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After that first mission trip to Honduras, it became crystal clear that God had intervened to resolve a large portion of my financial challenges.
At the same time, if you remember, I had a particular problem with a certain beverage. A lot of studies have been done over addictions, the causes, and the cures. However, it is apparent that a person must have a strong desire to change for anything positive to occur. I truly believe that God will and does help us as we go along life’s journey, but He most certainly will not invade an area of our lives that we do not give up to him. Nor is He willing to do for us that which is our own responsibility. Sometimes we must act drastically to resolve issues in life.
It became obvious that I needed to separate myself from certain environments to overcome the challenges that were before me. The logging contractor I was working for gave me permission to use an old shed on skids which was on his property outside of town. There was no running water or indoor bathroom facilities, but I did get a light bulb hung up after a fashion. A friend loaned me a little wood stove, and I could take a shower at the office down the hill, so I was all set. It wasn’t exactly the best situation as the fire would usually go out in the night and it would get cold, even to the point of freezing sometimes, but I could get by. I needed to distance myself from the influences that facilitated and even encouraged the consumption of the bubbly, golden nectar; “aka, beer and the like.”
At that time, logging was a booming industry. I decided to stay in the little cabin/shed to save money, stay away from the pub, work as much as I could and pay off the remaining bills. Some friends had urged me to take out bankruptcy even before I had sold the houses, but I had read enough Bible by then to know it wasn’t the thing to do. Every month, I would concentrate on one outstanding bill, pay it off and throw the paperwork in the stove. I just did not spend on anything else except food.
In December 1982, I paid the last bill. What a feeling to be debt free. I was still making a good salary and had learned to live in a frugal manner. Once you have the basics covered, there is time for other endeavors. When you are not focused specifically on survival, other emotions have permission to infiltrate the thought processes. I began to dream a little about future possibilities.
I was standing outside on the crisp snow-covered ground, leaning on the tires of a low-boy trailer that was used for hauling big equipment. It was a sunny day with the sun reflecting off the snow. Despite the 20-degree temperature, you could wander about in shirt sleeves and feel comfortable. Leaning on those tires, I began to contemplate the future. “Mmmm… making good money, not spending, could save up and then do this or that, etc.” The future looked inviting. Then I heard a “No.” Oh, I don’t know if it was audible or not, but I heard it. No one else was around to back me up.
I understood the voice saying, “No, you are going to leave this place.” I didn’t understand why or where I was supposed to go specifically, but I understood the message. So, I did the natural thing and began to argue the case. “I had quit bad habits, was going to church regularly, liked my job, etc. etc.” No one argued back. But I could not get the “No,” out of my head. I could see the discipleship curriculum diagrams which described the connection between the spirit and soul functions, floating around in my head. I understood the battle, and I understood it was my decision, responsibility, and privilege to act accordingly.
I walked down the hill and explained to the owner that I would be leaving in a couple of weeks. He wanted to know why. I didn’t have the courage to say, “God spoke to me.” So, I just said it was time to do something else. Two weeks later, I loaded up my few belongings and headed off the mountain to some place, but I did not know where. I had not a clue as to what I was doing. I only knew why. Well, I certainly am not a prophet and don’t mean to compare myself with any of the biblical personalities. But I could not help but think of the passage in Genesis where God is calling Abram:
“The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1) God just spoke to Abram, telling him what he needed to do. He did not provide many details other than he should pack up and leave what he was comfortable with, that place where he felt safe. God would show him where he needed to go.
It appears that is how faith works. We will move upon God’s direction in accordance with our own conviction. It is obviously one thing to believe in God, and another thing to “believe God.” The Word explains: “ By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8)
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
In occasions like these, we must ask ourselves if we truly believe that God has our best interest at heart. If we are convinced that God wants what is best for us, we must know that He has a plan, realizing that in His sovereignty, He can equip us for the journey as he leads us every step of the way.
“ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.” (James 2:23)
It becomes evident that God is man’s friend. However, the question that arises is: “Am I God’s friend?”