Sunday, December 12, 2010

Love Not The Plains

That's the title of a powerful book written by Obanubi Samuel, a co-laborer in the vineyard. As the year runs to a close, I can't ignore the inspiration to share some excerpts from the book with you. Enjoy it.

What Do You See?

'Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me; if thou wilt take left hand then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right, then I will go to the left.  And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain or Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as thou cometh unto Zoar.(Gen. 13:9) KJV

 A plain from a geographical angle refers to a level land, a flat land or a table land.  it is enriched with minerals deposited over the years by flood.  It is also a land suitable for agriculture and settlement because of its topography.

In the passage quoted earlier, Abram was trying to avert any trouble or misunderstanding that may likely arise hence the need for the separation.  Lot saw this as an opportunity to play a fast game on his uncle.  He became myopic.  He could not see beyond the plains of Jordan. 

Abram who ought to make his choice before his cousin instead showed humility by giving that grace to Lot.  Abram had a focus; he had a foresight of what the future will be.  He realized that he needed not satisfy the present alone but instead built a store house for the future.

With this insight, may I ask you in your present state what do you see?  Are you satisfied or contented with the state of things in which you are now? Can you see a better expectation? Are you seeing satisfaction in that plain before you just as brother Lot saw satisfaction in the grassy well watered plain? Ask yourself again and again. What do you see?

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