(September 06, 2024) Richard Winter encourages…

Life is a journey — you will go somewhere!

When you were born, you started your journey wherever your parents were. Life happens and you move around experiencing ups and downs… good times, bad times, sad times —  and learning times. Life can be described as the geography of moments of TIME.

Kairos Moments
There are two ancient Greek words used in scripture regarding time — chronos being about quantitative or exact minutes, such as Matthew 2:7 querying Jesus’ birth, and kairos about qualitative moments.

Regarding kairos, Ephesians 5:15-17ESV reads, ‘Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.’

‘Time’ here is kairos and Paul’s point is that we be wise and recognise kairos moments in our life. That we don’t miss them but respond purposefully and intentionally to significant times or seasons. In other words… Christians should respond to the right, opportune moment in which life-shaping decisions are made.

God knows our time on planet Earth… approximately 80 years, a journey starting at birth and concluding at death. And He seek to give you direction regarding which way to travel — and you can seek His will as you move around.

Hills and Valleys
God had told Israel that the Promised Land was theirs and in Deuteronomy 11:11, He described it to them with a warning: ‘But the land you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys.’

When I think about the physical land of Israel, that’s an apt description! As it is for the life we live as Christians — we will face challenges of hills and valleys, high and low points —

• It won’t always be on the mountain tops with great views.
• We won’t always be level ground where things are easy.
• There will be bends in the roads and life will go up and down.
• Problems, temptations and sins will affect our journey in life.
• Daily the devil will test our spiritual defences and attack us in areas of weakness.

The Bible holds life lessons that we all can take note of. It records the hills and valleys of Bible personnel, so we can learn from their mistakes and be encouraged to travel on. For example, God declared Moses would lead His people into a land that would flow with milk and honey. That sounded wonderful — but the land would be one of hills and valleys and quite a few enemies! Trusting God, Moses came through!

Let’s remember a spiritual principal here: ‘Obedience is better than sacrifice.’ Simply restated that means: Do what God wants you to do and the hills and valleys will be fewer, overcome, and the blessings greater.

In a nutshell, think of hills and valleys as obstacles, challenges, ups and downs along the road of life to be overcome with God’s help which includes guidance and direction. Opportune moments foryour right decision making leading to growth in our Christianity!

Comparison Points
Christians today have a lot in common with Israel facing entry into the Promised Land —
(i) Freedom
God set Israel free from bondage. We were bound to sin, the world and Satan, and He set us free!
(ii) Guidance
He led them by supernatural day clouds and night fires. God leads us by His word and Holy Spirit.
(iii) Possession
God told Israel to possess their inheritance. He wants us to possess all that’s ours through Jesus.

• Unfortunately Israel fell into unbelief and failed to fully possess their promised land!
• The Lord has given Christians a wonderful spiritual inheritance in Christ — all we have to do is possess it by faith. But — and this may come as a surprise — many think that the Christian life is an easy one, that once you’re saved all your problems disappear.
• The reality is that although in our eternal destination is assured there are hills and valleys to be taken, many new problems will pop up! Jesus never promised an easy life following Him… for example He warned that as people hated Him, people will hate us (John 15:18–21).
• The Bible not only explains our reason for being here but is a divine road map describing our eternal inheritance, what we may obtain in life, and what we can achieve for Jesus now.
• Hills and valleys problems can be solved when we respond to ‘opportune kairos moments.’

Victory Examples
1) Abraham
He went through the horror of a great darkness (Genesis 15:12). He was promised a son for an heir and descendants that couldn’t be counted (Genesis 15: 4-5)… but it took a long time to even appear to be happening.

• We may have to await certain fulfillment of God’s plans for us!

2) Jacob
God had promised that through him would come a great nation (Genesis 28:10–15). Still, Jacob was full of fears and anxieties as he returned home to meet his estranged brother. He evenfound himself encountering and wrestling with God all night and wouldn’t surrender (Genesis 32:22).

• We might encounter wrestling with opposition and mustn’t give in!

3) Moses
Numbers 11:11 records that Israel’s leader felt he was bearing the weight of Israel and all its sin.

• We’ll face heavies ahead and must always feel free to press on!

4) David
1Samuel 22:1 tells of David hiding in a cave wondering about his life (See Psalms 57 and142).

