Since the beginning of recorded biblical history, it has been evident that we live in an imperfect world. God is not behind the counter ready to dispense answers to prayer in order to perfect things. Rather, we understand from scripture, and from our own experience, that the Lord is saying, “You will find Me on the journey.”
This was true of Abraham. The Lord said to him, “Go from your country and your kindred’s house to the land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1) Abram was to learn what God had in store only while on the journey in his imperfect world.
It was also true of Joseph. He trusted God along the journey.
Then there was Moses who argued, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” God said, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:11) The entire account in Exodus and Numbers is the story of how Moses and his people found God on the journey through their imperfect world, made imperfect by those who, like Pharaoh, said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?” (Exodus 5:2)
Then there were Joshua, Jeremiah, Jonah, and others like David, Daniel, and other prophets, judges and kings who trusted God along the journey. Eventually the disciples and the Apostle Paul also experienced God while on their journeys. We cannot expect anything different. According to Psalm 85:13, we are called to be stepping along on our journey to be directed to restore this imperfect world. “Righteousness (the Lord) goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.”
Sometimes God answers prayer directly, but we are more likely to encounter God on the journey as we keep our eyes on Him. It is a counter-intuitive message in our imperfect world. Be counter-intuitive and start a dialogue as to how you might make a difference. Register or log in at MissionNext to see the Lord work in you and through you as you step along on your journey.
Nelson Malwitz, Founder, Chief Innovation Officer
Nelson is the generic Evangelical baby-boomer. Born in 1946, raised in the C&MA, he attended Urbana ’67 in college. He holds an MS degree in Chemical Engineering and worked in R&D positions in American industry for 33 years. Nelson is an inventor with formal training in methods of creative problem-solving. He was a founding elder at Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel, CT (1982) and served in many leadership capacities of what is now one of the largest Evangelical churches in New England. In 1998 Nelson founded the Finishers Project, now MissionNext. Locally he attends a Torah study and is chairman of the sewer commission to serve among unchurched leaders.
