A Foggy Path

By

Michael C. McCormick

I hiked Cowles Mountain today. I haven’t been “up” in awhile so it wasn’t easy.  Even on a good day it can be a challenge.  At 1,591 feet above sea level it is the highest point in San Diego City. The base of the mountain rests at 630 feet so you’re ascending about 961 feet on a one-and-a-half mile trail.  Most people in decent shape make it to the top in about 35 minutes.  As a college student I used to run the second half finishing in about half that . . . not anymore!  Now I just try to walk briskly to the top without stopping.

Today as I was climbing I was remembering some of the other nearly 200 times I had faced this challenge.  Right after a rain is the best time because when the air is clear, from the peak you can see for 50 miles in every direction.  Really!  A few times, on particularly clear days, I have actually seen Santa Catalina Island which is probably 70 miles away.  I’ve had run-ins with rattlesnakes on several occasions and once I even watched as a Tarantula Hawk (Wasp) dragged away a tarantula (you don’t see that every day).

I remember one morning I began my hike on a day when the fog was as “thick as pea soup”;  but, about half-way up I began to see the sun breaking through (or maybe I was the one breaking through) and by the time I reached the top it was perfectly clear—at least from where I was standing.  I looked down on San Diego County which seemed to be immersed in a glimmering white ocean.  It felt as if I were standing on the top of the world!  But, I want to tell you about a day when the weather conditions caused my experience to be the exact opposite of the previous one.  That is, the mountain was clear at the bottom, then as I approached the two-thirds mark a huge thick cloud moved onto the upper part of the mountain to the degree that I could only see the trail about 15 feet in front of me.  It became a little unnerving as the winding trail narrowed.  That’s when the Spirit of God showed me how much like life that is.  The path was unclear (even dark), scary, dangerous, and eerily quiet since the cloud had muffled every sound.  Basically, it “creeped me out”! (I just sent Word Grammar into a frenzy with that one!).  I confess that as feelings of anxiety grew, I considered turning around and going back down . . . I didn’t . . . for the following reasons: I knew God was with me, I knew the trail continued up the mountain even though I couldn’t see it, I knew that if I followed the part of the trail that I could see it would take me to my destination, and I had a very strong goal to reach the top.  (Note: I didn’t see Santa Catalina Island that day).

Many of you are, at this time in your life, on a path that is dark, dangerous (perhaps even life-threatening), and the worst part is its silent (you can’t seem to hear the voice of God so your unsure what His will is).  Believe me; I know what that feels like!  I’ll be completely transparent with you: For the past several months, in virtually every important area of my life, I have been passing through a spiritual “wilderness”.  In my work (laboring in a position I don’t enjoy and seems to be going nowhere), at home (trying to find peace while surrounded by rude ungodly neighbors), in some of my most valued relationships, with finances (just when I start to get ahead . . .), health concerns, the death of a very dear loved-one, and even in some areas of my ministry it has all left me wondering, in the flesh, where is the “blessing” and “favor” of God that I’ve read about in His Word.  My first response is to cry out to God, “Help me Lord!  Save me!”  But what if He doesn’t answer right away?!  It’s happened to me!  I found that my flesh began to suggest natural (even ungodly) thoughts like, “God is angry with me”, “He’s not going to answer my prayers”, “I’m going to die from this”, “I’ll be dealing with this a long time—maybe it will never change”, and crying, “I can’t do this!  I can’t take it anymore!”  Then, I began to search for something to help me feel better . . . to comfort me.  Oh no, STOP!  

   That is exactly what the hard-hearted disobedient children of Israel did as God was trying to lead them through the wilderness between Egypt and Canaan (the Promised Land)!  They slandered God’s love and goodness by telling Moses that the Lord only brought them out of Egypt (saved them) to kill them in the desert and then they set up an idol!  Perhaps you’re thinking at this point, “What are you talking about, Michael, I don’t have any statues in my house?”  Oh really?  Be honest, is there nothing you are tempted to turn to for comfort when things are going badly or when you’re feeling down?  What about the television when you’re lonely?  Or food (ever hear of “comfort food”) . . . or money . . . or friends . . . or even “your” children or your spouse.  And consider these other possibilities: Alcohol or drugs 

