IN PURSUIT OF I know that I am not telling this exactly as it was written, so please forgive me if you have read this in its original content. Many years ago when I owned a sales company I use to tell this little story to my salesmen who asked me how to become successful. Even though this was used as a motivational tool, I believe it has great implications for us who desire true transforming revival today. There was once a man who in his youth became obsessed with finding true wisdom. His every waking moment was controlled by this pursuit. As he grew older the desire to know true wisdom became even more of a drive So he quit his job and began to travel the world looking for true wisdom. As his money started to run out he began to grow even more desperate to know true wisdom. In a small remote village, he was told that there was an old man that possessed what his heart and soul was screaming out for, to know true wisdom. He took his last few dollars and purchased the means to get to this aged man. When he arrived at the village he began to inquire as to the whereabouts of this man. He was told that he lived a lone at the peak of the mountain. This man looked to where they were pointing and before his eyes was the largest mountain that he had ever seen. He was undaunted by this large challenge because he had been taken by the cause to know true wisdom. He even muttered to himself that he was willing to give his very life in this pursuit. The next morning he stood at the base of this giant piece of rock and began his climb. With each step, with each new level, exhausted and cut up as he was he could not quit because his goal to know true wisdom was at the end of his climb. When he would slip and fall, he would dust himself off and continue to climb. eventually he reached his destination. Though battered and bruised from his climb, he pressed on to a small cabin. He entered and he discovered a very old man sitting in the center of the room. Our seeker of wisdom, ran and fell at his feet and began to tell this old man of his life long pursuit to know wisdom. The old man just listened and then asked him to meet him at the lake that was at the bottom of the mountain at 6AM the next morning. Slightly confused by the old mans response, because he supposed in his heart that his journey would end with the old man telling him something deep and earth shattering. He left with many questions swimming around in his tired mind. However, He reminded himself of all that he had gone through for the lions share of his life in his pursuit to know true wisdom and if the old man said to meet him at the lake at 6AM he was going to be there. As our seeker of wisdom tossed and turned all night unable to get any sleep because of his great anticipation of finally obtaining the object of his desire, to know true wisdom, with thoughts of what he was about to hear filled the night. The night wore on and finally sore and exhausted from his climb up and then down the mountain the day before, arose out of bed. He gave no thought to how physically exhausted he was or to the fact that he had forgotten to eat, he quickly dressed and shot out the door. This day he was going to be filled with the knowledge of true wisdom and he would not be late for this life changing appointment with destiny. He arrived at the lake only to find the old man standing waist deep in the water beckoning him to come out to him. As he approached the old man his level of anticipation grew with each step. He did not care how crazy this seemed today was the day that he was going to receive true wisdom. As he stood before the old man he was given just one command, Kneel down! With out hesitation our seeker of wisdom knelt down giving no thought that in doing so placed his chin just above the water. The old man took the palm of his hand and placed it at the back of our seekers head. Thoughts of what he was about to hear began to shout in his mind. Suddenly our seeker found his head being forced under the water. Seconds felt like hours as his lungs began to scream for air. Suddenly the old man grabbed his hair and pulled our seekers head out of the water and as quickly as he pulled his head out of the water shoved it back under. This was repeated a gain and finally our seeker of wisdom fought back and grabbed the old mans arm and pulled himself up out of the water. Choking and gasping for breath our seeker of wisdom got right up in the old mans face and began to scream at him. All the years of seeking wisdom, only having his hopes built up and finally ending in this crazy old mans attempt to kill him, poured out on the old mans ears. Without flinching the old man asked this question, Young man when you were under the water about to drown, what was the one thing that you wanted more than anything in the world? Our seeker of wisdom began to shout even louder, You crazy old man.......all I wanted was air! You were trying to kill me and I wanted AIR! The old man very calmly looked up at our seeker of wisdom and said, There you have it. You have the secret of finding true wisdom. Our seeker of true wisdom was now enraged and began to berate the old man. He shouted, What do I have? I have spent nearly my whole life seeking out true wisdom, I spent the last of my money to come to you. I almost lost my life climbing up and then back down your stupid mountain...and what do I get for fall all my effort? Soaking wet and half drowned...thats what I have now! The old man very calmly said, Young man, when you want to know true wisdom every bit, and desperate, as you wanted air when your head was under the water,....then you shall know true wisdom. Deuteronomy 4:29; But if from there you will you will seek, inquire for and require as a necessity, the Lord, your God, you will find Him if you truly seek Him with all your heart and mind soul and life.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 03:42:48 +0000