“My little children, for whom I am again in [the pains of] labor until Christ is [completely and permanently] formed within you.” (Galatians 4:19 Amplified Bible)
As children, after misbehaving we were told to go to our room and think about it until we were in our right mind. We have had the policies of the home in which we were raised, reiterated, and reinforced by the resounding, relentless words expressed by our parents, “You will live by the rules of this house, until you get your own house!” How about some more examples. Just a couple, “You can’t have any dessert until you clean your plate.” “You can be stubborn if you want to, but you won’t make it more easier on yourself until you ask for help.”
Individually, many of the positive changes we have made in our lives have hinged on the word “until.” However it is true that “until” occurred when the Lord’s intervention in our multiple experiences on this Christian journey enabled us to say, “I was lost, until the Lord found me.” “I was blind until the Lord gave me sight.” Paraphrasing the song writer slightly, we can all borrow his words, “I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, until, from the waters the Lord rescued me and safe am I.
Until is nothing new where it comes to the Lord. Sarah might have still been laughing, if it was not until her old age that she was blessed with a son named Isaac. Because of his faith, when Abraham went to sacrifice His Son, he would not have been able to tell his servant, “I and the lad will return,” and they did, but not until the Lord provided a ram in the bush. Moses was doubtful and attempted to excuse himself from what the Lord wanted Him to do, until the Lord cancelled His excuses and ensured Him of His “I AM” presence. Joseph, son of Israel, went through one thing after the other, until God had him just where He wanted him to be to save the sons of Israel and put them in a place that would see them grow to a great nation of people. Job ended up bountifully blessed, but not until he had a talk with the Lord. He truly waited until his change came. Job did not go to Nineveh as the Lord commanded Him. That was until his experience inside the belly of the big fish. Jesus always knew that He was going to the cross, but it was not until He dealt with His human , not until His talk with God in the Garden of Gethsemane, a place where He expressed words that should be our own, “Not my will, but Thy will be done.” A lot of people in the New Testament that were in a difficult shape, experiencing defeatism, and facing devastating conditions, they did not get relief, restoration, or a remedy, until that were changed by Jesus.
Look, it is Monday morning and it is not only the start of another week, but it is another day where you can immediately make some positive changes in your life; a day where you can move to answer your call to do what God wants you to do; a day where you can make that your saying, “First giving honor to God who is the head of my life,” a continuous, demonstrated reality, a reality unchangeable and unquestionable in your life. All that can happen if you have an “until,” moment and you can declare, “He changed me; change my ways of thinking, changed my ways of behaving; changed my ways of responding to His call!” The changes you realize you need to make today; the changes to how you respond to God speaking to you, today and every day, both in unique applications or, in general all your ways, they will not occur until you truly partner with God and let Him have control. From experience, I will tell you that “until” moments such as I mentioned will make life so much better and so many blessings that have been held back will be poured out on you. “Until!” Oh what a powerful word it can be when we put the right testimony on the other side of that word.
What will your “until” moment be today? Let me pose the question in a better way, “What area of your life will be changed for the better, as a result of your “until” moment with the Lord?” Read about Paul’s “until” moment in the closing passage. Listen to the Lord as He speaks to your heart, Be blessed!
“I was near Damascus. All at once, about noon, I saw a bright light from heaven shining around me. I fell to the ground. A voice said to me ‘Saul, Saul, why do you work so hard against Me?’ I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the One you are working against.’ Those who were with me saw the light. But they did not hear Him speaking to me. I asked, ‘Lord, what should I do?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up! Go to Damascus. You will be told what to do there.’ “I could not see because of the bright light. Those who were with me had to lead me by the hand until we came to Damascus. Ananias lived there. He obeyed the Law and was respected by all the Jews. He came and stood near me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ At once I was able to see him. Then Ananias said, ‘The God of our fathers chose you to know what He wants done. He chose you to see Jesus Christ, the One Right with God, and to hear His voice. You are to tell all men what you have seen and heard. What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on His name.’” (Acts 22:6-16 NLV)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King