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and crossing the Jordan) presupposes all spiritual enlightenment and usefulness.
Paul echoes this very principle in Phil. (3 v. 8) where He declares; "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord -- for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Dieterich Bonhoeffer, in his book, "The Cost of Discipleship" pondered the exacting cost for truly following Christ and concluded that it would cost us "everything". Consequently -- this death to our self life, and our subsequent resurrection unto God, through that death, permeates all of scripture, and it is in fact one of Christ's cornerstone kingdom principles. In Matt. (1 v. 39) Christ exclaimed, "He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth His life for My sake shall find it." Christ Himself faced this very conflict in Gethsemane where He prayed, "Father if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not My will but Thine be done" (Luke 22 v. 42). You see Christ, as our Lord and King, has very specific plans which He desires to communicate with us -- by seeking -- we shall find, by knocking -- the door shall be opened. But, we must always remember, that God will never, ever, impose His will upon us; but gives us the freedom of choice -- to either serve Him and take His counsel -- or to serve ourselves. If we opt to serve Him, in our own way, by our own means, using our own natural powers and intellect, (i.e. the carnal mind -- our flesh--soul realm) we will receive His displeasure. But, if we prayerfully seek and wait upon His direction, and are obedient to His heavenly revelations, we shall be rewarded with His approval. In the final analysis, only one thing will count: whether we hear the words; "well done thou good and faithful servant;" or "I never knew you -- depart from me ye workers of iniquity." Workers of iniquity build with wood, hay and stubble; good and faithful servants with gold, silver, and precious stones. The former are earthy -- the latter divine.
Figuratively, the story of Jacob (in Gen. 32 vs. 24-28) illustrates just this point. In the text, Jacob wrestles all night with an angel; (who we discover later is actually the Lord). At daybreak, the Lord touches the hollow of Jacob's thigh and puts it out of joint and thereafter changes His name to "Israel" which means "a prince with God." This story paints a picture for us of the process wherein God (by the power of His Holy Spirit) begins to immobilize our natural abilities and predilections, so we may more perfectly lean upon Him. This process entails the breaking of the "Jacob" (or schemer) within us, but results in making us vessels useful to the Masters Hand; Even a racehorse must be broken before he is suitable for competition. Jacob spent the rest of His days leaning upon a staff -- but by realizing his limitations he then could truly be called "a prince with God." Solomon in the "Song of Songs" concurs; (in Chap. 8 v. 5) we read "who is this that cometh up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved." After undergoing a process of rejection and revelation, the Shulamite finally learned to lean upon her "beloved" -- a picture of our leaning upon the Lord.
To become truly perfected spiritually, we must allow God to break our reliance upon our natural man, (i.e. the flesh) and then learn to hear from and lean upon His Holy Spirit. This, however, can be achieved only as we spend time alone with Him. Today, we can listen to Bible tapes -- play spiritual music -- hear sermon after sermon -- and yet these tools can lead us sometimes into a secondhand relationship with God; for if we focus our attention upon them, (rather than on the Lord
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