The New Road

We sat around the fire, silent in reflection, anticipating the new road before us. The unknown. The turning point. The moment of truth. We were emptyhanded and yearned for something we could do, to further prepare ourselves for the journey. There was nothing more that could be done. Our supplies were readied and our hearts full of reverent courage. Our guide, who had traversed the trail countless times, explained the next leg of our quest while referencing days of old and biblical times.

Noah built a boat from an abundance of faith and obedience, while he was mocked by the masses. When it started to rain, Noah and his family started their next chapter. Moses led God’s people across a divided sea, and through a desert where everything was handed to them, their food outside their tents each day and their clothes were never threadbare. Their turning point was at the Jordan where the courageous inherited the promised land and those lacking in faith never crossed over.

For you my friends, God’s remnant, you have a different journey in store. The Lord said, “It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams your young men will see visions.”[1] This my friends is a different type of exodus. You are being called to live on the wings of your faith. You will be living without the protections of man, upon which you have so long relied. You will leave the four walls and you will be among the dead and through your prophetic decrees you will plant seeds of righteousness into the dead so they might become among the living. You will move out from your silence, from your fear of reproach, from intimidation.

God has released, through His grace, the power and the strength and the fortitude for this new era. He has been training you for this day since you first tasted the milk of the word.[2] Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching, or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality, he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy with cheerfulness.[3] Your faith and these precious gifts will be your manna in the desert.

If I may offer advice before we move onto the trail, it is this: I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.[4] Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN DOING SO YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.[5]

You will meet false witnesses along the way. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.[6] You will know them by their lack of fruit or their fruit will be rotten, unable to germinate new life. Continue moving forward. Do not become distracted and overcome by what you pass by. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you might have success wherever you go.[7] Your perseverance during these troubled times depends on this.

If there is anything you trust more than God, eliminate it and seek forgiveness: self-reliance, money, position, political spirit, manipulation, popular opinion, worldly knowledge, your own cunning, profession, lofty thoughts. Only God has the power to take you to the next phase of your journey. Fascination with lesser powers will keep you from advancing. To you it was shown that you might know that the Lord, He is God; there is no other besides Him.[8]

Seek spiritual and mental chastity and refinement. Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.[9]

Be ready. Be ready. Be ready. Those who were ready went in with Him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.[10] Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.[11] Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.[12]

And Jesus said: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter by the gates into the city.[13]

After speaking those words, the trail guide rose from his place around the fire and took rest, for the long enduring road was before him.

---

[1] Joel 2:28

[2] 1 Peter 2:2

[3] Romans 12:6-8

[4] Romans 12:1-2

[5] Romans 12:9-21

[6] 1 John 4:1

[7] Joshua 1:7

[8] Deuteronomy 4:35

[9] 1 Timothy 4:7-8

[10] Matthew 25:10

[11] Matthew 25:12

[12] Philippians 2:12

[13] Revelation 22:12-14