Last week’s blog post referred to Paul and a revelation he had. I like to call it an “Ah ha” moment. Today I want to focus on a few revelations and realizations in my life. See if you can relate.
It’s kind of like the picture above. You walk through the door of revelation, sometimes stumbling through it, and there it is. That ‘ah-ha’ moment. That moment of clarity. It finally clicks. It’s a moment of transformation in your life.
Figuring It Out
I certainly don’t claim to be the sharpest tool in the shed. And if I am the smartest person in the room, you should run. So I am guessing most people have already figured out the things I am about to share that were huge to me – moments of revelations and realizations.
rev·e·la·tion (noun): the divine or supernatural disclosure to humans of something relating to human existence or the world.
The Biggest Revelation
This, hands down, is the most significant moment of revelation in my life. That was on Wednesday, April 2nd, 1980 at approximately 9 pm. I had just turned 18 and was at the end of my senior year on a Spring Break trip. It was then that it all made sense to me. It became clear who Jesus Christ was and what He had done for me. I confessed Jesus as my Lord & Savior at that moment, believing in my heart that God raised Him from the dead.
What I’ve learned about that revelation is this. That there are deciders, and there are disciples. It wasn’t just a decision I made that night. It was a true moment of revelation (change) for me. It’s been a journey, but I am a disciple (follower of Christ).
Realization That “I Am So Blessed” – Really?
This phrase has always bothered me a bit. It’s almost as if it is a contest of how blessed one is because of living in a “first world country” and thriving in capitalism. People would say “Look at how blessed I am,” without humility. Because they are Americans and made it big with money, clothes, houses, cars, good kids, and more, “they are blessed.” So are you saying my brothers and sisters in Christ in a 3rd world country aren’t blessed? I think they would tell you otherwise.
Of course, there is much more to this argument, but here’s my revelation. Being blessed is when you put yourself in a position with Christ, that now His blessings can flow through you to significantly impact and lift up others. That’s the abundant life. Otherwise, I dare say that it is only greed under the guise of being spiritual in saying, “I am blessed.”
Revelation of A Homecoming
Carmen’s return, and my return. Carmen had just been born-again, and she took off on her first mission trip. She had known ‘of God’ for many years. But then she met God and now knows God…not just ‘knows of Him.’ Anyway, she came home from that mission trip changed. She was so impacted by how God had moved in her life and what she experienced on that trip, that her heart was raw.
When she returned home, I just held her as she cried (in a good way), and at times was sobbing. The Holy Spirit was so ministering to her at that moment that how could I not get a big dose of that too? As I found myself crying, it was time for me to come home too.
I had been jaded for years and used many excuses to not really follow Jesus. I had finally come home.
Realization – My Source
Yes, this has been a life-long season that should not have taken a revelation. But God is patient. So my whole life I have worked too hard to earn my keep as did my wife. Carmen and I were ‘workaholics’ and let much of life pass us by because of it.
Carmen got the clue before me. And now that light bulb has finally come on for me. God is my source. I kept thinking: If I just do more; if others can just see that I have value; if I can just… and it was that elusive carrot dangling in front of me that I was never going to get. The sufficient raises and elusive incentive bonuses, promotions, or otherwise. It never seemed attainable.
Carmen continued to remind me that my job, my work, the ‘man’ I worked for, and nothing or nobody else was my source, save God alone. God is my source. I have peace in that because I trust Him to provide for me now, not all those other sources, though He may use them as He wills.
Key to Revelation
The bottom line is this – spend time with Jesus. Be aware of Him at every moment. Desire to grow in your walk with Him. Here are some ‘spiritual’ thoughts to consider:
- Prayer – this is your walking (and talking) with God (not optional)
- Reading and meditating on God’s word (not optional)
- Community – spending time with other believers (not optional)
- Surrender – unlearning what you think you know (not optional)
- Listening and Obedience – essential in building trust (not optional)
Learn from the Spirit what the world can’t teach you. Then live it out in fully trusting Him with your life, your peace, your protection, and your provision. He is your source of life!
So will you let God speak to you? Will you hear it? Let Him bring revelation of who He is, and what He wants to bring to you. Let Him speak to you through this song, So Will I…
Challenge of the Week
Take 15 minutes, take five, take an hour. I don’t care what you take, but take time this week to find just a few minutes. And when you do, ask God to reveal to you what you need to know. To know and to see Him as He really is and not the way you have been programmed to see Him. Ask Him to reveal to you what you need to see the truth of His word. And even more, ask Him to help you unlearn what you always thought was right about Him. See Him as He really is, not in the way you were programmed to see Him. It could be life-transforming. So be it.
Bonus:
One Other Revelation – In Search of Peace
I so wanted to experience peace in my life. But there were many distractions and times of drama that kept me from it. If I could get on the other side of this issue or that! Or so I thought. That is what I was led to believe. I was programmed that peace was elusive. As if you had to be on some mountain somewhere in meditation to experience it.
The ah-ha moment (revelation) that finally came to me was this. I could (and should) experience peace no matter the distractions, drama, or circumstances happening to me or around me. If God is love, and perfect love casts out fear, and I am walking with Jesus, then no matter what I am going through, I can and will have peace. Jesus is my peace, protector, and my strong tower of refuge. So even if, even though, I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, “your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Walking with Jesus is my peace. I have the Comforter in the Holy Spirit. Amen and Amen!
More on this in next week’s blog post.
