10/08/2013
“…but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” ~ Daniel 11:32b.
We bless God for another opportunity to share the word of testimony together. In part one of this series we spoke about choice, together with its 3 different facets: choice of location; choice of position and; choice of allocation. What determines excellence both in a regenerated human and God’s sight are processes often not seen by our physical eyes. These processes are all quickened by the word of God. Even when God made us gods, as unique entities that are able to make decision, to choose, to reject or embrace a particular offer, His cry unto us is, “Choose life!” This life He pleads with us to choose requires a conscious effort from us. Life, a balanced-dieted life, has meaning when it is associated with excellence. No one wants to associate with a repeated failure or who thinks he cannot succeed in life; or someone who will not add to you. The Choice that leads to excellence requires spiritual and mental backings, or better put a 2-fold striving towards a rare goal. Excellence is a collection of a band (Physics speaking) of successes. A successful man is not necessarily an excellent man, but an excellent man is a manifold of many recurrent successes.
Strive seems to be the language everyone in our generation understands. Strive, a word that is often used to describe who is working hard, even if there is no result to show for doing so. It is known that a kind of strength is required to climb the rungs of successes. Have you ever thought of why the formal link between a low plain (ground level) and a high plain (top level) is in steps or rungs? I think it is because each rung designates a stage in life: an amount of energy is required to get to that rung, and in proportion to the stage an amount of energy is required for the momentary stay on the rung. Where there are no rungs the journey becomes daunting, and the likelihood to fall is mind-boggling. Here are some categories:
Some are carried along these rungs to success and little or no energy is spent, save the willingness to rest in the bosom of the carrier.
Some are shown the technical know-how to climb and to stay momentarily on the rungs of each stage.
Some are fast-forwarded, climbing two or more rungs at a time and get to the destination before others.
Some are only shown the beginning of the rungs, without necessarily seeing the promise land in focus.
Some have the destination picture in mind. However, they may not know where and when to start climbing.
Some are climbing without rungs.
Do we choose the category we want to belong from birth or God chose what best fits us from the foundation of the world? If God did the choosing and we know He is not partial, should we be jealous that some of us have to expend some energy before getting it right in life? Could the easiness with which we get it right in life depend on who our parents are or how they chose to train us? What determines the kind of rungs a person has to climb? Perhaps these questions are mysteries hidden from man. Howbeit, a valid question we must find an answer to is: “How hard should I strive to be excellent in life?”
A quick and valid answer to the above question is found in this scripture:
“…but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” ~ Daniel 11:32b.
Yea, this scripture confirms that no exploit can be done without being strong [without striving]. People of our generation continue to choose a path deemed fit in their eyes and we think of the resources or wealth accumulated from such strivings as a form of excellence. Wait a minute, the people on Forbes’ list of the wealthiest on our planet appear successful, but are they excellent? Could we follow their advices hook, line and sinker, in a bid to become like them? Which path did you choose or have you chosen to follow? Whose strength are you using to engage your daily works? Who is the source of your strength? Strength that is born of the knowledge of God does exploits, the same that transforms the ordinary to the extraordinary. The striving that the world knows bears hard work while the striving borne of the grace of God bears diligence. The choice is yours. Irrespective of which of the above listed categories we fall into, the knowing GOD parameter unifies everyone, and even places us higher than what we could imagine, or the heights the heart of man could fathom ~ Ephesians 3:20.
If excellence has categories, the gap between the low plain and the high plain is also different. By this, I am not talking about quantity but quality of excellence. The number of bands of successes in one’s bosom, for example the number of souls won to the kingdom of God, does not determine the rewards obtained from God. We should all win souls for God but we cannot all win the same number of souls. To whom much is given, much is expected. Faithfulness is a key factor to getting a full, comparable reward.
Strive through the knowledge of Him who wrote the manual of your life, and you shall do exploits!