(illegal or prescription); sex, pornography, or masturbation; hobbies; exercise; playing or watching sports; church activities (that’s right, you heard me!); “religion” (doctrinal dogma rather than a personal relationship with Jesus Christ); and the list goes on.  Now, aside from the obvious evils like drugs, porn, etc., most of what I’ve listed can be God-given blessings which can be enjoyed with thanksgiving, but, not if we love them more than Him or seek them first for comfort.  Is the Bible out-of-date when it proclaims the 

Holy Spirit as our Comforter, Counselor, and Helper (John 14:16)?  For example, women, if you love your Christian husband more than the Lord what will be your fate if, God forbid, he were taken from your arms and killed before your eyes in a repeat of the Jewish Holocaust.  Of course, that could never happen in America, right?  Let’s hope not!  But, this letter has now been posted on the All Seasons Ministries web-site which has been viewed in over 50 foreign countries some of which now persecute Christians!  Or, fathers, what if what happened at Columbine High School was to be the fate of your Christian child?   Would you “curse God and die” (Job 2:9) or like Job say, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10)?  The scriptures tell us that in spite of everything Job endured he “did not sin nor did he blame [ascribe unseemliness] to God.”  In other words, he did not replace God with an idol and he never stopped believing that God is good and that His love and righteousness endure forever!

Consider Paul.  We know he wrote much of the New Testament but most of us missed or have forgotten what our precious brother and spiritual father endured to ensure the spreading of the gospel and the formation of the church.  He revealed it, at least in part, in the second letter to the Corinthians:

“Are they servants of Christ?--I speak as if insane--I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.  Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.  I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.  Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.  Who is weak without my being weak?  Who is led into sin without my intense concern?” (II Corinthians 11: 23-33)

I wonder what Paul’s back looked like?!  The Jewish leaders of the period whipped him 39 times on 5 different occasions.  That’s 195 lashes.  On the 195th stroke do you think Paul still believed that God was good?  You bet he did . . . so do I . . . and so should you!  I am not writing this letter to condemn or scare you but to insure pure love and devotion to our loving Savior Jesus Christ in your darkest hour and to prepare you.  “For what?” you ask.  The Bible warns that in the end times there will be many falling from the faith.  I believe they will deny the Lord because they were not prepared to face hard times and I don’t want that to happen to you!  “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come” (II Timothy 3:1).  Some are teaching that the best days of the Church in America are ahead of us.  The Spirit of God in my spirit does not bear witness with this “ear-tickling” message; I believe they are false prophets crying, “Peace and safety”, when they should be crying with John the Baptist, “Prepare yourself, the Lord is near!”  It is my conviction that America, in the coming years, will continue in its downward spiral into sin and will, after ignoring many warnings, ultimately face God’s judgment.  Should we still pray for America?  Of course we should!  Every Friday morning for several years I met with a group of intercessors on Mt. Helix in La Mesa, CA and praying for this country was one of our primary focuses—and I still believe in doing that.  As for the Church, I believe that, yes, glorious days are ahead but not in the way many might think.  It will grow in power, God’s inner power, not in political or economic power.  Revival of the “Acts church” will come accompanied by great signs and wonders, but only in the midst of persecution and fierce trials.  Believe it or not, it is completely plausible that within a few years from the date this article is posted, Christians will be viewed as intolerant hate-mongers and the Bible as we know it will be outlawed.  But true followers of the Lord Jesus thrive in this atmosphere!  People being dramatically saved, healed, or raised from the dead will be common-place occurrences but it won’t be by “superstar” showboat “evangelists”, but rather by “ordinary” sold-out Spirit-filled and faith-filled Christians who take no glory away from the One who empowers.  It is my prayer--and I believe it will happen--that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit will “return” as it occurred on the Day of Pentecost and throughout the book of Acts.  Sincere Christians in large and small churches who have been taught that the gifts of the Spirit no longer exist--or exist only for someone else--will, in the middle of church services, begin speaking in other tongues and prophesying much to the dismay of their leaders who won’t be able to deny or stop it!  

