalms 24, verse 3, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?” The answer or condition is in verse 24, “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”
Finally, The apostle Paul spoke forth his heart’s cry for God’s people in Romans 12: 1,2 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
I’ll take leave of you all and go to the barn to get some hay and water for the camels. |
