Can We Get There From Here?

“You can’t get there from here,” is the saying. What a discouraging word! I think it’s the message that Satan and his forces are lobbing at many of us, day in and day out, along with messages like:

“You can’t become a spiritual giant.”
“You’re an extreme case… far harder than the ordinary person”
“You’ll never overcome that stronghold.”
“You don’t have the strength [or perseverance or commitment or spiritual maturity] required.”
“The promises in the Bible weren’t meant for your situation.”
“You can’t expect victory yet – you haven’t suffered or struggled long enough.”
“Besides, victory won’t last – remember your other failures?”
“Is all the effort worth it? Look what it’s costing you.”

Rest assured, the enemy of our souls would love to badger us throughout FAC’s upcoming Sunday morning sermon series, Roots, with its focus on Sabbath keeping, solitude & silence, prayer, fasting, and celebration. And we’ll help Satan out if we bring an unteachable, suspicious, or defensive spirit - anything to harden the topsoil of our hearts and make it easy for him to snatch truth away before it can take root.

For he knows that these “spiritual disciplines” do make a way for us to get there from here. To become like Christ. To gain victory over habits that disgust us and harm our relationships and our testimony. To climb the mountaintop and look down on the things that once towered over us.

So why should we accept one discouraging word from the father of lies? On our way from here to there, it would be far more helpful to listen to the Author of Truth:

"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."
"I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly."
"Take My yoke upon you and learn of me, and you shall find rest… for My yoke is easy and my burden is light."
"All things are possible to him that believes."

In other words, we can do it! We can get there from here. We can experience victory where defeat had so often reigned, and freedom where we had been bound, and rest where we had worked so hard in our own strength. The spiritual disciplines will be like friendly guides to show us the way.

So over these next weeks, bring to morning worship a humble, teachable spirit, a willingness to change, and a commitment to obey whatever He says. Bring an expectant faith in His encouraging words… and let the adventure begin!