Visiting Ebenezers

Memory

Things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember.

Seneca 4 B.C. – 65 A.D., Spanish-born Roman Statesman, philosopher


Isa 46:8-13
"Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you transgressors. "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, "My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it. "Listen to Me, you stubborn-minded, Who are far from righteousness. "I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; And My salvation will not delay. And I will grant salvation in Zion, and My glory for Israel.
NASU

The beauty of memory is that it is choosy. It can ignore the most noble of things and the most beautiful of experiences, but remember the taste of watermelon on a hot and dusty day when we were 6 yrs old. Smells trigger the biggest of memories, the smell of flowers or other things can bring back memories long past and transport you years back to your childhood.

God also allows markers in our lives, an “Ebenezer,” as the bible calls it. It is a place in our lives that we can come back to and say “God spoke to me here. I’m sure that there are many reading this that can say they have had many chances to raise an Ebenezer in their lives, and they probably have gone back to those places for a visit every once in a while.

In the Old Testament men of God would stand a large stone up in honor of a visit from the Lord. There they would anoint that stone with oil and they would offer up a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord. It was an unusual and strong experience in their lives that made them reach out to God, or it was God intersecting their lives for His Will and Purpose, or for their good.
You and I also today need to revisit our “Ebenezers” that we have raised in our lives. We need to remember those experiences where God spoke to us in a personal and direct way and impressed on us His presence. Make no mistake, He does this to us all, He is a personal and loving God, involved in all of our lives totally and completely.

We must always remember we are here for God’s good will and pleasure, and not for our own. God is still saying to us today in different and personal ways the same things He did back then. He is still saying “Listen to me you “stubborn minded” my righteousness in near you, and not far off and my salvation will not delay…God Bless.

Pastor William