“Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.” Act 9: 13-14
I never fully understood how much stuff I had until it was time to pick up and move. In that moment, everything that I owned had to be organized, sorted, and compartmentalized. Where did we get all these clothes? Why are there so many hangers, cups, and dishes? Everything, all our stuff, had to be boxed up and labeled. It all must have a place, and a purpose. To a certain extent, the exact same thing happens within us. We are always learning, categorizing, and compartmentalizing; consciously and unconsciously. Gradually, comfort zones begin to form, along with peer groups, and places of interest. The whole of who we are labeled and compartmentalized just like our homes; this can go on with interruption; until God tells us it is time to pick up and move.
In Acts chapter nine we find the conversion of Saul to Paul. Saul was a Pharisee; he persecuted the Christians until God struck him down. Saul was then converted and in the process his sight was taken from him. During this time, the Lord was working on another man named Ananias. Ananias was a disciple and no doubt an active member in the church. The Lord came to him in a vision and told him that he was to go see Saul and put his hand on him that Saul might receive his sight. He told him that Saul was praying. Ananias responded much like many would: “I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.” Ananias had already organized, sorted, and compartmentalized Saul. He knew his reputation, his conduct, and that Saul was not the kind of guy you laid hands on. Ananias initial response was one of a man who was being pushed out of his comfort zone. He was being called to pick up and move. Saul was an unknown and it would take faith to obey the Lords will. Ananias had Saul all boxed up in his own mind, but what we must remember is that when you are a disciple of Christ it is not your will but His. We may have a certain person or situation labeled and boxed up, but when God calls you to move, it doesn’t matter, we must yield to the call. The more we compartmentalize and standardize, the harder it becomes when it is time to pick up and move. Jesus told Ananias to “go thy way” that Saul was a chosen vessel; and Ananias resolved that God’s way was his way, and he went to the house where Saul was and laid hands on him that he might receive his sight. Ananias trusted God, picked up, and moved.
In our sanctified life, we are continually called to pick up and move. Moving from one situation or circumstance to the next where we must trust God. At times, it may be a physical move, like, to another town, city, or country. Or the move may be a ministry, or relationship that you must develop or let go of. When you are a disciple of Christ you have crucified yourself and it is His will and not yours. Are there going to be comfort zones, and social groups that you trend towards? Sure. Most folks are not jumping up and down to go preach to inmates on death row, or live with the elderly full time, but that’s why it's sacrifice, and that’s why it's faith. As Christians we must realize that God is not in a box (and certainly not our box); just because you feel comfortable preaching to the white middle class doesn’t mean he wants you to only preach to the white middle class. When it’s time to pick up and move we must. It may be hard and uncomfortable, and it might cause us to re-evaluate ourselves, but in the end, it is always “thy will be done”; and trusting that His will is best.
