"Life's Pits Prepares You For Eternity" by Bernard Smalls

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18


Last week, while surfing the web I stumbled upon some of Dr. Hilton Sutton's teaching on the end times. This birthed in me a desire to share some teaching about eternity. We tend to be so focused on the here and now that we as Christians often lose sight of the "big picture." While I was doing a study on the New Jerusalem and how wonderful and awesome the city will be, I felt the Lord inspiring me to do a series of study on eternity. I give Dr. Hilton Sutton and his ministry praise and credit for the insights I gleamed to develop this series.

LIFE
Life has diversity to it. Life also captures its diversity in the "seasons" we experience. Our life is a journey we are traveling each day into eternity. We must develop and maintain an eternal perspective to grow spiritually. This journey happens to be comprised of a variety of seasons or changes. Some of those seasons are warm and some are cold. There are times that seem rainy and other times sunny. We encounter fruitful seasons, planting seasons even winter seasons that makes up our total life experience. God created life that way. The seasons of life on earth prepares us for eternity. Until either the trumpet sounds and you are caught away (the rapture) or you pass from this life into eternity, your life has a purpose to God. God is now working what He is working in you to prepare you for eternity. God uses seasons of the good the bad and the ugly in this process called LIFE.

GOD USES THE PITS
Today, I want to talk about a season that is not pleasant - the season of winter. Many tend to deny that we will face seasons of winter and just go on claiming the blessing of God. God is good and wants you blessed, but a part of His eternal blessing is the seasons of winter that you go through. Nobody likes these seasons in the natural (including me, OB likes his stuff right and so do you). Have you ever felt the chill of a winter season, a time of unfruitfulness, where everything appears cold and non-productive? David understands this experience. He calls it a "pit." Here is the key: DON'T DO SOMETHING STUPID WHILE IN THE PIT!


"Deliver me out of the mire, And let me not sink;.. Nor let the deep swallow me up; And let not the pit shut its mouth on me".
Psalm 69:14-15 NKJV


"He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay..." Ps 40:2 NKJV



LIFE IS THE PITS!
We have all heard people say that their life is "the pits". I wrote about the pits in my book; THE LEMONADE PRINCIPLE available at www.lulu.com . Have you ever experienced a time that felt like you were in a pit? God speaks of David as a man after his own heart; "He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will." (Acts 13:22). Still David, the greatest King of Israel, the passionate worshipper of God, had seasons in his life that he felt in the pit.


"He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth - Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD". (Ps 40:2-3 NKJ)

I like the way David puts it. He calls it a horrible pit, not just a pit. I have been in a few HPs (horrible pits), have you? Maybe you are in one now. The key to overcoming the pit is to remained focused of the eternal weight of glory that God is working for you. Most Word of faith people tend to deny that God has anything to do with the pit. This teaching won't send you to hell, but is not complete. GOD'S OBJECTIVE IS NOT THAT YOU INSTANTLY HAVE EVERYTHING YOU WAVE YOUR MAGIC WAND OVER IN THIS LIFE! He has an eternal plan for you. You are training for reigning in eternity. In our micro-wave Christianity, we have lost the eternal point of view. I want to help you to get an eternal focus! A real Biblical Christian focus. God is preparing you for eternity! When faith seems weak and victory lost, start thinking about heaven and eternity and it will see you through to the manifestation you desire in this life. God uses life's bruises to prepare you for eternity.


GOD USES LIFE'S BRUISES!


The pit or winter season represents three things:

1. A low point in your life. The word pit means a hole, dungeon or prison. This low point is where the "lift" and confidence are taken out of your life. You feel trapped in the depths of discouragement and the darkness of despair, a prisoner of hopelessness.


2. Uncertainty around your life. David described this pit as a "horrible" pit. The word horrible means a crash, uproar of rushing noise. This is where your "faith" perspective is being challenged. The uproar of confusing voices crash into your thought realm and you begin to wonder if God is really going to help you or why He allowed you there. You wonder why it is taking so long for God to manifest His promise. You feel like a victim to a dream that will never see the light of reality. The scriptures describe it this way "Hope deferred makes the heart sick.." (Pr.13:12).


3. Lack of Stability in journey.

"Deliver me out of the mire, And let me not sink" (Ps 69:14-15). Mire is mud, and there is no firm footing in mud. This is a place where the ground you relied on has slipped out from under your feet. You feel that nothing is solid or dependable; you are just going around and around and getting nowhere. Your future seems bleak because you have no solid direction to follow after. Then some loving Christian comes to you and says; there must be sin in your life sister. But, you have examined your heart and your heart does not condemn you. (If your heart does not condemn you, don't let people)
The good news is that your journey does not end in the pit. A change of season is coming which produces a change of experience. The stage is being set by God and for God. You can trust God with your present and your future. On the other side of the pit God is completing the story where He will get the glory for the work He is doing in and through your life and circumstances. Ultimately God uses this "change of season" in your life to prepare you for eternity!


BUT BERNARD, EVERYTHING IS SO DEAD!
As you are reading this you may be thinking, "I feel like my life, my ministry, my marriage, my finances, my family is dead. Will God change my season to live again?" The answer is absolutely!! The trials or pits are working in and for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
The issue of the winter season is not over your present, but your future or eternity. God has not forgotten you, nor is your "winter" season intended to last forever. The season is about to change and you will come through it blessed in this life and with fruit for eternity.
God is setting the stage to manifest His Glory and power in the affairs of life. God can be trusted in your present and with your future.
God is presently working in you His will and His good pleasure.
God is also working to reach others to believe in Him and become followers of Christ. The pit causes change and prepares you for eternity. You are going through what you are going through It may not feel romantic or pleasurable, but keep your focus on eternity and this hope will purify you.

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; Titus 1: 2