No turning back

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” -Luke 9:57 (NIV)

I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. -Isaiah 45:2 (NIV)

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I had to have a talk with my Buddhist mother to let her know I could not participate in the Buddhist funeral ceremony for my father. It had been weighing heavily on my heart for some time, and as the hour drew nearer to talk to her, I could feel my nerves overwhelming me, and I felt physically drained.

But as I drove to meet her for lunch, I heard the Moriah Peters song “Brave,” which has lyrics reminiscent of the hymn “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus” by S. Sundar Singh:

I have decided to follow Jesus; (x3)
No turning back, no turning back.

Though I may wonder, I still will follow; (x3)
No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me; (x3)
No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will follow; (x3)
No turning back, no turning back.

Will you decide now to follow Jesus? (x3)
No turning back, no turning back.

As I sped down the freeway, and then the roads leading to the meeting place, I pictured winged angels flying in formation before my car, behind it, and on both sides. I visualized the full armor of God–His armor of light–flying toward and attaching to my body, from head to toe–like Iron Man (but far better than that armor!). I felt a great ease overwhelm me as my stress melted away.

At lunch, the only available table was one we had to share with other people. I felt like the devil was trying to dissuade me and give me excuses to not have the talk. I asked God to show me the right moment, just as He did so I could witness to my father. He told me the right time would be at our next stop, the funeral home. I steeled myself to approach the spiritual bronze gates.

After we walked out of the funeral home, I told her first that I wanted to be as respectful as possible to her and my father, but I could not kneel or bow to anyone but God. And to my great surprise, there was NO resistance…NO friction or unhappiness. She said she knew about my new walk, and was heading to the temple to talk with the monks about making adjustments to their services, so that I would not participate in the Buddhist worship. I would instead sit in the front row, to honor my father with my presence, while honoring my heavenly Father above all.

God made the spiritual mountains flat as plains, and made iron bars and bronze gates vanish. But while I looked at the mountains, bars, and gates with my eyes and mind, they were intimidating and impassable. All God asked me to do, as He always does, was to believe. To let Him pour in His strength, courage, grace, and love into me, the vessel, and go with His flow. And, as always, He made a way.

When God urges you to take the uncomfortable route, step out in faith, and know that He will not leave you or forsake you. And in His will and timing, He will make a way where there seems to be no way, and use all things for the good of His children. God is good!