Stand

My youngest son is a Sea Cadet.  Of all the activities he does with his squad, the least he enjoys is standing.  It seems to him that unless they are actively involved in some other activity, he has to stand.  It reminds me of a verse from Ephesians 6:13: "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."  This verse comes from a familiar portion of Scripture that I have read often.  For some reason, the last part of this verse never fully captured my attention until recent months.

As a Sea Cadet my son has learned that there are three different types of standing.  First there is "At Attention". A Cadet stands at attention when he is speaking to a superior, being inspected or he is receiving direction from his Commanding Officer.  In this form of standing, the Cadet is prepared to take action.

The second way a Cadet learns to stand is "At Ease".  A Cadet is told to stand at ease when he is expected to stand for awhile such as when he is receiving general information and instruction during an announcement.  It is the rest phase from standing at attention.  In this phase, a Cadet is just a word away from standing back at attention and moving directly into action.

The third way a Cadet is permitted to stand is "Easy".  This standing phase usually lasts only for about 5 seconds and is used by the Cadet to either shift stance, scratch an itch or adjust his uniform.  After this is done, the Cadet moves back to standing at ease until he is called back to attention.

The key standing position is "At Attention".  It is from this standing position that a Cadet receives and acts upon the command he is given.  This command could be to march or even to dismiss.  A Cadet only acts when he is prepared, thus the reason for him to stand at attention.  It is at this point that a Cadet is prepared and ready to act.  It could be said that for a Cadet to be standing is to be expectantly waiting.

In light of my learning this, Ephesians 6:13 takes on new meaning, especially the final part: "...and after you have done everything, to stand."  It has been my experience that not many of us have learned to expectantly wait upon the Lord.  Yes, we may diligently perform our Christian duty, working hard to do all that we can for the Lord.  However, not many of us are comfortable with standing and waiting.  During the times we find ourselves waiting, we often wonder where God is.  We may question why God seems to delay.  Some of us may feel the fool for working so hard only to find ourselves standing alone wondering where He is.

Each evening at sunset before my son leaves Cadets he finds himself standing, waiting.  Before he can be dismissed and conclude his day, he must wait upon his Commanding Officer to call him to attention and to dismiss him.  Sometimes he may find himself waiting a little longer than usual.  However, he waits upon his Commander to inspect and dismiss him.  While he waits he stands at ease.  He is resting from the work that he has completed and is expectantly awaiting his Commander to complete a final inspection and to dismiss him for a job well done.

At the conclusion of the task we have been given, we too will find ourselves standing and waiting.  During this time, instead of complaining and wondering where God is, we should prepare ourselves and expectantly await the arrival of our Commanding Officer.  He will come.  He knows the task is finished.  At the exactly right time, He will come and not delay.  He will be looking for those who are standing, watching and waiting.  It is to those of us who are standing and waiting that He will congratulate for a job well done.  I would not want to miss that for anything.  Would you?

Mountains Move in Jesus' Name

I am reminded of a time when I decided to put the Christian Scriptures to test.  Jesus said to his disciples in Mark 11:22-23: "Have faith in God.  I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen.  But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart."

I was about 12 at the time.  After reading this one Sunday, I went outside to our backyard and prayed along these lines:  "Lord, I believe when you say in your Word that mountains can be moved if I believe it.  I want to see this happen.  I won't ask for you to move a mountain here because it would cause a lot of trouble.  However, I will speak to this stone at my feet and I want you to move it."

How could this go wrong?  I was about to see God move a stone because I believed He would do it!  I was pumped!!

Looking down at the stone at my feet I pointed at it and said quietly, "In the name of Jesus move."  And wouldn't you know, it stayed right where it was.

Wow.  That was weird.  God assured me in His Word that He would do this if I believed.  I again prayed, saying something like: "God I really believe you.  I do!  To show you, I will speak louder."

Looking back at that stone, I raised my voice to a respectable level of authority and said in utmost confidence, "In the name of Jesus, MOVE!"  To my astonishment, it remained right where it was.  What was going on?  Couldn't God see that I believed?

Again, I prayed.  "Lord, I really do believe you will do this!  You said so in your Word.  Lord, I know you will do it!  I'll speak to it again.  This time, Lord, don't let me be disappointed!"

For a third time I looked at that now offending stone that was somehow proving my faith inadequate.  I pointed at the stone and raised my voice, shouting at it, "IN THE NAME OF JESUS, MOVE!!"  To my frustration, embarrassment and disappointment, the stone stayed exactly where it was.  In anger I bent down, picked up the offensive stone and threw it as far as I could.

How could God set me up like this?  I believed!  I truly did!  Why did He not do what He said He would do in His Word?

I pushed this incident out of my mind, not wanting to face or remember the defeat and disillusionment of my childlike faith.  God had let me down.  I would not forget this, and I didn't.

Over a decade later, I was facing an impossible mountain in my life.  Again, I asked God to move a mountain.  I went back to the Scripture in Mark 11.  I claimed it.  I prayed over it.  I spoke to my mountain in Jesus' name, but it remained.  I was discouraged.  It was easy to pass off the childish request of my youth to ask God to move a stone.  In the grand scheme of things, that was small.  It was unimportant.  But this?  This was life altering.  I needed it to move.  Why was God not fulfilling His Word in my life?  I thought it over.  I measured my request for validity, whether or not it was reasonable.  I concluded it was legitimate and right to ask for His provision.  So, why was God not moving?

As I prayed over a number of days about my mountain, I heard God ask this simple question:  "Do you remember that stone?"

"Of course I do!"  I answered in my prayer, "God you didn't move it.  I did!!"

Quietly I heard Him reply, "No, Son, I did move it.  I used you to do it."

After these many years, I discovered something valuable.  God does indeed move mountains.  Sometimes He will do so miraculously, but more often He uses broken and weak vessels such as you and I.  In my situation He opened my eyes to what I could do to effect the moving of my mountain.  He assured me that He would indeed move the mountain, but I had a role to play in that removal as well.  I had to be an active participant in the process.  With this in mind, I identified the role I could play in moving this mountain and for the parts I could not, I leaned on Him.  I did what I could and by His Grace, He did the rest.  My mountain did get moved.  It got moved in a way I couldn't even imagine.  I played a part and got to see up close and personal the power of God in doing what I couldn't.  I was a partner with Him.

God looks for those He can partner with.  His Word encourages us to not only be hearers of His Word, but also doers.  (James 1:22)  He desires that we be actively involved in moving mountains with Him.  Are there mountains in your life?  Are there mountains in the lives of your family and friends?  What can you do to help move them in Jesus' Name?  Why not do that today and partner with God in being a mountain mover.  I assure you, as you do, you will witness personally, up close and intimately the awesome power of God at work in your life and in the lives of those you love.  Be empowered today as you do His work.