Sometimes good movies start with the ending and work backwards to tell the story. It allows you to see the end result and then the process of getting there. I find that as an enjoyable method. You know where you're going in the story and it allows the mind to gather the details and connect dots as the story progresses. God knows the end from the beginning and continues to unfold aspects of our story as we go.
I remember my English Professor from my freshmen year of college encouraging us to read our papers in reverse as it would cause us to see errors and grammatical mistakes. He said reading it from start to finish gives opportunity for our minds to read what we know is coming next and often insert what we know instead of what's actually there. When we read in reverse it demanded the mind to see only what's there because it's out of the normal flow. I think it can be good advice to get out of the normal flow and look at things to gain better insight. As you approach the year, consider getting outside the typical and usual flow to see what you can see.
This past Saturday night I heard in my heart, "push out further". I remembered Luke 5 telling how Jesus said to the fishermen, "put out into the deep." This morning I spent time looking at Luke 5. After reading the account in verses 1-11, I instantly saw meaningful insights as I worked that story backwards. I remembered preaching this story many years ago, and the points I made then came to mind, but when I worked it in reverse I enjoyed what I saw. I looked at the end result and worked the process backwards to see how it all happened.
The end result was that they left everything and followed Jesus. Nothing more valuable than that. The abandoning of ourselves for the joys of Him is of the deepest value. Seeing Him will always cause us to walk away from everything else. He is so captivating, intriguing, compelling, glorious that He eclipses anything else in our view. I'm asking God to allow all of us to see Him increasingly and that we let go of our hold on things of lesser value.
Working backwards through Luke 5, I saw aspects that I believe apply to us as we have shifted seasons and are looking into the hope before us. Many, if not all of us, have had some very challenging situations in the last few years or so. Those things brought us to this point. All of it is working to see us abandon more and follow Him deeper into Himself. Here are the points of the process from the end to the start:
- A fuller measure of abandonment
- Be what attracts people
- Amazed by Him and recognized their own short comings
- Brought others into the effort
- Did things differently then had been done
- Heard His directive
- Pushed out deeper
- Returned to boat - got back to their gifting
- Had disappointed times with empty results
- Had parked their passion
These fishermen had parked their boats after a season of effort that came up empty and surely caused disappointment and discouragement. They were standing on the banks of an amazing breakthrough, but were not aware. They were washing their nets and probably feeling the frustration of having to start over another time. The ache of feeling like we have given our all to end up empty is a deep pain. Often, we muster up enough strength to try again another day. But these guys ended up not doing what they perceived they'd be doing the next day. In the midst of disappointment and sense of loss, a greater measure of destiny came forth. A previous season that seems to end empty is actually full of gain as it gives way to progress.
These fishermen ended up returning to their boat/gifting, but this time it had a new reason. Things were different. They were going to be doing the same thing but their gift was going to be utilized in fresh ways. I'm sure it had to be uncomfortable to get back in that boat. It had to be a very doubtful situation. We all face those doubtful moments when we feel drawn to engage again, but past disappointments cause us to shake our head as we take steps again. These are the times our hearts can only find assurance in that Jesus is in the boat. We have no idea how it'll turn out, but He asked. So here we go.
From that, we see some measure of impact. People are taught and get to see Jesus. That floods our hearts with joy and encouragement. Those moments feel priceless and like we finally got past the place of feeling empty. But He's not done. He is crazier than just that. He has more in mind and wants to take us further. He intends to disrupt our doubts, our fears, our disappointments, our arguments that He won't be enough. He plans to show us that all the empty nets aren't the end of the story but the beginning of a fuller story. He tells us to "push out further".
Inside, we hear directives we feel afraid to admit we've heard. We feel drawn toward something more than we want to admit. We have a burning sense that we are more than we want to let on. He has spoken, and we are to go further. But what about before? What about the agony of empty nets and the disappointing clean up? How can He be saying go further?
As He is telling us, "Push out," we see He tells us to do it differently than before. "Put it to the other side." So we look to what is needed for now instead of continuing in the way it's been. Something in our heart feels hope. We are in our gifting, but have a new way of going at it and all the sudden weight is pulling on us as nets begin to fill. This is bigger than us. This is more than we can handle, and we have to invite others into what is going on. The new way of going at it has created the opportunity for others to be involved so they are part of the miracle.
What God is saying to us is that we are at a place others need invited in. What are you doing that you need to have others carry with you? We are being called to bring others into the movement. You going deeper/further requires having others involved in fresh ways. This isn't really about us or how well we lead or gather others. This is about opening the avenues for others to be involved in displaying His greatness. By going further, Jesus was revealed and worship and repentance was the result.
The goodness and greatness of Jesus was revealed and it was attractive. We are all seeing how hope is what people are starving for. People have had empty net after empty net and need to see Jesus. They need to see goodness, glory, grace. We are the ones to abandon the old efforts of religion using fear, control, anger, legalism, condemnation, obligation, and detachment as our means of leading. We are those that are throwing the nets of hope, grace, freedom, future, life, joy, and progress. Nets are being filled. Others are being called in to support the load. It's a new day!
All of this is the results of further abandonment of everything else to follow Him in this movement of hope that is igniting the generations for a brighter day. You can see yourself in this Luke 5 account. You can feel how you belong in this movement. It's burning in you! You hear the words "push further". We're in this together. We are aligned to support the load and see the nets brought in. Disappointment and discouragement of last night's empty nets won't stop us. We will live in a new way that has nets on the other side. We are those abandoning our excuses, our fears, our questions, our heartache, our loneliness, our reasons to doubt, and we are following Him in what is to be for now. In everything you feel anxious about, say I'm going at that "in Hope", and push out further.
Hope is Here. We are in this together. We are abandoning hold backs and pursuing seeing Him more in the unknown victories ahead. We want to see Him. We want to know the strength of His victory and the ability of hope.
