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COMING TO ATTENTION AT THE VOICE OF THE FATHER
Three children were playing in the living room with the gifts that their father had given each of them. Each gift was unique and special for the child to whom it was given. They were content for a while playing with his/her gift until they began to notice the gifts that had been given to their siblings. It wasn’t long before fighting broke out and they began to covet the other’s gift. Sometimes one would even try to take the gift away from his/her sibling by force. Shouting and crying prevailed as the hostility accelerated. A neighbor happened to hear the ruckus and came into the home to see what was going on. He tried to stop the children from fighting but they retorted, “We don’t have to listen to you … who are you?” The neighbor left the room looking for the parents. He found an uncle upstairs reading and told him what was going on. Immediately he came downstairs to try to bring peace, except that he was a little out of control himself. He did not like being disturbed so he threatened to whip them if they didn’t quieten down and start getting along. They sassed back, “You touch us and we tell our Dad!”
At long last the mother came home and found her children in the midst of intense combat over the gifts. She yelled at them and threatened to take their gifts away if they didn’t start behaving. Immediately each of them hugged their own gift close to their chest and stopped fighting, that is until the mother left the room. Then they began to engage in a tug of war over each other’s gift once again. A few minutes later the father came home from work and their countenance fell. They dropped their gifts and looked into the eyes of their dear father. Tears began to fall from their eyes as they knew how much he loved them. At that moment, they understood the foolishness in which they allowed themselves to indulge. It no longer mattered what they thought or wanted but what their father wanted. The father then showed them how each of their gifts was meant to fit together to create one incredible toy that had amazing capabilities that would please and benefit them all.
Alas, we as leaders in the church are often like those children. We have been given gifts from the Father but have not understood their purpose. God has sent us many prophets to warn us to get our act together and to stop fighting. However, their words have had little effect in changing our behavior. We have been so busy being concerned about what we wanted, our “kingdom,” the importance of our gift, or our reputation that we have forgotten what our Father wants. But be of good cheer, a time is coming when even the dead will hear the voice of the Father and rise up and awake from their slumber.
As those little children in the story above, King Nebuchadnezzar, Jacob, and Job came face to face with Kingly authority and their hearts melted … they became transformed through “seeing” their King. When earthly hope fails us, when the “King Uzzahs” of our day die, when our schemes and plans crumble, then we will see the Lord high and lifted up and perceive that his Kingly rule fills the earth. There will be a corporate experiencing of this sovereignty. We will hear him roar like a lion and we will come trembling to his side. He will speak and we will listen for we shall behold his glory. Then, and only then, will we be that mighty army marching in unity shield to shield. May this time come soon, King Yeshua.
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