Man here does not refer only to the male gender but to human beings, both male and female.
Have you noticed that some people display a lifestyle that makes others believe they have a special relationship with God? It seems they know God so much that He cannot refuse them anything, as if they are God’s favourites. You can say that, but not in the human understanding of it. God is good to all. He is rich in mercy to all who call upon His name. However, the difference between them and you is how deeply they have gone with God. Their relationship with God has gone so deep that God’s dealings with them are beyond human understanding.
There are some people who have gained God’s attention to the extent that the Almighty will not do anything around them without informing and involving them. The first example that readily comes to mind is Abraham. But I need you to know that there are people in our present world who are as close to God as Abraham, or even closer.
There are some people who, when a new season is coming to a people or a nation, have to herald that new season. They are like those who cut the ribbon at the opening of a place. They may not have to do anything else, but without their initial input, the labour of others may likely be in vain. Such people cannot be cast out, and you cannot fight them. You had better entreat God to give you favour with them. Sometimes, it is simply their knowing and blessing you that matters. You cannot hate such people or be indifferent to them. They have walked so deeply with God through thick and thin, and throughout it all, God has counted them faithful. He has counted it to them for righteousness.
Let’s look at the life of Abraham. In Genesis 11:26, we are told of Abraham’s birth. His father’s name was Terah, and he had brothers and sisters, just like you and me. He got married to Sarah, and they had no child, a family challenge.
In verse 31, Abraham migrated with his father and their household from Ur of the Chaldees to Haran, probably looking for greener pastures and a better life, like all of us.
In Genesis 12:1, we are told of his encounter with God and God’s command for him to separate from his father’s house. God also made several promises to him (verses 1–3). So, he obeyed God. He took his wife and his late brother’s son, Lot, with him. At that time, he was already 75 years old and still childless. However, they already had possessions, and based on God’s promises in Genesis 12:1–3, he must have thought, like all of us would, that the children would start coming because God had promised to make him a great nation.
By verse 10, the next thing that happened was famine in the land of obedience, a very grievous famine. A grievous famine is characterised by severe pain, suffering, sorrow, or very serious negative effects resulting from extreme, widespread food scarcity, leading to mass starvation, severe acute malnutrition, and a sharp increase in mortality.
This happened while Abraham was obeying God’s call. So, is it wrong to obey God? If it were today, we would automatically say that we had heard wrongly. But did God promise us a challenge-free life? Jesus told His disciples, and by extension, all of us, in John 16:33:
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
My beloved, challenges and troubles are not peculiar to you alone. Do you know what tribulation means? It means a state or instance of great trouble, severe suffering, distress, or hardship.
So, we see Abraham going down to Egypt. A lot of drama happened in Egypt, and he was eventually sent out of Egypt. He received abundant favour and even acquired Hagar. He became very rich, and Lot also became rich. Eventually, he separated from Lot because of their abundance.
When it seemed that God’s promise was being delayed, Abraham listened to his wife, Sarah, and they took steps to help God bring His promise to pass. This resulted in issues that we have still not gotten over to this day.
By the time we get to Genesis 17, I believe Abraham had finally understood the God who called him. At this point, his name was changed to reflect the promise, and a fresh covenant was made.
In our journey towards becoming vessels of honour, there are many encounters, seasons, and periods of training. All these are meant to build a sound man of God—the man God can trust with weighty matters.
Be careful when challenges come. Never go down to Egypt. You may acquire material wealth, but there is always an Hagar waiting to attach herself to you. Her mission is to prolong your becoming, if not derail you completely. Know for certain that you will eventually have to do away with her, no matter how precious she may seem.
Finally, in Genesis 21, the promised heir was given. Abraham was 100 years old when he received Isaac, who had been promised to him when he was 75 years old.
A lot happened along the way. There were trials and tests, but eventually, the promise was fulfilled.
Now came the final test: Genesis 22:1–19. This time, there was no delay on Abraham’s part, no discussion with Sarah, and no unnecessary attachments. He obeyed God explicitly. He might not have understood, but he obeyed. A promise that had taken 25 years to fulfil, and then this! He had learned obedience. Remember that he had sent Hagar and Ishmael away, so Isaac was his only son with Sarah, yet he obeyed God.
Hebrews 11:17–19 says:
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.
Beloved, there are still many Abrahams in our own day. Indeed, they have passed through water and fire. They have earned their rightful place. They have paid their dues. They have their place in God’s scheme of things, and therefore, God is able to trust them with eternal assignments. God listens when they speak because He knows that their hearts beat after Him and His purpose.
When we look at them and see the awesome things happening in their lives and what God is doing through them, we tend to believe that there is some hidden thing.
Yes, they are human beings like us, and if we, too, are willing and ready to relate with God as they have done, there will be no hindrance to how far we can go with God.
But we are still in the infancy of our walk with God.
Some of us gave our lives to Christ when we could be considered adults, while others had the opportunity to do so when they were young. I gave my life to Jesus Christ at the age of 25, after I had my first child. No matter how old we are when we become saved, we can still become mighty vessels in His hands.
However, you cannot become a vessel of honour if:
* You have to be cajoled to pray.
* You only pray and fast when you have a need.
* You have to be begged and pushed to be concerned about the things of God.
* You refuse to build a vibrant altar because your desires have not been met.
* Your pastor or somebody else has to push you to become relevant in the house of your Father.
* The love for others is far from your heart, and you will only help those in your group or those who can help you in return.
* You give only when you are promised a reward.
* You are still arguing and bickering about 10% when God wants your all.
He will not take anything less.
Are you ready to give your all to Him?