"and worship him" (Rev. 14:7)
It occurred to me THAT is the most important thing. I may have the largest church or ministry in the world and reached millions for Christ; have travelled to over a dozen countries to speak to many organizations' leaders and enacted good change to make a difference in trillions of lives.
But when I turn my face Heavenward toward the God Who rules the heavens and names the stars that habitate them...aren't one trillion only a microscopic fraction of all the existing orbs of space multiplied by the eons they have existed? That Mighty God asks me one question: SO, DO YOU WORSHIP ME?
Do I realize that everything that happens in my life happens because my heavenly Father is interested in developing my WORSHIP? I know as a human parent, I was concerned about my child's development; God is no less of a parent!
Potty-training is about the first "Developmental Training" any parent would give, no matter how uncomfortable the child finds it to be (and for the parent, this may be a matter of self-defense!) The child of God may learn to turn to Heaven regularly and pour his heart out to his Father (Ps.62:8). The soul that does this has less need to spill ugliness everywhere he goes. Some people do not like David's imprecatory psalms where he seems to express anger towards his enemies. But he knew it was far better to let God know about what was festering in his heart--a righteous God would know how to handle it than to try to hold onto it himself then unleash venom onto others.
Okay, now that I've been Potty-Trained, and God knows how sincerely I love Him, that's all the training I can expect in life, right? No? Development of patience, humility, prayer, trust, soulwinning, wisdom...it doesn't stop with just potty training!
Wait a minute. Wow; you were reading a verse in Revelation dealing with the worship of Jesus Christ, and now you're thinking about Potty Training? June; only you could do something like that.
"that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Rev. 14:7)
It all goes back here. And didn't that little girl settle back in her place with the knowledge; "God is in His Heaven, and all's right with the world"? It is when we take God off His throne and put ourselves on it that things get screwy.
This world looks like the mess it is because we think we're so smart and can handle it all ourselves now. Oh, sure the unsaved mind has been doing that a while; that is rather to be expected. That is like saying, "Man is breathing now; what do you think of that?!" No; I am referring to us crazy Christians who should know better!
As Joni Eareckson Tada said, there are too many of us -- I'm putting myself in here -- that say, Okay, I've figured out this "life" thing and pretty much know how people ought to walk. Here is the Bible, and I know where to look for the help I need. I think I've got this prayer thing figured out now (I have heard about it over 60 years, after all). There seems to be plenty of human help around me, in person, books, media, positively and sometimes actually a confusing influence. Now, as Joni put it (finally), "let me out the door on cruise control!" No, she says; if you live like that, the Bible sez God is AGAINST you!
The God Who made all things must be at the helm of my life, or all is not right with the world! And if God allows things to crumble to let us see they are not, that is His mercy to let us see we are going in the wrong direction, not something He is doing to be a Big, Mean Bully!
Until then, let every unbearable headache simply remind us to scoot over and let you take the steering wheel -- we've been at it a little too long!
