News

Shocking Imprint

Shocking Imprint

12 June 2014

 

I walked into the prayer house recently to discover a shocking impression (pictured) on the largest window.  A Keruru (NZ wood pigeon) had flown into it; mercifully and thankfully it was not killed.
 
The collision's imprint made me think of the Holy Spirit.  Many modern logos for The Dove (Mt 3.16), very closely resemble the outline left on the window.  In spite of rain repeatedly falling and washing the pane, the image still stubbornly clings to the glass.  It continues to be very confronting.  Is it a "sign"?  It is definitely causing me to "wonder"!
 
We live in a tree-filled valley.  I know that many generations of Keruru have safely navigated their ways about here; from food-source to food-source, especially the native Purriri tree's berries.  If an "ancient", indigenous bird crashes into a house built "recently"...whose fault is that then?
 
It seems to me that the Spirit of the Lord has "navigated" His way forever, along the invisible, spiritual pathways laid down in and for this world by God.  They are what the Bible calls His "ways".
 
"As for God, his way (trodden path) is perfect." (Ps 18.30)
 
"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths." (Ps 25.4)
 
"Your path led through the sea. Your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen." (Ps 77.19)
 
What happens when we build something (perhaps even for God?) in the middle of one of the Holy Spirit's "pathways"?
 
Obviously, we risk raising up obstructions, obstacles, roadblocks to the movement of God in our world.  Moreover, there is also the shocking possibility that the Holy Spirit will be "injured" by such "collisions"?
 
"Do not grieve (hurt) the Holy Spirit of God." (Eph 4.30)
 
"Quench not (extinguish, stifle) the Spirit." (1 Th 5.19)
 
In this instance, it does seem to me that the "print" upon the window and the open-ended questions which it raises are actually more important than "answers"!
 
"But the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?' " (Ge 3.9)
 
"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'What is that in your hand?' " (Ex 4.2)
 
"What do you see, Jeremiah?" (Jer 1.11)
 
"Son of man, can these bones live?" (Eze 37.3)
 
We would all like to know (infallibly?) what to "build" and where.  It is excruciatingly important to us to be "right"...but too often for our own sakes, and not for the Lord's?
 
"But the righteousness that is by faith says...'The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart'." (Ro 10.6-8)
 
When it comes to aligning ourselves with the Holy Spirit there is no "blue-print" we can "google"; absolutely no point whatsoever in following the "flockers"!
 
For this one, their destiny is to build a massive auditorium to "shelter" thousands.  For that one, their obedience is to shepherd a handful of souls in their garage.  For one, the founding of a global prayer movement is their vocation.  For another, the call is to a solitary obscurity, singing the Psalms.  If any of these were to deviate, for whatever reason (no matter how noble or spiritual) from their particular "work", then in all likelihood they will make of themselves obstructions and not conduits; barriers rather than channels.
 
"Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me satan!  You are a stumbling block to me (a stone and snare in my path, a hindrance to me); you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.' " (Mt 16.23)
 
The "terrible" question we each must ask ourselves (perhaps many times a day) is:  "Am I becoming 'myself' created in the image of God' (Ge 1.27); or am I manufacturing a 'self' in another's (a man, ministry or movement's) image?"
 
"Every competitor runs, but only one wins the prize...run with your minds fixed on winning the prize!" (1 Co 9.24)