11/10/14

ALL IN
 
Author Mark Batterson cites the illustration of 16^th century Renaissance astronomer Nicholas Copernicus who challenged the belief that the earth was the center of the universe.  He argued that the sun did not revolve around the earth, but rather that the earth revolved around the sun.  The Copernican Revolution turned the scientific world right side up by turning the universe inside out.  We all need to experience a spiritual Copernican Revolution.  The paradigm shift happens when we come to terms with the fact that the world doesn’t revolve around us.  Now when we are born the world revolves around us.  We’re spoon fed on the front end and diaper-changed on the back end. It’s as if the entire world exists to meet our every need.  And that’s okay at 2 months old, but if you’re 22 years old, it’s a problem.
 
One of the things that has been impressed on me during our study of Revelation the last couple of weekends is how small and insignificant I am.  Looking into the courts of heaven through the eyes of the Apostle John in Revelation 4 & 5 and seeing the truly indescribably wondrous scenes… Looking at life on earth from God’s vantage point without time or geographical limitations in Revelation 6 - 9, I have been renewed in my commitment to be All In.  When we understand that we are not the center of the universe, but that Jesus the Lamb of God is the center of it all, it should be an All In moment. 
 
Noah had it when he was told to build an ark and preach to a people whose thoughts and imaginations were continually evil. Abraham had it when God told him to offer his long awaited son of promise on an altar.  Moses had it barefoot in front of a burning bush. Elijah had it under a juniper tree.  Peter, Andrew, James, John had it on the shore of Galilee.  Matthew had it at a tax-collectors table.  Saul of Tarsus had it while traveling on the Damascus Road.
 
So, have you ever had an All In moment?  Have you had such a moment lately?
 
Pray with me…Father God, You are so good to give us regular reminders that You are God and we aren’t.  We pray for a posture of genuine humility every day as we live and move and have our being in this life.  By Your Spirit, perfect in us unqualified commitment that we may be All In.  In the name of Jesus, amen.

Blessings,
Pastor Ken