The passing of my father revealed a passage through which a new generation of leaders is appearing.
Passages play a significant role in our journey through life.A passage is a way of exit or entrance; a road, path, channel, or course by which something or someone passes. There are many passages in life. Most of them are found in the form of a wooden door, a steel gate, a tile floor, a cut in the wall or a stone arch. Some passages are narrow, some are wide, some are short, some are tall and some are clearly visible while others are more obscure and hidden. Passages have purpose. By providing a course of exit or entrance or being a roadway for travel, a passage permits the course of life to flow in progression. Each supplies a way in which to pass.Whether they stand as invitations to a flowered garden or they are carved into a rocky mountain the passage is always a welcome friend offering its service. Yet, passages are much more than this. Just as there are passages in the natural world, there too are passages in the unseen realm. We discover them throughout our lifetime. They are the defining moments that each of us encounter along life’s way. Just as in the natural these spiritual passages come in various forms. Some are clearly recognizable while others are more obscure and difficult to find and to understand. I discovered a passage of this type in my life recently. The discovery came at a time of sorrow and loss. My father, to whom I owe much of my common sense about living passed away at the age of 80 years. He had dealt with several health issues over the past 30 years. None of the issues in and of themselves were too severe, but together they posed an overwhelming challenge to his weakened body. In recent years we had grieved repeatedly for him, over every loss of independence and mobility that comes with age. He was a happy fighter all his days. Fun, friends and humor were some of the synonyms for his life. He had faith and fought in his own fashionable style til the very last. I was called to the hospital early that morning, way before sunrise. My youngest son, Joseph was my companion. It was there at the hospital that I discovered it—a new passage. As the two of us stood alone in Dad’s room with his lifeless body lying peacefully on the bed, I discovered this passage. I think it must have been there for sometime, perhaps all my life. I just wasn’t aware of it. Conceivably it could have been accidentally hidden from my view by the stuff of life or maybe it was hidden on purpose as part of a greater plan. Though I may have suspected there could be such a passage, I didn’t go there. I hadn’t looked for it. I had no need to. Dad made his way quietly through into another realm, a life beyond and a life far greater that the one he had known. He had his own passage through which he passed that served him well. But, this passage that I discovered was neither for the dead nor the dieing. It was another. It was for the living. Fathers are markers in life. They are the root of the plant from which the fruit of other generations are produced. Fathers are markers of generations. They become the captains and generals who lead into the uncertain by their example of courage, faith and will. They are the carriers of vision and determination that carves a future for the sons and daughters who follow. My father, like yours was one of them. He wasn’t perfect in the sense of manner or perception. He wasn’t a nobleman with great pedigree or a headliner for the press, but he was a father. And by virtue of who he was and the role he fulfilled his departure marked an opening, a passage for a new generation of fatherhood. As I absorbed the reality of Dad’s passing I was overwhelmed by the certainty of this new passage. Though unseen it felt as tangible as any through which I have passed. It called for me. It called for me as a father in my generation; it called for my sons and daughters in their generation to step up. At the threshold of this passage a defining moment had been created. A new generation is risen. A generation released to a new level of responsibility, authority and anointing. History provides us with special records of the passing of fathers. You can read the accounts of men such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and more modern fathers such as J.C.Penney or Martin Luther King. These passings are marked as pivotal moments in time. Through physical passage of death a spiritual passage is created for the next generation. The destiny of families, businesses and nations are at risk at such moments. Some fathers invest considerable effort and resources in anticipation of their own death. As significant as these investments are to future generations they all pale in scope compared to the identity and conclusions that must come from the sons who follow after them. Passages become defining moments in history, hinge points for the future. They set a path for growth and change. They are a course whereby the new generation leads and defines what will be built upon the foundation left them by the previous generation. The perfect model of this is Jesus. He achieved what no other before him ever could achieve. He accomplished in his one lifetime an accumulation of gracious supply for limitless millions of lifetimes to follow him. He set his Father’s plan and purpose on course for the generations to come. His death by design created the passage for sons and daughters to walk through into purpose and destiny. Interestingly, but not surprisingly we discover that it is not possible to make this passage by human effort. Self effort cannot step through this passage. Self effort will be as a confused and tiring bull as it shoulders, bumps and sweats and snorts its way along a cold and stony wall. It is only by faith that this way is safely passed. The step of faith is the only step by which one can make this passage into greatness. The hearts of the sons and the hearts of the fathers are turning. The passage is now open for them to truly be one. A generation now rises that declares His seed and bears his Image. A generation now rises that reveals heaven’s plan; the plan wherein sons are subduing the earth, taking dominion and bringing positive influence. This generation has by faith passed from death unto life! The passage is now open. It is a defining moment for the nations, cultures, churches and families. It is calling each generation to make the forward step of faith through the passage into the supernatural realm of greatness and purpose. There is a new reality waiting for you. Believe it. You will see. Step into it.
