Page 107 - Sarah's Children

There is a joy set before all those who would deny themselves now in this life and
who would live to accomplish Yahweh’s purpose for their life. If we are focused on
gaining the things of this world and fulfilling our personal objectives and goals in
this life, then we may very well find some satisfaction for a time, but in eternity we
will find that we have traded that which is priceless for the fading treasures of a
fallen world. There will be much weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

There was a man who lived a generation ago who was expected to excel in the things
of this world. He was bright, attractive, and athletic. He was a standout in college and
many expected him to pursue the world’s course to fame and advancement. Yet
something transpired in this man’s heart where he saw the things of this world as
mere dung in comparison to the glory to come. He turned his back on the pursuit of
the things of the world and went to become a missionary to remote tribal people.

Neither the world, nor the majority of the church, understood his decision. They
asked why he would go this path. Jim Elliot responded, “He is no fool who gives what
he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” This life on earth is fleeting and
momentary. The path of the righteous is fraught with difficulty and pain and
suffering, yet the apostle Paul described these things in this manner.

II Corinthians 4:17-18
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of
glory far beyond all comparison, 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.

When we consider the life of Paul it seems incredible that he described these things
as a momentary, light affliction. How much more should we surrender our will,
goals, dreams, and aspirations to Yahweh and receive instead the knowledge of His
desire for us?

Christ is the head of man, so man is to have no head of his own. He is to live to
accomplish the desire of Christ. Similarly, man is the head of woman, and the
married woman has her husband as her head. She is to have no head of her own, but
she is to live to do the will of her husband. She is to surrender her aspirations, goals,
and desires and seek to fulfill the desire of her husband.

If there are but a few men who will truly walk surrendered to Christ, then we should
not be surprised that there are but the smallest remnant of women who will live
surrendered lives before their husbands. It seems unreasonable that a woman should
lay down her aspirations, dreams, desires, hopes, and plans for her life that she
might live to help her husband attain to the fulness of his calling. How rare it is for