A lot of things had happened recently. Too many to recount in fact. I've always loved how it is said that the Bible is just a glimpse of the great things of what Jesus did.
Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. John 21:25
I digress. Anyways recently in a family trip to Bali I saw and realized once more how time really flies. Everyone was getting older and more mature. Yet I truly haven't figured out what I wanted to do in life.
As I walked in the nearby beach called Pantai Jerman (not actual photo), I realized how frail life truly is.
That is nothing is permanent except God and His Word. The world is passing away along with its desire but whoever does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:15). That I needed to find out what my calling was. As I don't think being an entrepreneur suits me. Anyways, long story short, I found out what it was. That I needed to pursue God's glory and that means doing the best for Him. I needed to finish school even though I hate it.
What made me change my mind was interestingly from a devotional that shared how our Lord Jesus has extreme focus on His goal:
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Isaiah 50:4–11 contains the third Servant Song, wherein the prophet speaks of the suffering of the Messiah. In verse 7, the Servant expresses His complete confidence in God, declaring that He will not shrink back from His mission, despite severe suffering, opposition, and humiliation:
“Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame” Isaiah 50:7 (NIV).
Flint, a very hard, dark rock, is used figuratively in the Bible to express hardness, as in the firmness of horses’ hoofs (Isaiah 5:28), the toughness of an impossible task (Deuteronomy 8:15; Psalm 114:80), and the inflexibility of unwavering determination (Ezekiel 3:8–9).
Set your face like flint is the figure of speech the prophet uses to describe the Messiah’s unwavering determination to persevere in the excruciating task set before Him. Christ would endure humiliation on His journey to the cross to die for our sins. Nearly 800 years before it happened, Isaiah foretold the suffering of the Lord’s Servant:
“I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6; cf. Matthew 26:67; 27:26; Mark 15:19; Luke 22:63).
Luke echoes this resolute image of Christ set on saving His people: “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51, ESV). In Jerusalem Jesus would face arrest, torture, and agonizing death. With trust in God the Father to help and defend Him before His enemies, Jesus set off firmly and unflinchingly committed to finish His mission. There would be no backing out, and no enemy or accuser could deter Him from accomplishing His purpose. He had set His face like flint.
Staying on track in the Christian life requires setting our faces like flint. The apostle Paul teaches us to run the race with our eyes on the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24–27). Paul set his face like flint to finish his course: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12–14).
Nothing was more important to Paul than completing His God-given mission, no matter the cost:
“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God” Acts 20:24 (NLT).
Hebrews 12:1–2 also presents an excellent picture of setting our faces like flint: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
In a compelling sermon titled “The Redeemer’s Face Set Like a Flint,” Charles H. Spurgeon strongly urged believers to imitate the Lord’s steadfast determination: “My great object is to lead you to love him who so loved you that he set his face like a flint in his determination to save you. O ye redeemed ones, on whose behalf this strong resolve was made,—ye who have been bought by the precious blood of this steadfast, resolute Redeemer, come and think awhile of him, that your hearts may burn within you, and that your faces may be set like flints to live and die for him who lived and died for you!” (In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. 47, p. 362. London: Passmore & Alabaster).
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Dear Lord Jesus,...
Thank You for another Kairos moment in time. I sometimes wonder how wonderfully gracious You are. That a sinner like me who constantly offend You would be given mercy and opportunities to experience so much. Who am I? That a Lord so great may give me health, wealth, and most importantly faith in knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
I never knew O Lord of Your determination. I never knew how You set Your face like a flint when performing Your duty on earth. And what a wonderful determination it was!
Incredible focus.
I realized Lord how You continually trust the Father who is Sovereign to help. That You will not be disgraced nor put to shame. And with that assurance in mind, You press on.
Thank You Lord for reminding me of my own setbacks. The setbacks of my fear and anxiety. I often am fearful on how others might react when I do share the gospel. Fearful of the persecution that may happen. Fearful of my own safety towards the potential suffering. That hinders me from boldly proclaiming the gospel.
Please forgive me O Lord, for I have wronged You. In my capacity, I should work harder and do so much more. Thank You for using me back then to do Your work, it was scary and hard but through Christ I can do all things that seemed impossible. O Lord, please help me once more to burn through Your Holy Spirit. My job isn't to convert others. But it is too shine brightly in the midst of the world's darkness. In doing so reflecting of Your great gospel of how Jesus Christ defeated death. And rose again on the third day. Bringing salvation to all who believe in Him as their Lord and Savior.
Lord, I bring this short prayer into Your hands. I am a sinner. A vile one at that. How depraved is my soul! And yet Thou hast preserved me time and time again. Help me to be faithful O Lord. And to walk with You. Setting my face like a flint. To focus on the upward call of Christ. And to pursue of Your glory O Lord. How I wish all maybe come to repentance. Yet I believe that You have a greater plan than my foolishly foolish wisdom. Please use me once more O Lord. As I recommit my spirit once more. To set met my own face like a flint having the assurance that my Lord God helps me. To not be disgraced nor shamed. In bearing my own cross daily with focus.
Thank You for Your word that re-invigorates me, and may You be glorified forevermore... In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Updated on: July 16, 2024
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Credits: 📷 Minerals Kingdom
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