(New King James Version Bible is used for this message.)
Nearly four years ago, God directed me to explain that “Location Matters”. Our worth is not defined or bound by a physical location. Instead, our worth is defined on how best we tend to the Holy Spirit and builds upon the location that lies within each of us. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16) Therefore, it is the present location of the believer that has worth!
But what if you are NOT in the right location? Life has a way of minimizing ourselves. Hostile work environments. Difficult homes. Troubled children. Abuse - physical and mental. The Enemy is working overtime to destroy ourselves. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8)
I had such an attack on myself. I was working for a large corporation and had been for over 15 years. It was a comfortable, safe, and secure place. I knew my job duties and had been working with the same colleagues for years. I was respected, had good to excellent employee reviews, and performed superior work. Approximately 3 years ago, the division I worked for was purchased by another company. Luckily, I still had my job, but I was working for a different manager.
In a short period of time, I came to learn that my manager was irrational, unpredictable, had her own agenda, and clearly had no clue how to manage her team. My work relationship with my manager spiraled downward rapidly. Suddenly, in her eyes, I lost all respect and she gave me poor to terrible employee reviews, but I continued to produce excellent work. I did not understand why this was happening to me? I was doing "all the right things" at work - producing quality work, teaming with colleagues, managing my projects so they came in on budget and on time. But it was not enough in her eyes. I went to my manager. When that got me nowhere, I went to her boss. When that got me nowhere, I went to HR. When that got me nowhere, I contacted a lawyer. But nothing worked. All this time, I was stressed, not sleeping well and suffered from digestive issues. I was emotionally spent and all I wanted was to get out. Again, I did not understand why this was happening to me? I was doing "all the right things", but nothing seemed to be working for me.
But, there is a happy ending or should I say a happy beginning to my situation! I thank God that he brought Rachel into my life, who is a strong woman of God, and He led us to our church family. When God wants to deal with you - and I mean He wants some "God and you time" - He will close all the earthly doors. He will remove people from your life. He will show you "your mountain." He will show you that tall peak and those awful steep slopes.
He will tell you that only with His help will you be able to remove that mountain. "So Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)
He will command you to be silent "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10).
And then He will instruct you in His ways, and He will show you what you need to see and comprehend. "Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire. (Deuteronomy 4:36).
For my instruction, it took 2 years. I was in that Hellish work situation with an unbalanced manager for exactly 2 years and 2 months. Each day I had to drag myself into work, fight the urge to run away or hide - do anything to avoid my torment. And during this time, God performed a work within me.
He taught me to love myself. I learned that I do have worth. I do matter. I am loved - by Him, my family, my wife and our church family. And that God has a plan for me - a wonderful and marvelous one!
God gives us clear and concise instructions in His Word on how we are to live our lives. God commands us to love one another. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
We must care for the poor and needy. “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27)
We must not fall into sinful behaviors like those who do not know God. “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8)
Jesus summoned up a life lived for God when addressing a teacher of the law. “Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other greater commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 29-31)
I will tell you that when you are going through the fire, it is not pleasant. It is very uncomfortable, and it can even be painful. It hurts because God is burning out of you all that is not of Him and making you more pure and more precious - like a rare metal . We know gold as a valuable and precious commodity. But an interesting quality about gold is that it can be both beaten and purified! Gold can be beaten and molded into different shapes and sizes, according to its designed purpose. And at the same instance, when gold is heated to high temperatures, all the impurities are burned and scorched out of its elements – leaving a substance that is both pure and priceless.
So I know that during this "trial by fire" that God was testing me while at the same time He was purifying me! God was molding me into an instrument that He may use for His purpose, and I was undergoing a purifying and sanctifying cleansing by an all-consuming fire! Thank you, Jesus!
And when that terrible and beautiful "trial by fire" was complete, God delivered me from that Hellish work environment and an unstable boss. He rewarded me with a better job, a boss who respects me, and supportive and friendly colleagues. I spoke to my mountain. "But also if you say to this mountain, Be removed and be cast into the sea, it will be done." (Matthew 21:21). And my mountain was cast into the sea.
Location matters, but I had to get into the right location. So, as we pray, read the Word and preach the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a beating and purifying process of our spiritual man is taking place, and God is putting us in the right location!
~ Deacon Mike West
