Ochi Mark

You may or may not have noticed on every product you purchase, small stickers with the word OK inscribed on it. If you have, great, for others who may never have noticed, it is the sign of approval that products receive because it passed the test of purpose usually called quality control test.

In my last post I mentioned the concept of Creator, Creation and Purpose in which I wrote on the sovereignty of God. Permit me in this post to show you another vital part of that relationship that we often miss. It is the part that concerns approval and release.

The glory and pride of every creator is the ability of his creation to perform as he has boasted. This is a universal principle that governs every creator, in order to achieve this, every product is put through a series of measured rigorous test to certify its ability to meet the creators expectation. When a product passes the test, it is accepted and released to the market to perform the creators intention. This approval is what is expressed by those small coloured stickers with the OK inscription.

When we are satisfied with a products performance, unknown to us is the fact that we are enjoying the outcome of a rigorous test. In the same way, God puts us through various test in order that we may perform His full counsel. The more test we go through, is indicative of the quality that God has put in us He seeks to put on display.

Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character. Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door. Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household; he became ruler over all the king’s possessions. He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased and teach the king’s advisers. Psalms 105:17‭-‬22 NLT

The story of Joseph is one we love to tell, especially because it serves to show how God can take one from a difficult position to one of prominence and influence. Hidden in the Joseph's experience is a principle that all who will be released or commissioned to display Gods glory must need pass through. That is everyone hoping to be trusted by God to do His will or become His agent must go through the test of His approval. Until Joseph's character was tested and approved, the prison door was not opened, he could not be put in charge of the Kings household or possession, nor could he instruct the kings aides as he pleased or teach the kings advisers.

This may sound challenging for some but God is faithful to observe the law of testing or quality control. What is that law? It is the law of purpose, which does not allow any creator to test a product for what has not be built into it.

For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. 1 Corinthians 10:13 AMPC

Hallelujah! God is faithful the bible says, in this season of your trial and testing, let it be known to you that nothing strange is happening to you. It is a prerequisite of life, God is watching over your test so that what is required of you does not exceed what already is in you to deal with it. Herein is the way of escape.

God made a boast of you because of what He knows you carry in you, so you are tested today. But I see God putting His mark of approval on you soon, stay true to Him.

There are questions that you get asked that shakes you to the core. Not because you don't already have an answer for yourself but for fear of how the answer may affect the questioner. The question was " if I discovered my situation is irreversible and God has decided not to do anything about it, what will I do?"

I get questions like this every time because of my unique office as a Pastor, so this was no surprise, besides I am my worst critic so I get to ask myself this kinds of question very often. However, I will now attempt to answer this question in hope that I give perspective to some who may have similar questions and I believe God has trusted me with His Spirit.

At the core of this question is the acceptance of what seems like the frikle hand of fate, but in actual sense is a struggle with the will of God. Let me give this a little perspective, in the face of COVID 19 one may ask did all who died so far deserve to die? Was it a fault of theirs that they contracted the virus in the first place? Why did God allow the disease ? These are the questions that some of us are faced with and may not find expression, for fear of what people may think. Questions like this are not out of place in themselves, they rather help to establish our faith in God if we are genuine.

These questions boarders around the sovereignty of God. Every time you see the expression the LORD in the bible it is with regard to the sovereignty of God. What does this mean? It means that God is master, owner and possessor. In that capacity He is at liberty to do what He wants any how and when without fear of repremand or judgement.

To appreciate this, it is needful to have a basic understanding of God with regard to the universe and events that happen in it. Firstly, is the concept of Creator, Creation and Purpose. Herein lies the key to a fulfilling life on earth regardless of who we are or the events that happen to us.

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” Genesis 1:26 NLT

This scripture is pivotal in understanding the concept of Creator, Creation and Purpose. God is the creator, we are His creation and we were created on purpose. Therefore, as a creation my owner is God, I don't create my purpose He decided that before I was ever created. In fact, He created me to fill a need in His universe. Hence I cannot have an agenda whatsoever.

Moses learned a hard lesson in this regard. Created for the purpose of taking Israel to the promise land, he lost sight of his purpose when for one moment he got angry and acted without reference to God. Moses will himself tell this sad tail of truncating his journey of purpose when he speaks in Deuteronomy.

“At that time I pleaded with the Lord and said, ‘O Sovereign Lord , you have only begun to show your greatness and the strength of your hand to me, your servant. Is there any god in heaven or on earth who can perform such great and mighty deeds as you do? Please let me cross the Jordan to see the wonderful land on the other side, the beautiful hill country and the Lebanon mountains.’ “But the Lord was angry with me because of you, and he would not listen to me. ‘That’s enough!’ he declared. ‘Speak of it no more. Deuteronomy 3:23‭-‬26 NLT

Moses sounds disappointed but resigned to the will of God for him. He shows from his statement that he understands the place of Creation with the Creator when he acknowledges God as LORD and sovereign. As much as he would have loved to enter the promise land, God the sovereign was done with him on the matter. Try as much as he would to convince God, He would not hear of it. Moses is not alone in this, Elijah suffered the same end when he asked God to take his life and God will instruct him to annoint two individuals to continue His work.

Let me sound a note of warning here, we are only as important as we meet the expectation of the creator. Whatever happens to us in the course of our experience on earth, what is most important is staying true to our purpose.

This may be tough for some to accept and I understand why. The greatest challenge that humanity has is the place of our will. By this I mean that the struggle with taking our proper place in Gods eternal scheme is the conflict of our will. Our will is a perfect gift from God, it is the place of genuineness, unless we serve God willingly, our worship is vain and unacceptable to God.

With this in mind, if faced with the situation in the question i will rejoice in one thing alone and that is what I constantly strive to do. Be pleasing to God and accept His will for me, in the end He is the one to whom I owe my existence, my only audience and the one before whom I will account.

I don't know about you, may God find you pleasing in His sight, may His countenance shine on you, may He give you the clear vision and understanding that He owns you and will require of you an account.