A new destination
Set new goals and seek renewal in Christ.
‘Grande Dame’
As most of you likely know, I am a true-born Rotterdammer. Born shortly after the war, I often wandered through that bombed-out city in the fifties. I spent whole afternoons in the harbour. All that activity… I found it fascinating. And then those colossal ships of the Holland-America Line at the Wilhelminapier were stunning. Or the warships that moored at the Boompjes, with that magnificent view over the Nieuwe Maas. One ship, for me, remains the absolute icon of that era: the ss. Rotterdam.
The story of the ‘Grande Dame’ continues to move me to this very day. Years later, after faithful service, the ship seemed simply ready for the scrapyard. End of the end of the line. But nothing could have been further from the truth: she was given a second life, a completely new destination! She had to be towed to a shipyard, as she had no engine power of her own, but dedicated professionals set to work on her with absolute commitment. The costs spiralled, certainly, but eventually, she returned to her home port, transformed. Once again with a brand-new purpose, but now as a hotel with various onboard restaurants.
Precisely that image appeals to me so deeply. God has something similar in mind for us. He wants that new beginning; He, too, wants to give your life a brand-new destination.
Setting new goals
That is why I want to challenge you to stretch out toward that new destination, to set different, new goals for your life. You may leave what has been behind you. Be thankful for it but now focus completely on the future.
Every self-respecting organisation sets goals, a plan for the coming years to grow, to tap into new markets. It is an ongoing process of development, and similarly, there should be an ardent prayer in your heart: “Lord, I want to move forward with You. I want to be used more. I want to live even closer to You. To be more devoted.”
This is a starting point to leave behind everything that was complacent, lazy, or reserved—anything you experienced inner resistance toward. It is an encouragement to reach your new destination, just like the ss. Rotterdam. A new time in which you fully commit yourself to God’s plan for your life, the church, and the city where you live. In short: to be occupied with the Kingdom of God.
Where is your heart attached?
This is a profound question, and one that deserves honest self-examination. I don’t say this lightly. I am aware that our hearts can become attached to all sorts of things: our good name, our reputation, pride in our experience or Bible knowledge, the appreciation of people, our position in society or the church community.
What do you keep as the most important treasure in your chest, in your heart? If we could look inside, what would we find? What do you truly consider most important in your life right now? Do you know your own heart? Do you know your deepest motives? I hope your heart is filled to the brim with the goodness of God.
It begins with love for the Word
The words of the Lord deserve our undivided attention. Just think of the twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple. He sat among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was astonished at His understanding and answers. How could He answer them? Where did that spiritual insight come from? How could Jesus withstand the devil in the wilderness? Simply: He wielded the Word of God. He knew the Scriptures inside and out. He had discernment because He had learned to know His Father’s thoughts.
How did He become aware of His calling and step into His ministry? He knew the Scriptures and knew how they applied to His life. He was filled with God’s Word, completely familiar with the Father’s words. To stand as a conqueror in the spiritual battle and consciously embrace your position in the Kingdom of God is only possible if you live close to the Word and the Holy Spirit.
The danger of superficiality
We are often far too little occupied with delving into God’s Word; into the way God wants to speak to us. I think of the image of a painting, a masterpiece, and a Rembrandt for example. Superficial viewers quickly walk past it without truly giving it attention. It is the details that make it a masterpiece: the lighting, the facial expressions, the composition. All those nuances escape the superficial viewer, even though the creator’s intent was precisely in those details.
The same applies to God’s Word. Many people treat it superficially. They read over it lightly without seeking the depth, the full content, and the meaning for their own lives. Then they are surprised when victory eludes them. Then you see that they are insufficiently aware of their powerful position in Christ, simply because the Word does not live in them.
A special season
This can be a season of renewal through the Holy Spirit, a time for new steps in serving God. In what ways, then, can we receive a new destination, experience renewal? May the Lord appear to you? Again? Repeatedly? Perhaps you have already had an encounter, but sometimes a renewed moment is needed: a new surrender, a fresh anointing, a renewed dedication. Arriving at that new destination.
He wants to meet you in your own home. He knows your life. He knows you are sometimes in the heat of battle, but He comes to seek you out. He comes especially for you.
The right attitude
Make sure you have the right attitude to meet Him. Is your life one of worship? Have you truly bowed? Know this: whoever has learned to bow will not break. That is an absolute truth: whoever has bowed before God will not be broken by the evil one. God seeks worshippers—people who pour out their hearts, who let their praise be heard, whose entire lives are worship to God. God is seeking you. He calls you to meet Him in true worship.
Prayer life
Is this your fervent plea for God’s blessing? How much we need the Holy Spirit in our lives. I have noticed that as you get older, you begin to see the relativity of all human effort more clearly. The results of all your own work so often turn out to be in vain. If God is not in it, it will never be lasting, never bear permanent fruit in your earthly life, your spiritual life, or the work in the church.
We live in such a hurried time that prayer suffers as a result. We don’t allow ourselves rest, and we rarely get the chance to truly come to rest. So much is expected of us. That is why this (autumn) holiday period can bring a refreshment to our faith life: more time for reading and prayer. Samuel received the prophetic in the silence. Jesus sought out prayer in the quiet. In the same way, silence can be the place where God wants to reveal something prophetic to you.
Growth in Christ
The Lord wants to dwell in a pure temple, where all impure intentions have been removed. Make Him comfortable. Is the Lord enjoying Himself with you? Perhaps a strange question, but still. Your life is a house for God. Does the Lord feel at home with our behaviour, our words, our thoughts, our actions, our considerations, and our motives? Then there is no room for complacency. Above all, do not go your own way. Let the Holy Spirit take the helm in your life. Let HIM determine the direction.
Take a clear step
Believe in that new destination. Rise up from your comfortable surroundings and surrender completely. Do you expect to receive something special again in the coming time? Do you also expect to give something special? Is there still a real expectation for new things from God in your life?
Then open the door. The latch is on the inside. It is a conscious choice of your heart to open. Not just a crack, but without a safety chain, without reservation or restraint. Give the Lord the place that is rightfully His.
@ Wim van Putten