Open Heavens July 20, 2008

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Num 34-36

ENTERING HEAVENLY SECRETS

MEMORIZE: "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;" (Rom. 4:20)

READ: Romans 4: 18-22

After Abraham was selected by divine prerogative, he paid a price to become God’s friend. If you go through the Bible, you can count God’s friends on your fingertips. May you become one of them. A look at the life of Abraham reveals certain attributes that made him a custodian of divine secrets. The first noticeable trait was his pro-God attitude. In Genesis 12:1-3 when he was asked to leave his familiar terrain to an unknown place, he ‘foolishly’ followed. He heard God’s voice but did not see him, yet he followed. Members of his extended family and friends in Haran queried his questionable trip and concluded he must have gone nuts: yet he went. For God to entrust you with His secrets, you must first trust Him absolutely, and be ready to follow Him like a robot.

“And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Genesis 22:2). Another trait that earned Abraham God’s trust was because he loved God beyond his greatest need. He was prepared to sacrifice his greatest treasure - Isaac. Until you are ready, and willing to part with your best, you can never receive God’s best. If you are still holding something back, you are not ready to be entrusted with Heaven’s secrets. In Genesis 14:17-24, Abraham totally depended on God as his source. He would not even take spoils from the war lest the glory of his blessing be ascribed to a man. That challenged God. Who is your source today?

“Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be” (Romans 4:18). Abraham believed God’s promise as long as it took to be fulfilled. He went against all odds to possess his possession. Are you tired of waiting for God to fulfill a particular promise He made to you? Don’t lose hope. You are closer than you were years, months or weeks ago. Your ability to wait on Him to fulfill His Word in your situation will make Him to select you as part of the few He can trust. In Genesis 14:17-24, another reason Abraham was chosen as a custodian of God’s secrets was his commitment to raising godly seeds to follow God’s ways. If your home is in shambles, God may not entrust you with His secrets. God knew Abraham. Does God know you? What are you known for? Psalms 25:14 says the fear of God gives you access into His secrets. Proximity to the Holy Spirit is another factor (1 Cor. 2:10). You can enter Heaven’s secrets as you strive to imbibe these virtues from today.

ACTIONPOINT: According to Proverbs 19:4, wealth attracts friends while poverty repels them. Friendships built on trust, not material things last longer, hence the poor are more likely to have better friends than the rich.