The ART of Growing Above the Flow

Back in 1998, I attended a conference in Reno. I had just finished up lunch with colleagues and began meandering through a sea of slot machines and the clinking of coins.

My thoughts drifted, and I recalled gambling away in old Eisenhower on a lark—and winning 20 bucks. Suddenly, the casino erupted with earsplitting chimes and bells. The rumors swirled about the megabucks slot that surrendered a purse in the millions. And I wondered… what are the odds? I remember a couple who cashed out an $800 million lottery ticket. Their odds were pretty good, about 1 in 292 million.

You cannot serve God and mammon

Mammon is more than money. It is an ancient deception rooted in the belief that God’s promises,, and provision, are not enough. It seethes beneath the surface, quietly draining men’s souls. Mammon’s vaults conceal its spoils of war and atrocities, the blood money of the martyrs. The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. In this coming golden age, mammon’s ocean of deception will rise, corrupting the desires of the rich and ensnaring the souls of the poor. Men will be lulled into contentment, feeling no need for God. Here’s a brief six-minute presentation with this narrative.

The good news is that God’s provision flows from His kingdom to those who seek Him first. Not just material wealth, but talents, spiritual gifts, and an inheritance that endures beyond this life. If you choose. God will prepare you for His vision. He’ll equip you to walk in your purpose. Or, if you feel lucky, take a chance on navigating life on your own. Roll the dice and gamble away your eternal inheritance. Unfortunately, many will sell their birthright to the highest bidder.

Most people don’t believe they’ve won anything in life. But we’ve all won the most miraculous prize. When we were born, we won the lottery of life—with odds impossible to comprehend, one in 400 quadrillion. A woman produces a couple of million eggs over her lifetime, but only a few hundred have a chance of being born. An average of 50 million sperm compete for one fertile egg. With those odds, doesn’t it make sense that God would have a purpose for us?

We are God’s miracles, each born with a profound birthright. But, unfortunately, many will sell their birthright to the highest bidder. Be watchful. The spirit of this technological age contends for the minds of humankind.

It entices with promises of limitless potential and a new era of self-discovery. It lures with the ancient seductive notion whispered in the garden. That humanity can ascend by awakening the divine within. Yet, these are false promises. Only Jesus can renew the human heart. Do not be conformed to this world, the God of this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Have you considered how you’ll spend the rest of your life? The Bible says, Many are called, but few are chosen. Could it be that men chase status and validation, only to find themselves empty?

All is vanity, squandered seasons, chasing what could never satisfy. Perhaps it’s something more subtle. Many drift through life, never finding the truth. Taught from the beginning that their lives don’t matter. Evolution tells them they’re a random accident. No meaning or purpose. They silence the deeper questions, hoping the emptiness will pass.

The truth is, God created you for eternal significance. Jesus reveals His Father’s vision, giving each life purpose and weaving every story into His eternal plan. He reveals the great mysteries and gives believers the authority to become sons and daughters of God.

All around us, signs reveal a world groaning for redemption. God is not concealing His vision. His divine blueprint is revealed through history in the lives of the patriarchs and matriarchs of old.

Jesus echoes his father’s cry. Call upon me, and I will answer you. I will show you great and mighty things, hidden mysteries you do not yet know. His word makes astonishing declarations about us. These are the deep things reserved for those who seek him. Truths so profound that even the angels long to look into them.

Jesus reveals his plan for redemption and restoration. He awakens your talents, unlocks your gifts, and equips you for the journey ahead. This is more than an invitation. This is a call to surrender your life to Jesus and discover your true identity.

The high calling of God in Christ calls us to embrace God’s vision and walk in our purpose in Him.

And now He’s asking us – Will you answer the call?