Text:”….. Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men” (John 2:24)
Have you been informed that you will never make it in life? Are people saying that there is no hope for you to move to that great height? Have they concluded that you have gone past the age of marriage or conception? Have they said that your case is beyond redemption? Are you being shouted down by some irritants because of your disability, meagre income, poor educational pedigree or low position in the office space? Are people using your today which is temporal to judge your glorious tomorrow? Are people ganging up to pull, demean or run you down? Please ignore them. Their words are not altars. You are going to rise because nothing dies in Christ Jesus. Once upon a time there were a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants. The race began and in all honesty no one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. Consequently, the audience started to make comments such as, “Oh, its a difficult assignment”, “They will never make it to the top”, “Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!” and ” Get down or you will fall and die!!”
Quite prophetically, the tiny frogs began collapsing one after the other except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher. The crowd continued to yell, “It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!”. Unfortunately, more tiny frogs got tired and gave up but alas one continued higher and higher and higher. The last frog refused to be daunted by the comments of the audience and eventually reached the top. One of the contestants asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal in the midst of the pervasive words uttered and he replied him, “what did you say?”. It turned out that the winner frog was deaf and consequently didn’t hear the negative yell of the audience which facilitated the failing and falling of the other contestants. On his own, he assumed that they were encouraging him to continue.
Like the frogs’ experience, it is habitual but unfortunate for people to speak idle words of support, shower fake praises and exhibit false comradeship to the fortunate that wields power or have been elected to position of influence but to turn back to malign, destroy and peddle damaging reports the moment one is either out of political reckoning, struggling to achieve a seemingly impossible feat or afflicted by an ailment. To succeed in this world therefore, it is incumbent on you to be deaf to negative comments of people and remain focused on Jesus Christ, who is the author and finisher of your faith (Hebrew 12:2). You must also ensure that words uttered are not regarded as your altar because no human being has the final say but God (Psalm 62:11; Lamentations 3:37). At His appointed time, He will surely raise and lift you up (Habakkuk 2:3; Ecclesiastes 3:1). You must establish partnership with the Holy Spirit alone for leading, counsel and guidance (Psalm 40:4; 84:5; 128:1 John14:26, 1 Cor.2:10-11; 2 Cor. 3:17).
Jesus Christ had a similar experience at Jerusalem when He entered the temple and found “….those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables” (John 2:14-15). Against this background, many believed in Him because of the miracles which He did. But, Jesus Christ did not commit Himself to them because He knew what was in man. Beloved in Christ, for you to get to where God has destined for you, you need to know and follow only the voice of the Holy Spirit (Hosea 4:6; Isaiah 5:13; Philippians 3:10) and be deaf to the “musicians’ praise notes” or the pessimistic cum defeatist counsel of your advisers.
The Almighty God who turned things around for Sarah after she has gone past childbearing age, that destroyed the yoke of delay, that frustrated medical counsel and did what eyes had not seen, ears had not heard and the miracle that was yet to come to human understanding or imagination shall do same for you (cf Genesis 21:1-3; 1 Corinthians 2:9). It doesn’t matter how heavy or strong the embargo that had been placed on your life by powers of wickedness is, I have it on His authority that it shall be removed because it is not by power or might but by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6); and where others are failing or have failed, you shall have a testimony of awesome experiences in the name of Jesus.
Jesus Christ shall stand still for during this lenten season of your greatness, as He did for Bartimaeus, and all that have gathered to shut you up shall gather to announce your call. Besides that, all that are turning their backs on you now and yelling that nothing good can come from you shall return to attest to the reliability of your God (Isaiah 60:15). During this Lenten season, I pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to lead you in the right path and close your ears to either the flattering or demeaning words that are flying around because words uttered are not altars. God has the final say.