Stop, Drop, Roll

On Sunday morning, June 23, God wakened me with the words stop, drop and roll. I thought it curious because my mind went to a silly movie where the evasive military tactic was exaggerated comically. But as cognizance grew in those early hours I began to search my spirit for what the Spirit was saying.

God instructed me to STOP having my own opinion. I've always told people, only half joking, that I can only have my own viewpoint or opinion, for if I change it, it will still be my opinion. Yet sometime back God assured me that He does not have an opinion, He is truth. But I have an opinion about everything, so I have an opinion about God's purpose and plan in my life. I understand that human reasoning is deceitful at best. It is based on so many things that are half true or not true. I was reminded that the Holy Spirit is here to lead us into all truth. The word “repent” means to change your mind. In Bible context, it refers to realigning our thinking to God in agreement with His truth. So my first action should be to stop the thoughts that disagree with God's Word both written down and Spirit Breathed, to stop every opinion that originates in mankind's wisdom and reason and submit wholly to the truth and plan of my God. He's been taking me there for years but now he is teaching me a tactic for warfare in my own flesh.

As I contemplated the second command -DROP- the Spirit reminded me of an incident with my father when I was a young teen. My dad was a God appointed evangelist though he never claimed to be such. He didn't preach great campaigns. He did speak regularly in prisons, jails, nursing homes and sometimes churches. But he told people everywhere he went the story of his own redemption and about the love and grace that God offers to give mankind new life and relationship with God for eternity. He was constantly mentoring someone toward the Father.

One night we invited a family over to dinner. Dad had been witnessing to the man about salvation. But in the course of the evening, the man pointed to a deck of cards on a buffet in our home and said “As long as you have those, don't tell me about how God has changed your life.” My dad picked up the deck of cards. Put them on the front porch in a metal pan and lit them on fire. He said that while he didn't see it as sin to play cards in his own home, for one person to spend eternity in hell for his right to play cards was unthinkable. I don't know if the man ever came to Christ, but I know dad didn't replace the cards.

I'm not saying that Christians should spend their time man-pleasing or be wishy-washy about their belief in right and wrong but there are things that hinder us in accomplishing God's plan for our lives. I can justify anything with enough carnal reasoning but what is the cost if God is saying “drop it”. Paul said “I'll be all things to all men that I might win some.” It was his mission, his calling, his purpose. I don't believe we have to follow man's plan or man's idea of morality. Carnal righteousness is useless. But we must follow the Holy Spirit if we would enter into God's plan in God's power.

“Let's ROLL!” I had not thought of it for years. Sunday morning, God brought it to my mind. The passengers on that doomed flight 9-11-01 saw the enemy's tactic. They formed a plan and then they said “Let's roll” knowing they were giving their lives to defeat the enemy's plan and save others. We can argue that they were going to die anyway, but the truth is they were brave enough to act on what they knew. Few of us will give our last breath to crash the enemy's plan, but God has a place for each of us to stand effectively in the Kingdom. God's goal is the redemption of man and the coronation of Jesus and we each have a place in accomplishing that. God will succeed with or without our part. But what a cost to give it up for opinion, distraction, insecurity, or fear.

I get sidelined by the flesh, by desires and opinions. The enemy's accusations cause me insecurity The world -sometimes even the community of believers- brings distractions. At times, the battle seems so huge and there are so many things to fear in the natural. In Isaiah 8, the prophet says “Prepare for battle and be shattered! Devise your strategy, but it wile be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us.” He assures us that only God is to be feared and He is our sanctuary. What a statement!

When the battle comes at me or when I see that I've stepped aside into the line of Satan's fire, I have a plan that is both evasive and aggressive: STOP, DROP and ROLL. Let's do this.