2.18.18 O. Intro: Stages of life: The "Back then", The "Now", The "Next", The "Final Then." *In our lives we tend to focus more on one stage than the others...but it is common to think little about the "final then" when looking at the now, and the next. Effective living takes perspective that sees life right now from a life-span perspective...life-span extends past this life. Soda/shake straw : If the only perspective you had ever had was through a soda straw, how would you know that? Then if like most people you believed that what you see is always accurate (the way things are)...then you would come to believe the view through the straw...your skewed view, would become reality for you. Robert Clinton researched 500 case studies of Christian leaders as preparation for writing his book, "The Making of a Leader" The following 15 years after it was published he researched another 3,000 case studies and his findings verified his original study. I first read the book around 1990 I've read it several times since then, usually a number of years apart...each time...it makes sense in new ways. The book helps look at life/ministry in terms of a lifetime perspective. It offers anecdotal stories and Biblical principles that help you see a larger view than the soda straw view. Clinton looks at the lives of leaders in phases...I won't elaborate on all the phases but I will make a couple of observations that are relevant to our passage today. Phase I: Sovereign Foundations -God providentially works through family, environment, and historical events in our lives as a part of us becoming who we are. -You may find it hard to believe God is working through all these events (starting at birth) especially if they were not good experiences...but he was -It is often hard to see the importance of these things until later in life. -Its important as you go through life to not merely experience regret and despair over past events...or to be jealous and discontent over what God has done for you as opposed to what he has done for others. 1
-Instead ask God to give perspective on some of the pieces of your sovereign foundations...as he does you will gain a deeper appreciation for his power. -This phase is called sovereign foundations...meaning God was in control of it...and he has purposes in it. -What about the evil things done? -God has not done evil in your life, but he does not want us to waste anything that is a part of the foundations of who we are now - The primary lesson regarding our foundations is to learn to respond positively going forward and to take advantage of what God has laid in these foundations. -Earnest Alexander: Case Study...turned into a blessing for him and many others. - Gen. 50:20 (Joseph) You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Will you by faith embrace what God can do through your own sovereign foundations? It is very powerful what can happen if you will...it will help you put down the soda straw. Ps. 139:16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Phase II: Inner-life growth -This is the time when the emerging leader seeks to know God in a more personal and intimate way. -Learning to pray, hear from God and respond to him...learning to say "yes" -This is mostly a time of testing. -Plunging and plodding...both have their own versions of testing. -Often the testing comes in the form of a "vision" (You see what you believe God wants to do) then the death of a vision. (road blocks, opposition, seemingly impossible circumstances). -Like Abraham getting the promise of a son. -Then the death of the vision "he was called to sacrifice his son" -Then the recovery of the vision...God provided a ram. God was not playing game with him...he was developing him into a man of faith. 2
-Sometimes there is second "death to the vision" Think again of Joseph ...a vision of future leadership...then death to that vision as he was sold into slavery. -Then the vision was recovered as he prospered in Egypt...then death to the vision again as he was sent to prison. -Then recovery again as he was released and became second in command in the nation. *God fulfilled his purposes in Joseph and through him...but in order for Joseph to become the man who could do what God was calling him to...he had to pass through the challenges. Not to prove himself to God...but to develop into a man who had real depth. Again God is not cruel, he is training us, developing us as sons and daughters. There are other phases outlined in the book, but we will stop there. Early on in our development God is primarily working "in" not "through" us. Of course he working "through" but his main focus in "in"...what he is building in to us. Remember, he doesn't need us to get stuff done...he wants us to become his faithful, faith-filled people. Many times people don't recognize this and become frustrated. They are constantly evaluating productivity and activities, while God is quietly looking into what is happening in their hearts. This year we want to close the gap on our faith and love...this is a year, one year...in the lifetime that God gives us. We want to discard the soda straws and see our lives from a lifetime perspective. Today we are in Hebrews 11:13-16 1. See your life as "Already/Not yet" 13 All these people (the ones discussed thus far in this chapter) were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. This is a bit confusing at first glance because of what was written back in chapter 6 Heb. 6:15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. 3
So did Abraham receive what was promised or not? Yes. It is important that we look at the scriptures and the promises of God in our lives as "already/not yet." If we miss this, we will have trouble navigating both the Bible and life. Abraham had no human hope of having a son, yet he saw Isaac born. He received the promise of a son...yet his son pointed to a larger promise...that would not be fulfilled in his lifetime. That is what is being addressed here in chapter 11. The promise of a nation, and ultimately the promise of a savior. So he died already having "seen" the fulfillment (a son was born), but not yet having experienced it in its full measure. This is the already/not yet fulfillment of the promise. Not seeing the "already/not yet" in Scriptures and in life...leads to confusion and disappointment for people. God has promised peace, presence, power, protection, purpose...but in part now and in full then. When a person commits their life to Christ...there is a new life, a new desire, and a new power. This is immediate...but the transformation of the total person is a lifelong process that is not complete until after physical death. John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” So what is it? Peace or trouble? Yes. Why do I need courage, if you have overcome the world? Already, not yet. You can experience God now...you can live with purpose and liberty now. You can experience significant and ongoing victory over sin now. You can have relationships that are powerfully transformed now. 4
But all of this will be short of the full experience of your salvation...that is not yet. In this life as you move towards God in faith and obedience...you can and will maximize the life he has given you. You do this by faith...often not seeing the fruit...but trusting in the promises of reaping and sowing. Because how you experience this life now will ebb and flow. You will be active...then on the shelf. You will live in the vision, then in the death of the vision. You will experience the thrill of the plunge...then the challenge of the plod. This is how we live by faith...even when it seems like..."it is not working" Things are not going well, I'm not seeing fruit...what will you do then...who will you trust? These people mentioned in this chapter saw the "not yet" from a distance...and by faith welcomed it. Even those who are industry, government, and military leaders who have long range vision...they look out 20-30 years to plan today...if they do not see into eternity...they are looking through a soda straw. Even Mr. Musk who recently launched a Tesla into space and said "I love the thought of aliens finding that car millions of years in the future"...that image is real (the driver is not) Is still looking through a soda straw. "Really?...but he is a visionary...wants to colonize Mars...thinks in terms of millennia not decades" If he misses eternity with God...and only sees the current physical universe...he is looking at the present and the future through a straw. We must look at all "now" through the larger lens of the eternal "then." It doesn't make us less engaged with now...t should make us more fully engaged with now. How do we do this? 2. See yourself as a Foreign National Heb. 11:13b...And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. "Alien" in the Greek is "xenos" it means "foreigner" 5
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