Look Up, Lift Up Your Heads!*

Looking around at the world these days, it is difficult not to become discouraged. We have seen a pandemic, political chaos and division, and financial turmoil. However, Jesus told His disciples that when they see these things begin to come to pass, to look up, lift our heads, for our redemption draws nigh (Lk. 21:28). The writer of the Book of Hebrews, whom I believe to be Paul, said: "Wherefore seeing we also are encompassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." (Heb. 12:1-4). Jesus always had His eyes upward, on His Father, and therefore, was able to put all of His trust in the success of God's plan for the salvation of man, and His role as the sacrifice for it. The great warrior of God, David, faced a terrible situation when he and his men came home from war with the Philistines to find that their home city of Ziklag had been invaded by the Amalekites, and burned. Not only was their stronghold destroyed, but the women and children, including David's two wives, had been taken away captive: "Then David and the people that were with him lift up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep...And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." (1 Sam. 30:1-6). As David turned his face to the LORD, he was given the assurance of victory, went in pursuit of the Amalekites, and retrieved the captives. David recovered all (v. 18-19). In Psalm 42, the psalmist had a feeling of being downcast, continually in tears, feeling forgotten and forsaken by God. Jesus experienced this same crushing separation from God on the cross. The psalmist was even looking forward to his own death in order to escape the feeling of hopelessness that overwhelmed him. However, he sought God in His holy house, following the crowds, singing the songs of joy and praise there. In the middle of this challenge to his soul, the psalmist declared in God's house, "Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life...Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." Like David, the psalmist lifted up his head, and encouraged himself in the LORD. After his victorious showdown with the prophets of Ba'al before all Israel, Elijah is threatened by the king's wife, Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1-18). Elijah flees in fear as a result of this threat. We see a terrible spiritual attack here upon Elijah as he is overcome with a suicidal desire: "...it is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers." (v. 4). Elijah is at his lowest point. The LORD miraculously sends an angel to minister food and drink to strengthen Elijah, who travelled forty days on the strength of that food to a cave at Mt. Horeb, the mount of God. There again, Elijah, instead of looking up, and seeing the miraculous hand of God upon him, saw only his dreadful circumstances. Elijah said to the LORD: "...I have been very jealous for the LORD of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my ife to take it away." (v. 10). There were great and dramatic events before Elijah then - a great and strong wind that smasshed stone and mountains, an earthquake, and then a fire. However, the LORD was not in any of these overwhelming events. Finally, after these shaking events, there was a still, small voice, in which the LORD was found by Elijah as he came to the entrance of the cave to hear it. After experiencing all of these things, Elijah still spoke to the LORD of being the only prophet of God left in Israel, and of how others were seeking to take his life away (11-14). In answer, the LORD gave Elijah his prophetic assignments for the days ahead, and declared to Elijah, "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Ba'al, and every mouth which hath not kissed him." (v. 15-18). The LORD was still working, even prophetically appointing the next generation of kings and prophets. In addition, God's remnant remained in Israel to worship Him, regardless of how it had looked to Elijah's eyes. We are not alone, to be subject to fear and despondency. We have only to look up, to have our purpose renewed by God, and to be encouraged in His prophetic plans in Christ. As Jesus described the great challenges that come to the people of God, when they feel weakest and most overcome, He told them what they would see if they would just look up (Mt. 5:1-16). Those who were poor in spirit, acknowledging their total dependence on God, were really blessed, because the kingdom of God belonged to such as themselves. Those who felt loss in mourning were blessed, because they would be comforted by God. Those who were meek, quiet and humble but with stength, were blessed, because they would inherit the whole earth. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness as if they were were suffering starvation for it, were blessed, because they would find themselves filled with that righteousness. Those who are merciful to others despite the trying circumstanes, are blessed, because they will receive the mercy of God. Those who keep their hearts pure, perhaps in loneliness, regardless of the impurity around them, are blessed, because they shall see God. Those who are peacemakers, pursuing peace even in situations of strife and violent events, are blessed, because God shall call them His children. Those who experience persecution and false accusation for their faith, are blessed, and should rejoice exceedingly, because they have great rewards in heaven. Don't look at wickedness, but look at God. This is what keeps us as light and salt in the earth. Unless we are determined to lift our heads to seek our lives' truth in God, rather than the circumstances around us, we as spiritual salt lose our savor, and the darkness overcomes the spiritual light within us as we hold it low, and allow circumstances to cover it. This is a truth we need to know, especially in these last days that are a challenge for all believers. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 6/27/21 message to the church. To contact, or to purchase the new book, "NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling": P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and at endtimeschool.com