Articles
Just Push!
I have often alluded to a timeless story handed down from times past but have never presented it in fullest fashion. The story was written by an unknown author, but I think most will be somewhat familiar with it. While the story’s details are unrealistic, the point is clear and valid. God perfects us through fire with tests of perseverance. God constantly tests our faith while we reside on Earth so that we may prove our allegiance. So whatever struggles you are currently going through, I hope that this story will be inspiring to you in your own individual walk.
A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this the man did, day after day.
For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: “You have been pushing that rock for a long time, and it hasn’t moved.” Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.
Satan said, “Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough.” That’s what the weary man planned to do, but he decided to make it a matter of prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.
“Lord,” he said, “I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”
The Lord responded compassionately, “My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you have come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so?”
“Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock.”
At times, when we hear the word of God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who does the moving.
While we may not fully understand the details of God’s service, we can be assured that He has our best interests in mind. Remember that it takes the heat of a kiln to turn a soft clump of clay into a useable vessel. In like manner, “heat” is necessary to perfect us (cf. 1Pet. 1:6f).
God desires us to be choice & useable vessels (2Tim. 2:20f), so He allows fires to build us up so that we may endure more and more heat each time. We are often (understandably!) reminded of this fact throughout Scripture as a means to encourage perseverance under trial (Rom. 8:18; James 1:2-4). Always remember to look to God when you become weary and your faith falters. In all situations, He will be the One who will move the Rock if we prove ourselves obedient (cf. Prov. 3:5f).
May we ever remember the need to resist the Adversary and to encourage our fellow man to avoid compromise in the Lord’s service. May God bless you and be with you in whatever trials that you currently face.
