I spent years in the Misty Flats. I did not know
I was in the misty flats; I thought I was where I should be
spiritually. The Mist impaired my vision from seeing “up higher”.
There were signs in the Misty Flats, but because I didn’t
realize I was circling around and around in the flats, I didn’t realize those
signs were meant for me. “Those signs are for the ones that are in
the Misty Flats”, I reasoned. “I’m on the higher place, they aren’t
for me”.
I worked in a doctor’s office in a large medical office
building. We’ve all been in similar offices all the time. There are
signs everywhere, telling us where to proceed to find our particular doctor,
where xray is, where the pharmacy is.
I was amazed at how many people walked right by those large,
clearly written signs and arrows and came in my office to ask where xray
was. They walked right past the signs. Over and over
they walked right past the signs.
I read my Bible “religiously”. I prayed, I went to
church, I was involved in many types of ministries.
Yet I walked right past the signs.
I walked past the “Love the Lord you God with all your heart,
mind and strength” sign. I walked past the “Be anxious
for nothing “ sign. I slid by the “pray without ceasing “ sign and
also ignored the “give thanks in ALL things” sign.
I saw the signs…..of course I did.
But I didn’t realize those signs were actually for me, not
the others stumbling around in the Mists. I didn’t realize those
signs were showing me the way. I knew those signs were true, but I
never stopped to inquire. “Is this the way I should be going? Is
this the way that will lead me to higher ground, out of the mists?
“
I knew I was following these signs for a bit. I went
up the road they were pointing to, but I also knew that I wasn’t following the
way these signs pointed completely. I went part way. I
didn’t follow them fully to the end of the journey.
I started on the way they were pointing, but I followed
detours. I followed the detour of “Yes, I love God, but I cant give
all my heart and strength because I have to give some of it to my
family”. I got off on the detour that pointed me to “It’s
only natural to worry, you can’t be free from all worry”. I took
the sly little sign that said “ What good does it do the pray about
THAT”. I was drawn down the road marked “ I’m TRYING to be
grateful , it’s just really hard”.
None of these detours took me to where I wanted to
go. They all circled back to the Misty Flats. They all ended
in that place whose state motto is “ You can only trust God so far”.
Mattthew 7 warns us about not
fully following the signs.
26 But everyone who hears these
words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who
built his house on sand.
Hear put them into practice.
An unwanted event in my life took me to the edge of a cliff. I had two choices: I could fall off
the cliff or I could turn around and try to figure out where I took the wrong
turn. So about 5 years ago I found my way back to the main
road. I’ve been slowing working my way out of the misty
flats. I'm trying to read all the signs and make sure I’m FULLY
following them . I’m still traveling. But at least I know there is
a “Higher Place” to live. I'm heading there.
