Higher Ground

photo courtesy of http://mmbenya.com/goats-mountain-climbers/mountain-goat/

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While I was contemplating being in extreme pain tonight, the old hymn classic "Higher Ground" came to mind and I had to look it up. (And of course, this site being what it is, I needed the appropriate picture to go with it. Isn't that one amazing?) I was thinking that a significant part of my body being under attack daily is also a spiritual attack on me daily. The more I testify of God's redeeming grace through Jesus Christ, the more my body suffers. That may seem silly to some, but to me it is real.

The pain and anguish Job endured was both physical and spiritual. God did not bring any of the horrific tragedies into His servant's life. Job's grief and illness and mental torture were brought on because God knew Job would remain faithful to God throughout the entire ordeal. Job's righteousness was Satan's target. If the devil could bring down God's faithful worshiper and friend, then God would be wrong. And we all know GOD IS NEVER WRONG. Job showed us that HOW we go THROUGH our trials is just as important as WHY we go THROUGH our trials.

Satan hurls darts at God's faithful servants, desiring to take us out of commission. The devil is prideful and self-righteous. He wants what belongs to God. He could not take out God and gain control of God's throne in heaven, so he is coming after what belongs to God here on Earth. And darts they are. Darts of grief: parents bury a child. Darts of sorrow: children bury their parents. Darts of misfortune: stocks fall and banks close. Darts of anxiety: worry and fret. Darts of disease: pandemic illnesses flood the globe. And those are just the obvious darts.

In the devil's arsenal are also darts of misconception. Disguised darts, if you will. What appears to be right isn't always the right thing to do. It is the "appearance" of goodness that will land a man or a woman in trouble with both mankind and God. But it is the knowledge AND understanding of what is righteous and holy that will lead both men and women in the direction of salvation and redemption.

You can know about God. Sunday School and catechism teach us about God. You can know of God. Every religion has a god. But to truly KNOW GOD, you and I need to seek GOD, listen to GOD's WORD, hear what GOD has to SAY and do what GOD wants us to do. How well do you know your best friend? Your spouse? Your sweetheart? Are you enjoying an intimate relationship with GOD, too? Or is He just a long-distance relative?

Verses 3 and 4 of "Higher Ground"

I want to live above the world

Tho' Satan's darts at me are hurled;

For faith has caught the joyful sound

The song of saints on higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height

And catch a gleam of glory bright

But still I'll pray till Heav'n I've found

"Lord, lead me on to higher ground"

chorus

Lord, lift me up

and let me stand

by faith

on heaven's tableland,

A higher plane

than I have found;

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

{words by Johnson Oatman, Jr.)