Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Chariot of Choice

“It has been well said that ‘earthly cares are a heavenly discipline. But they are even something better than discipline-they are God’s chariots, sent to take the soul to its high places of triumph. They do not look like chariots. They look instead like enemies, sufferings, trials, defeats, misunderstandings, disappointments, unkindness.” By Hannah Whitall Smith

The escort dream of many girls is to be picked up in a limousine by a handsome prince that treats them as if they were royalty themselves. It makes them feel special, loved, and appreciated. The fancier the carriage the better, like Cinderella on her way to the ball as the world watches. The talk of the town, the school, the neighborhood is on everything they heard about what her escort did for his date. Soon the challenge and desire is out to be the one who snags him for the prom of the future.

The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) Himself has put out His own invitation for all to accept. We hear about all the good things He has done for others and we quickly decide He is the one we want as our escort of choice. Dancing in our heads are visions of a Cinderella conversion at the waving of a wand and an elegant chariot type escort to Heaven.

Patiently, no sort of patiently, no impatiently we wait for Him to arrive as we watch transportation after modes of transportation pass us by. “Nope. Nope that can’t be it. No, I wouldn’t want anyone to see me in that!” Soon we sound like Elijah who was looking for God in the earthquake, wind, and fire in 1 Kings 19 when He finally showed up in the gentle breeze or still small voice. With our minds already made up that the carpet that is rolled out for us has to be red we turn our heads away from anything else. Soon we begin to wonder if we have been stood up or passed by.

Often it’s not us who are being stood up but God as we seem to care more about what our chariot of choice should look like instead of our destiny. After all, who would have thought that the option of escorting us to our highest places of triumph would appear like such an enemy? Enemies disguised as our sufferings, trials, defeats, misunderstandings, disappointments, and unkindness. Why? How come? Where is the royal treatment? Where is the love?

Slow down, slow down. The royal treatment is in the invitation, the ticket already paid for through the blood of Christ and the destiny it takes us. Think about it, if it doesn’t matter to us how we get to grandma’s house then why are we so fussy about how we get to our victories in Christ. Some of the most reliable vehicles to get us to those places of triumph for our soul are those hard times.

They get our attention to where there are choices to be made. Not the choice of what kind of carpet or vehicle we are going to wait for but whether we are going to either draw closer to Christ in victory or choose the path of a victim and defeat. Also the choice to take our eyes off ourselves and on to God as we pack our traveling bags with the correct supply of attitude, strength, and maturity.

The love, the love is the fact that you will never travel alone. As I typed on this, this morning God took me through such a journey. His choice of chariot was freezing rain, electricity going out, the phone being disconnected, a serious car accident near my home, and trouble at work. I had to wait for the coach to stop to finish my writing. It gave me the opportunity to look inside my luggage to see what I had packed in my heart. Was I waiting for the carriage of my choice or the one God picked out for me?

I want the one with God’s name on it. The chariot of choice destined for my future prom in Heaven on a journey to meet and see my Prince of preference, Jesus Christ.

Talk neighborhood talk because my date does treat me well. Because of Him I do feel special, loved, and appreciated.



© 2009 Karen J. Gillett @ Pencil Marks and Recipes Publishing

3 comments:

Betsy Markman said...

This is great! I love the angle you took on this subject. Thank you!

Debbie Petras said...

Very interesting take on this quote Karen. I always enjoy seeing what you think each week.

Blessings,
Debbie

Kathryn @ Expectant Hearts said...

Karen, I'm late getting to IOW posts.. but I really liked the angle you took on this! I loved the picture it painted! Thanks so much for sharing.