Christian Giants?

God set me up for today’s devotional with a dream last night. Someone I love was with me and a few of my Christian friends. As we were about ready to go to our separate homes, this person asked, “Can we pray?” I was surprised because he was not a Christian.

I asked someone to begin and while the prayer time was a bit odd (dreams are like that) this person stood up to pray also. He became very emotional and it was obvious that he had something important to say. I stood beside him and found out his news. He was too emotional to say it and gave me permission to make the announcement: God had touched his life and he was now a Christian.

I woke up, hoping the dream was a prophecy. Then I read Tozer’s story about Pascal. This man wrote on a piece of paper a brief account of his experience, folded the paper and kept it in a pocket close to his heart, apparently as a reminder of what he had felt. Those who attended him at his death found the worn, creased paper. In Pascal’s own writing it said: “From about half-past ten at night to about half-after midnight — fire! O God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob — not the God of the philosophers and the wise. The God of Jesus Christ who can be known only in the ways of the gospel. Security — feeling — peace — joy — tears of joy. Amen.”

Pascal is known for his mind. He was a mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, philosopher and theologian. However, the Holy Spirit broke through and beyond all that was human and intellectual and philosophical and left him with such emotion that he could only say it was fire.

Was this a repeat of what happened to Jeremiah? Perhaps not exactly the same but it describes a visitation from the Holy Spirit that changed everything:

“Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.” (Jeremiah 1:8–9)

Jeremiah was a changed man after this visitation of the Spirit. God used him in a powerful way even though his ministry was excessively difficult.

Sometimes I’ve wanted to be like Jeremiah or other spiritual giants but realize such tasks requires tests, and I’m not sure I want the tests. Today I’m whining over the pain of a small surgical procedure. What would I do if God wanted me to experience more of His power and put me to the test to see if I could handle it? I can imagine Him saying to me:

“If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5)

^^^^^^^^^

Lord, I understand. High ambition requires high requirements. While me trusting You depends on knowing You and that You are all powerful, You trusting me is about You knowing me — much more than I know myself. I’m not as powerful or as godly as I would like to be! May I have the heart and attitude of David who said,  

“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.” (Psalm 131:1)