Monday, September 10, 2007
God commanded Evan Baxter, former anchorman and the congressman to build an ARK. Through many instances of defiance, he did it. Remember Jonah?
Well, Point Number 1:
IF GOD CALLS YOU SOMETHING, THERE'S NO WAY TO RUN AWAY FROM IT.
It is true! And most of the time I believe that following God's instructions and directions always takes us on the road less traveled. Remember Jesus told the rich man about how to be a disciple? Bible ref: Mark 10:21 "Go sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." (NAB) And again in Mark 8:34 "He summoned the crowd with His disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me." (NAB)
That's what happened to Evan. (Notice: Spoilers alert!) Evan got suspended from his job, got hit by a gift of beard and robes, lost his family, lost everything and what's more faced hindrance from the local authorities. At the end of the day, he held on in faith and finished it. Jonah went to preach Nineveh in the end right?
Point Number 2: GOD PROVIDES!
God provides Evan with ALL the materials needed for the job! Amen! Abraham was order to offer Issac to God, but in the end God showed mercy and provided him with a sheep instead. Genesis 22:14. This is God's promise of providing us in our time of need. If only we do not hold back from offering Him all of ourselves. God provided the gopher wood, tools and all. Evan asked for a mechanical lift, God gave it to him. Evan asked for additional help, God provided the "manpower" in the form of the entire animal kingdom. Matt 7:7-8 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened onto you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
Jesus promises us that whatever we ask in faith and belief in Him He will do it. John 14:13-14 "And whatever you ask in My name, I will do it, so that the Father will be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of Me in My name, I will do it."
Just a little disclaimer though. In Evan Almighty, Evan's wife asked for a more closely knitted family. Later on in the movie she meets God at a diner. She was pouring out her life to Him when He responded, "Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?"
Guess we've gotta be mindful of what we pray for. Mindful in the sense that we need to identify such opportunities when they arrive. Opportunities for us to exercise that very thing we've been praying for. For the longest time I've been praying for a stronger resistance to temptation. Now that I look back, I realise that God has provided me with lots of opportunities to exercise it. The only thing I've done is wave them goodbye. Sigh eh?
Point Number 3: Hold on in faith!
Back to Abraham... Abraham could have easily defied God's demand of offering Issac but the miracle here is that Abraham held on to his faith in God till the very last moment, then God provided him a substitute. Evan held on with God's promise of a flood sooo much that he did in a way turn cynical. Even on the appointed date, a drizzle came, but no flood. Then when hope seemed bleak, the flood came. What faith! The bible's number 1 human resource manager, Moses also faced the same thing in the courts of Pharaoh. To be able to believe that his people will actually be set free calls for a huge amount of faith in God. I guess the biggest example of holding in faith is shown through Jesus. He believed that through Him, sin and death will be conquered that He chose to "drink the cup that the Father has given Him." John 18:11
Jesus did want the cup of suffering to pass from Him. Matt 26:39 "And going on a little further, He fell on His face and prayed. "My Father," He said, "If it is possible, let this cup pass Me by. Nevertheless let if be as You, not I, would have it." Jesus held on in faith to His Father's will that at the end of the entire ordeal, He was glorified and now seated at His Father's right hand.
Friends, let us keep in mind these 3 points as we live daily only to give glory to God! Amen!
was rockin' on
5:12 AM and they said.. 
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