Shelf Life-Sometimes The Best Things In Life Are But For A Season.

For a long time I have said there is a shelf life to things like music, prophecy, beliefs even. The things that are eternal have no shelf life. (By the way “shelf life” simply means that the season of anointing, of grace, of glory has lifted or expired.) The things of legacy, timeless. We cannot live in the past. (Though we must look back in the past to the cross to see our place now. I do not want old slower computers or heavy TV’s or no cell phone.)

Conversely, I want to absorb the moment. I want to enjoy it. Savor it. I do like to get things done. So do many of my friends. Yet, each of us has learned the value of friends, family and community. We recognize the timing of the Lord and our acceptance. Lately I have noticed (perhaps it was always there.) that folks just want to “get ‘er done” and move on to the next project or experience. (Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians NLT “You say, “I am allowed to do anything”–but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”–but not everything is beneficial.”) Let me be the one to say “I get it.” I have been in that place. But I also recognize the need for legacy and building “forever.”(Remember legacy is eternal.)

Simon & Garfunkel sang “Slow down, you move too fast, You got to make the morning last” and the result would be you would feel “groovy.” Groovy or not, some other things may remain undone. Be aware of the “move too fast” time.

An old acquaintance of mine is doing this right now. He is getting ready to drag friends and family over the “cliff” for the sake of “his” ministry and his beliefs. He did not want to listen and that is okay. I think he felt my words would “spoil his fun.” He is on the “beat feet” track. Many of us have watched it time and time again.

Recently I met a person who is going through the mill with loss, when I questioned the value of their cataclysmic journey they responded with “Ain’t nobody got time for that.” When you are dealing with sickness or death, sing this song. But when life is crashing all around you and reality is getting close. Stop! While there is a value to momentum, sometimes momentum in the wrong season will just bring pain and hurt.

Just because you can…does not mean you should. I have been watching a lot of people doing things they can but perhaps ought not. An old wise woman said to me many years ago during a meeting where the speaker was citing some crazy stuff. “Just because you put icing on crap, doesn’t make it a cake.” The thought when things are not going well, sometimes is to “dress it up,” to repackage it. Let me be painfully clear, an old song with bad theology dressed up with snappier music, does not make it better. It may make you feel better, but it is not better. It will still put people in bondage. One time someone brought a dead branch into a service. They believed that God would grow leaves and fruit on it. I sat there thinking “wow! This is crazy.” Finally a little boy piped up, “it’s a dead stick. Go get a live one.” People gently chided him for his lack of faith. I sat there and I thought “wow, let’s get what is living.” I shared that and that was just as well received as the little boy’s outburst. Those people are not around. Many are licking their wounds, bemoaning life and its struggles. Instead of just saying, “God we missed it and we want you. What are you saying?”

A month ago, I prophesied from a vision I had. In the last 30 days I have watched vision play out and what I described happen no less than 5 times. It is getting ready to happen again. No one wants to believe God would interrupt your program or “destiny.” That God would get in the way. God is moving and setting people in place, where they need to be. In the seedbed of community and grace. He is shutting off the lights in lives forcing them to where they are to be…or not. Some will choose to live in the dark. To worship a “dead stick” awaiting the leaves and fruit as they stare.

Don’t let your season expire without value. For your shelf life to disappear leaving you pained and indifferent. (The other day I watched as someone poured the last cream from days gone by in their coffee. As the lumps poured out, I thought, “shelf life.”) Remain relevant, flexible and pliant.

God is in the moment. With you. Looking to see your response. Waiting to hear your words and your thoughts. He is patient. He is kind. Think about that. Your son or daughter will only be 5 years old for what seems like a moment. Live for the moment. Stop forcing everything to fit your schedule, your paradigm. God is not rushing you. This is the God who can see a “nation in a day” come to pass. The same God who can part the Red Sea again if need be.

Let me be real. As a prophetic voice, people either love me or hate me. That is okay. There are truths to the kingdom. Unchanging, unwavering truth. Those things are eternal. There are other things that will fall to the wayside. We love to prophesy, but one day, POOF! It will be gone. Do not be enamored with what is not eternal. Enjoy it, visit it, but do not get caught up in it.

UPDATE-We are in a season of great “uneasiness.” The waters are rising and the question is “how high?” (The Law will not save you. Even today I see the destructive force overtaking lives.) You may feel like those sitting on the rooftop of the floodwaters in Louisiana. But the Lord gave you the ropes and He is not going to take them back. Ask yourself today, “Is this the road I want to be on? Is this my journey?” Do you believe His blessings and mercies are new every morning? I see our uneasiness is less about our circumstance and more about our feelings of preparation. Our desire is to be “safe,” to not move. I see that we have talked the Word and there was a season of grace on it, but today the Lord is moving us to walk the Word. Walk the Word. I see many faced with decision. I see fear kicking up dust clouds of indecision. The Word is Life and He is Life. One need not look to what looks better (As Lot did.) but to know He is better. Your eyes have been on the obvious, the missing pieces, the lack and the “clues.” But the Lord is bigger than that. I heard “Lord of Sabaoth” (Lord of the armies of Israel, as those who are under the leadership and protection of Jehovah maintain his cause in war) and it is He who has empowered you. Stop looking for formulas, rituals and words. Look at the Word.

Some of you feel as you are slogging through mud. Have you looked to the side of the road? Have you seen the pathways in the grass? Others have climbed a tree to be safe, to look and see. The Lord is calling you down. Your season of isolation is over. Your search is ended. The people you disdained are actually where He is at. To those of you as stubborn as a mule, you once spoke the word to the prophet, you recognized the Lord in the road, but you have chosen stubbornness over relevancy. Yet, I would say to you your previous words were once good, yet they even saved many, but today, you are blocking the road with your stubbornness, your “don’t you know who I am” statements. Did you not feel the earth shake? There is a new road and you may walk this old road, but lonely you will feel. To you in fear, have you looked inside? Have you not seen who I AM?

We are in a new season, not just because it is a new month though 8 is the number of new beginnings. A season of great change. You said “Lord, get me out of here!” He is! His Branch Lives. His Life bears Life. His Way is the Way.