Amazing things are on the Horizon
For the past few years someone has bought me a desk pad with a quote on for each day, now I must admit that I don’t always remember to change it every day but I do catch up periodically. I save the ones that I like and make a little pile on the desk.
There in front of me is this quote “AMAZING things are on the horizon”.
There are two definitions to the word horizon:
- The line at which the earth’s surface and sky appear to meet.
- The limit of a person’s knowledge, experience, or interest.
I guess at some time in our lives we have all looked at the sunset on the horizon as it slowly sinks into the sea or into the landscape. I have some great pictures of sunsets, less of sunrises for obvious reasons. If you can’t work that one out, it’s because that would mean getting up at some unreasonable hour to take the photos, although not at this time of year when we have turned the clocks back.
We laugh nowadays when someone talks about how people used to think the world was flat and if you sailed far enough into the sea you would fall off the edge of the earth. Their knowledge was not sufficient to inform them of the truth that we now know, that the earth is spherical and gravity keeps us attached to it.
Interestingly there is still a Flat Earth Society that meet today! Here is an entry from their Wiki page.
“Welcome to the Flat Earth Wiki, otherwise known as The FEW. This website is dedicated to unravelling the true mysteries of the universe and demonstrating that the earth is flat and that Round Earth doctrine is little more than an elaborate hoax.
“The Flat Earth Society has dedicated itself to starting science afresh from the ground up, to begin to see the world without bias and assumption. Experiment and experience has shown that the earth is decidedly flat. Time and time again through test, trial, and experiment, it has been shown that the earth is not a whirling globe of popular credulity, but an extended plane of times immaterial.”
Although we know now that the world is round, years ago that was their reality and explorer would set off in sail ships into the sunset not knowing if they would fall of the edge. I wonder if we would have taken that journey? A journey of uncertainty. I guess they were men of faith or risk takers looking for great rewards. They were intrepid explorers.
We are called to be a people of faith, faith requires us to step outside the limit of our own understanding, our limited horizon and enter into a place and space with God where His knowledge and His ability is greater than ours. We are called to be sojourners
A Sojourner is a stranger and alien to this world. In Hebrews 11, the faith chapter shares the stories of the great sojourners of faith who followed God in their life and in their death.
Hebrews 11
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”
WHAT A GREAT CHAPER OF SCRIPTURE!
I love the next verse in chapter 12…
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
I visualise around us all the saints that have already run their race, who have gone home to glory cheering us on, encouraging us to the race that God as put before us!
We have a race to run, it is now our chance, our opportunity, what will we do with what God has put before us?
It says in Isaiah 43:18-19:
“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”
God is wanting us to look to new horizons, forget the old things, and to be adventurous in Him. He wants us to take the faith venture with Him.
AMAZING THINGS ARE ON THE HORIZON!