• There are bad moments, fearful times when you feel alone. Fall into the Spirit’s strong arms!

5) Isaiah
The prophet lamented that his life was in vain (Isaiah 49:4).

• We’re here for a purpose, can learn from God what it is and with the Spirit’s help do it!

6) Jeremiah
Jeremiah wept because his message to God’s people wasn’t being received (Jeremiah 13:17).

• Many folk don’t want to hear the good news… but our mission is still Matthew 28:18-20!

7) John the Baptist
He was imprisoned for provoking King Herod and Herodias (Matthew 14:3).

• Yes, we may find ourselves despised by certain people and sects… but we must not be silent!

8) Paul
Opposed virtually everywhere he went, Paulshared his missionary troubles (1Thessalonians 2:9).

• Sharing with others… churches, friends, prayer partners means a strong back-up!

Lessons Learned
Why does God let us come through hills and valleys? One reason is that we learn lessons we would never learn if everything were rosy-dozy!

• Think David:
  Would he have written all those positive psalms if he’d only known good times? Such as Psalm 23:4CJB: ‘Even if I pass through death-dark ravines, I will fear no disaster; for you are with me; your rod and staff reassure me.’ 
• Think Paul:
  Suppose he never had a thorn in the flesh… could he have written ‘(the Lord) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”’(2Corinthians 12:9).
• Think Peter:
  He advised, ‘Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you’ (1Peter 4:12ESV).
• Think James:
  He was able to write, ‘Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness’ (James 1:2-4ESV).
• Think Hebrews:
  The writer confidently stated ‘…after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings’ (Hebrews 10:32ESV).

God’s Purpose
Going through hills and valleys we learn lessons we could never learn any other way! We grow in character.

• Gold is purified by great heat to burn out any impurities: Christians are made strong when we conquer great trials.
• We don’t become patient because we reads a book on patience — we learn patience by being patient in trials, by being spiritually led through the hill or valley!
• We don’t learn to pray by sitting in a chair — we need a trial to bring us into prayer that lift us up, crying out to God in faith.

Psalm 84:6-7RV tells about those ‘Passing through the valley of Weeping’ that ‘they make it a place of springs…  They go from strength to strength.’

God’s purpose in troubling hills, valleys and weeping places is not only to teach us to be overcomers, butthat we can help others. He can use your life experiences, both good and bad! Yes, our tears become springs of life to refresh others.

The devil may mean our weeping and hills and valleys experiences for evil but God means them for good!

• Ever cried over a broken heart, a tragic divorce or a wayward child and God restored joy to you?
• Your tears were stored spiritually to help another pass through a similar trial.
• Have you cried over, say, cancer in your body? You are the best person to speak to another sufferer

Paul wrote: ‘God comforts us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves we are comforted of God’ (2Cornthians 1:4).

God allows us to go through valleys so He may teach us valuable lessons for life and can then help others. Christians are not to live and grow only for ourselves — but for others too!

Wouldn’t it be happier to have no valleys in life? Yes! But God knows how to balance our lives — land without hills and valleys will make an immature and shallow Christian life. All sunshine makes a desert! If you want to experience the hilltops of happiness you must endure valleys of trial.

Comfort comes from knowing that at the end of every valley is a hill and atop that hill is a new experience of blessing from God.

Jesus had His hills and valleys! Remember what He faced — wrongly condemned to hang on a cross at Mount Calvary. But oh the blessings He received — victory and resurrection, reunion with His father in heaven, and the birth of His church!

Our Purpose
God, His word and the Holy Spirit are your encouragement as you encounter hills and valleys: He has a blessing waiting for you! The Christian life is full of hills and valleys, but… you will always find a mountaintop at the other end!

Our Lord Jesus has gone before us to prepare the way — every challenge we face Jesus has faced been before by Him. Our God is a God of all hills and valleys!

But in remembering God’s purpose, remember yours! Those hills and valleys times are kairos qualitative opportune moments! I quoted Ephesians 5:15-17ESV above… the Message Bible is even more direct:

• ‘So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.’         

More could be expressed here, but do remember this — kairos time is not about its duration but its significance and value! Your response to these ‘defining moments’ is important — may you, may I, recognise them and respond wisely!

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Dr Richard Winter pastors The Connection Church, Huntington Beach, California. Link: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com  
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