Prone to Wander
Yet here is something just as true: We are prone, but not helpless. Compelled but not controlled. So let us then inquire of the Lord, that He would stir and ‘awaken love’ now, at this right time.
If you’ve been following along with this publication for any period of time, you’ll be familiar with the focus of the writing - to provide an introduction to God and His Kingdom.
“Every great story introduces us to a character. This one is no different. Introducing God and His Kingdom of Heaven.”
And while we say introduction, for many of us this means a re-introduction, a reminder, or a greater understanding of something we already saw in part but not yet the full.
As the pastor Robert Robinson penned in 1758, we are, ‘prone to wander.’ We still sing his words today because they are as true for us as they were for his original audience. “Prone to wander!” we may sing loudly and agree with at face value - yes, I still stumble, I still do the things I don’t want to do sometimes.
Yet it is more than these things. We are prone to wander at a deeper level than just our conscious choices to willfully disobey or to let the fire grow cold. Our wandering manifests in each of our natural senses.
We look away from Jesus. We lose sight of Him and fix our eyes elsewhere, as did Peter, “when he saw the wind, he was afraid,” and began to sink.
We hear other voices more clearly than His. “Lord, at the judgement seat, don’t stand there in your majesty and read the record of my poor life and say, ‘Son, I had many things to tell you but you couldn’t bear them. You were too occupied, your ears were catching other voices but not mine.’” -Leonard Ravenhill
We are satisfied to hold onto the substance of the right now rather than taking hold of the substance of things hoped for and refusing to let go, regardless of the cost.
We no longer speak the oracles of God, instead we speak, “words without knowledge.” As 1 Peter 4:11 encourages us, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.”
The aroma of our prayers never reaches the throne of God because we do not pray as we ought. “He was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.”
The goal for this publication is to reverse the course, to remind us, to re-introduce us, to revive us to live whole-heartedly in light of God and His Kingdom.
We live in a temporary world, we know this, yet this temporary world is visible. It is in front of our faces, we are confronted by it and its cares on a minute by minute basis. Thus, we are compelled to see, to hear, to possess, to speak, and to give our meditations away cheaply, wasting them on passing pleasures rather than reserving the best of each of these precious, God-given senses, for the Creator Himself.
So, we have this seemingly valid justification of living in a visible world and feeling compelled to give it the first and best of our response, but in reality, we have no excuse. We have seen and heard too much.
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. This is true.
Prone to leave the God I love. Yes, definitely
Yet here is something just as true: We are prone, but not helpless. Compelled but not controlled. So let us then inquire of the Lord, that He would stir and ‘awaken love’ now, at this right time.
As I sat to write, pondering the day in which we live and the complex issues at hand, a clarifying thought came to my mind, “What about God am I fascinated by this week?”
For if I were to summarize the wandering of our senses from above, it could fairly be traced back to this place - a lack of fascination in God and the Kingdom of God.
A small booklet published in 1834 by the Reverend John Angell James succinctly describes the state of this unfascinated soul, “Oh, fatal, awful, destructive indifference!”
Are we fascinated? Or are we indifferent?
Rev. James goes on to explain a path away from indifference towards the understanding which would compel us to inquire anxiously after the Lord, “The first mental exercise is attention, the next is reflection.” For as we give Him attention, and as we reflect upon Him, He leads us into understanding. And it is in this place of growing in our grace and knowledge of God, seeing Him for who He is, that we are made able to continually respond in fascination. Fascination breaks the cycle of indifference.
Indifference
Attention
Reflection
Understanding
Response
Today, let us ask Him to renew our fascination. Let us cast aside every weight, distraction, temptation, or earthly care that would seek to ensnare us.
The means by which He answers this prayer will be unique to you, but the seeking of this renewal will be the same for each of us. Repent, turn aside, get alone with God and His word, humble yourself before Him with a broken heart, ask in faith, and then be quiet before Him and wait.
Even today, stop, find your Bible, and open to Psalm 38 and 39. These two chapters lead us through this process of repentance, humility, and silence, culminating in the most supreme act of faith - waiting:
“O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am.” Psalm 39:4
“Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather.” 39:6
“Man’s busy life indeed is but a phantom, making an empty ado, amassing wealth and knowing not who is to have his hoard.” Psalm 39:6 Moffat’s Translation
“For I am but a guest of Thine, a passing waif*, as all my fathers were.” 39:12 Moffatt (*waif: sojourner, temporary inhabitant, a newcomer lacking inherited rights, a stranger, a temporary inmate, foreigner.)
“But I am like a mute man who does not open his mouth…and in whose mouth are no rebukes.” 38:13-14
“I am mute; I do not open my mouth.” Psalm 39:9
“But for you, O Lord, do I wait.” Psalm 38:15
Let us be fascinated enough by God today to wait for Him!
In love,
Derek