I have been thinking about time alot lately. But my thoughts haven't been about lost time, past time, wasted time, overtime, enough time or sometime. I have been locked in to the time that is. This time. This moment.
It is the razor thin line that moves across the screen monitoring vital signs of heartbeat and respiration. Now is just that thin. It is thinner than the width of that tiny line upon which my pulse leaps. Yet, it is upon this crest, this razor's edge that my conclusions about God, myself, my resources, my destiny have their greatest effect.
Being by "exchange defined identity"...to stand by faith in the state or condition called "is" establishes you in the image of God. A lightning rod for the majesty, glory and purposes of God in your day!
This is the moment you have been waiting for. Now is the time. Remember, there is no time but the present. Set your vision. Dream your dreams. Develop a strategy based on righteousness. Today plants the seeds for your glorious future!
Moving Day!
Recently my wife, Vicki and I helped to move her mother from her home into an apartment. The experience of packing and moving, loading and unloading is familiar to most of us. It caused me to think about moving day.
For Vicki’s mother, it meant leaving the familiar; a comfortable home on a grassy corner lot in central Wisconsin. It meant stepping into unfamiliar and new experiences.
Moving day is a transition. It is a defining moment. It is a hinge point in time where one steps out of the ordinary and routine into the new.
There is such an opportunity available to anyone who believes. The opportunity is to move from the experiential limitations of the past into a new dimension where the heavens are open and all things are possible.
In Mark 14:13, Jesus instructed his disciples to make preparations for the Passover. The Passover symbolized a celebration of deliverance and freedom. Historically, it began by sacrificing a lamb. This sacrifice was a “pre-enactment” if you will, of what was about to be done in deliverance for all humanity. In his instructions to them, Jesus said they would find “a large upper room furnished and prepared for them” in which they could make the needed preparations to celebrate the Passover.
In the large, furnished and ready upper room is where they made the preparations for the celebration. Obviously this required the life of an innocent lamb. Today, these preparations have been spiritually fulfilled in the exchange of Jesus Christ. The reality of the large inheritance becomes ours furnished and ready for a purpose. Your purpose is to facilitate the exchange to the nations of the earth. The exchange is a spiritual re-enactment by faith of the deed that brought liberation. It is the preparation of the gospel of peace. Hereby, the full impact of righteousness is released to the guests of faith for whom it was made ready.
Symbolically and prophetically, the large, furnished and ready room speaks of the large and lavish inheritance provided to everyone of faith. The fact that this place was furnished and ready speaks to the reality of the complete and finished work of Jesus Christ. There was no self-effort required. Why? For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, apart from the law; a righteousness that is by faith. (Romans 1:17; 3:21) It is into this restored condition that God has invited you to receive the benefit of someone else’s work.
Moving day is a transition. It is a defining moment. It is a hinge point in time where one steps out of the ordinary and routine into the new.
Many have made the move and are enjoying the benefits of Someone else’s work. Isn’t it moving day for you?
April 28, 2008
Michael L. Bachmeyer
The Robe of Righteousness Michael L. Bachmeyer
Psalm 45:6-9 6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. 7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. 8 All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad. 9 Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Today, through faith we wear the robe of righteousness. Jesus instructed in Luke 24, that beginning in Jerusalem the believers would be "endued with power from on high." This power is that which comes with and through the exchange--righteousness by faith. "Endue", as Jesus used is interesting in its meaning. Literally, it means "to go deep, as to sink deeply into a garment".
"All your robes" [including the robe of righteousness] smell of myrrh, aloes and cassia. These spices and ointments were of various uses including preparation for burial. The kings from the east brought gold, frankincense and myrrh symbolic of a king, a priest, and death [or burial]. As a child of 10 years, I recall my mother's untimely death at the age of 38 yrs. How vividly I remember frequently entering slowly into her now quiet closet. It was untouched by my grieving father. There, many of her clothes still hung lifeless. Here, I would reach for hand fulls of her clothing pulling it to my young face. With a long, deep breath I could smell the fragrance of momma's colognes. I would smell... and I would remember mother and my love for her. As a young boy this left a lasting memory for me. This robe we will wear with distinction, courage and purpose. As we do so, we should also be reminded of the One who has gone before us. We will never forget the one who has worn this garment before our time so that we may wear it in our time. As we sink deeply into the garment of righteousness with the power of the Spirit, we will smell the fragrance of the Person and price that was paid to make the exchange a reality!