Peter proclaimed that when judgment comes it will begin with the household of God.  Already we see this as so called men of God and ministries with great wealth and political power are facing fierce scrutiny (especially financial).  They see this as an “attack from the Devil”, it is not! Very soon we will see those who have misused God’s monies on sin and lavish lifestyles pay the price, weeping and mourning (as will the businesses they supported) as they watch their empires crumble under God’s rebuke.  We also see this as Christians all over the nation are beginning to awake from spiritual slumber with the same message in their spirit: “The Lord is coming; I’ve got to stop playing games, get my house in order, and get busy for my Lord!”  Also, sadly, we have recently seen the death of two powerful “televangelists”, Jerry Falwell and D. James Kennedy . . . there will be more (Note: Please honor the memory of these two men of God since they have done much to raise Christian family values in America).  Very soon we will surely witness the death of Billy Graham.  These deaths are not the judgment of God; it is just part of His awesome plan . . . and timing.  As I have done with the aforementioned pastors, Keith Green, J. Vernon Magee, and all the great men of God who have died in my lifetime I weep and mourn over their passing.  As a sort of footnote, pay special attention to the ages of America’s Pastors.  Forgive my frankness, but men like Charles Stanley, David Jeremiah, Jack Hayford, Charles Swindoll, David Wilkerson, James Dobson, Pat Robertson, and so many more, are all growing old and some are in less than perfect health.  When they “go home” will God just replace them with new leaders cut from the same mold?  I would like to suggest to you that He will not . . . I am looking for a new work as described above . . . for a new time . . . which is quickly upon us!  As a note to Pastors, I strongly admonish you to make sure your church has a strong Home-church or Cell-group program in place as a preparation for your possible arrest and/or the loss of or closing of your building.  Do it now!  It sounds radical doesn’t it?  Mark my words, its coming!

So many Christians are looking for the Rapture to save them.  Yes, I believe in the promise of His second coming, but since I find nowhere in Scripture Jesus teaching that He would return and then return again, I seriously doubt if the Rapture will occur before the seven years of Tribulation.  Jesus taught clearly that “the one who endures to the end, he will be saved”.  If we were supposed to be “born-again”, try be good people, avoid all pain and suffering, and just be happy that we are going to be raptured out of here (and even if we don’t go up the first time we’ll still have the “seven years” to become a Christian, right?), then why would He have taught such a thing?  And besides, if your focus is on the Rapture, then you are missing the point!  If you know Jesus’ return is imminent then you also must know that “night is coming, when no man can work!” (John 9:4).  Get to work for Jesus while you can!  My friends the time to “trim [your] lamps” (Matthew 25:1-13) is NOW! The Bridegroom is coming for a bride (the church) that is pure in its love, trust, and devotion to Him, not a betrothed who says, “I love you Jesus but sometimes things are rough when you’re not near, so, I have these other idols that help me feel good.”  Jesus will say to that one, “I never knew you!”

If you are hurting or, if you are facing troubles that seem insurmountable—and actually are in your own strength--then consider this: Could it be that a loving Heavenly Father is preparing you and the rest of His Son’s Bride for storms of adversity that you not only can’t even imagine, but would never have been able to weather had the Lord not patiently prepared you, even now?

So, be encouraged . . . and strengthened!  Hang on!  Don’t lose faith which I define in this way: 

Faith is . . . resting with absolute trust in the power [full ability], wisdom [unlimited knowledge to always do the right and best thing in every situation], and goodness [loving-kindness] of God . . . for as long as it takes!

And I beg you, even now in tears, to never ever forget this fact: GOD IS GOOD!  Your pain is momentary compared to the timelessness of that truth!

I have shared my heart, thank you for bearing with me.  Some of the things I’ve written may be considered by some to be controversial (I have actually held back for fear of losing some of you completely).  I assure you though, the claims I have made do not come from a man who believes he has a direct connection with God (at least, not any more than any and every Spirit-filled Believer)—you will very rarely hear me say, “God told me!”  In fact, people who do scare me.  But, I sense in my heart that I have spoken the truth.  I guess time will tell . . .

I love you and if there is anything I can do to serve you please do not hesitate to contact me through the All Seasons Ministries web-site . . .