The Church on the Cliff Top

There was a church which met on a cliff top.

One day God clearly spoke to this church.

He said to them…

“Look over the edge of the cliff.
That is Promised Land!
It is a Land of Goodness and blessings.
I am giving that land to you.”

Well, this excited the church!

Promised Land, we’re being given Promised Land!

So the church looked at the situation, and then thought to themselves, we need to take hold of what God has promised us.

We need to build a boat so that we can reach the Promised Land and we also need to build a lift of some kind to get the boat to the water.

God just thought, I didn’t tell you to do that.

But it was no good.
The church had set up it’s work groups and set roles and tasks to be completed, all the while looking at the island and saying to themselves.

God has given us the Promised Land, now we just need to take hold of it.

All there efforts did not go so well.

The cliff top was prone to erosion.

When ever the church started to build there lift, the cliff top would just give way and they would see all there efforts fall into the sea.

Eventually they noticed that the waves were always crashing against the rocks at the base of the cliff.

So even if they could have got the boat down the cliff, then it was only going to be smashed upon the rocks if anyone tried to sail it.

Eventually, disheartened, they sat down on the ground.

While they were still, God spoke again.

“Church, you see that road which leads away from the cliff, I would like you to walk down it.”

The church was nearing total breaking point at this.

“But GOD, you said that you were going to give us the Promised Land!
That’s the wrong way.
Look, the promised Land is over there.”

God answered…

“I know what I said.
Now, will you just trust me and take the path I have shown you.”

The church had little choice.

They stood up and took the path God had told them to take.
They were not to happy.
They kept looking back at the Promised Land, which they were walking away from.
There was a number who were grumbling, is this really the way to go???

As they walked along the path, the hedges grew taller on both sides of them so that the light grew dimmer.

After a while there was a break in one side of the hedges.

God spoke again.
“You see the hole in the hedge, step through it.”

As the church stepped though the hole they found themselves in an open field with a large helicopter in the middle of the field.

The pilot was by the helicopter and greeted the church warmly.

Ah, you must be the party for the Promised Land, I’ve been waiting a while for you to turn up.

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You see, God had it all worked out in advance.

He Knew that a boat was not going to work and as such had another plan already laid out.

Yes, the church did hear God correctly when he told them about the Promised Land that he was giving them.

But they needed to hear His instruction on how to take hold of the Land, instead of trying to work out all the details by themselves.

Can we sometimes be like the church on the cliff top?

Can we hear the vision of what will be, but then miss the instructions of how to achieve it?

Do we sometimes try to work the details out ourselves?

And if what we hear from God, appears to take us in the wrong direction, then will we still follow His promptings?

Will we trust Him with the small steps, as well as the vision?

John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

If there ever was a church on the cliff top, then how many times would God have been saying to them.

STOP! Turn around and take a different path.
What you’re doing is no good for you.
Come to Me and I shall lead you.

There may well be times when God is happy to let us carry on with what we are doing as it’s already in line with His will.

But there may be other times when He is saying to us, “Come to Me because I have another path for you.”

Will we be willing to follow His ways, where ever they lead us?

Father,
Thank you that you do Love and care for us.
Thank you that You are for us and that You want to bless us.
Help us to always hear Your words to us, so that we can, and always will follow You.
You are The Lord God Almighty.
The One we can trust.
You are our Good Father.
Thank You, Praise You, All Glory to You.
Amen