What would you do if you were commanded to live in a house atop a hill just outside the city?  In the house is nothing more than a bed and fire pit.  No one comes to visit.  And the command restrains you from going into the city.  Every day food is supplied so that there is no need to leave your post.

The road that goes by your hill is filled with travelers.  You are commanded to spend your days preaching to them.  They are not so far away that they can’t hear you.  But none will venture to ascend your hill.  What would you do?  Will you obey and remain?  Or will you abandon your God granted post? 

Patience.  Honorable service.  Dedication to God’s sovereignty.   Faith.  And a distinct lack of personal glory and honor are yours all your days.  What will you do?

Isn’t this what we are called to do?  We are to ascend to our place near the Lord.  From there we are commanded to proclaim regardless the response.  Can you count the number of us who have gone into the city?  How many of those tiny houses contain artifacts of man?   How did they get there?   The Lord did not put them there, nor did He have them delivered.

“I gave you legs.  How did you use them?   Did you seek My glory as you made step after step?   Or did you use them for uses of your own?

Arms adorned your temple.  Were they tools, raised for worship of Me?  Did you force them into My service?   Or have they gathered honor to yourself? 

David, My servant, admited that he was wonderfully and fearfully made.  And he went about striving to proclaim My sovereignty over all creation.  Day after day, men and women lift what I have made so that it is plainly seen that I am their God.  What about you?”

The cost is high.  The hatred for God runs deep.  Variety attends the imagination of man as he rebells against Him.  “This body is mine!”  And glory is stolen.  How do we expect to be welcomed as His friends?   If we steal while in flesh, what will we do in spirit?  What words will convince my brothers and sisters?   What will shove the mind into understanding?

This is not a place to gather.  It is a place to honor He who made us.  But lips are sealed, lest we offend.  “God is large enough to receive offence.  He will not harm us.  But man can take away our place.”  In one word we rob God of what is rightfully His.  It is not our place that is at stake.  All things have come from Him.  And we hatefully call them “Ours”.