THE YET MODE

 Greetings O Ye Reality Dwellers...

As you live out your life...in what we call THE LAND OF NITTY GRITTY, we are continually faced with REALITY.  We do not DENY REALITY...because REALITY...is... well REAL...YET...

When you are face to face with reality...we have a choice.  You can either go into the DEFAULT MODE...aka FEAR/DOUBT/WORRY/ANXIETY MODE...or you can by CHOICE...go into the YET MODE.  That's what I love about the passage in Habakkuk 3:16-19.

In the book of Habbakuk...we see a prophet in the WONDERING MODE.  He looks around Judah and sees violence and wickedness...He see the wicked prospering and the righteous suffering...and wonders why God does not do something.  Over the next few chapters we see God utilizing the wicked to cleanse the wicked.  There is a KEY VERSE that will get the people through the cleansing...and it is hinged on their choice of MODES. 

"Behold...as for the proud one (Chaldeans)...His soul is not right within him...BUT the righteous (God's people) SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (Habakkuk 2:4)

When God says something ONCE...it is worthy of paying attention...BUT...when it is quoted three more times...LISTEN UP! (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38)  You get the idea that this thing called FAITH...is not a one time event or to be lived out intermittently...but it (faith) is THE LIFESTYLE OF THE RIGHTEOUS.  Of course we know that "there is no righteous...no not one" and that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23)  BUT...
something happened...that placed us in the RIGHTEOUS category...and IF we are RIGHTEOUS we are going to have to LIVE IT OUT LOUD...by this thing called FAITH.  (Hebrews 11:1; Hebrews 11:6; II Corinthians 5:21; II Corinthians 5:7)  The book of HABAKKUK gives us an example how and when this thing called FAITH can be LIVED OUT LOUD.

Habakkuk's prayer is..."...O Lord...REVIVE Thy work I the midst of the years...in the midst of the years make it known...IN WRATH REMEMBER MERCY." (Habakkuk 3:2)

The Chaldeans are known as...THE HOUSE OF EVIL. (Habakkuk 3:13)  Here in 2013...there is a lot of evil in this modern house...and it appears at time that EVIL WINS...RIGHTEOUS LOSE.

The reaction that we have is the one that we tend to default to FEAR/DOUBT/WORRY/ANXIETY  MODE is found in Habakkuk 3:16..."I HEARD and my inward  parts (belly) TREMBLED; At the SOUND my lips QUIVERED...decay enters my bones...and in my place I TREMBLE..." (Habakkuk 3:16)  The question is...WHY THE PHYSICAL REACTION?  The ANSWER..."because I must wait quietly for the DAY OF DISTRESS...for the people to ARISE WHO WILL INVADE US."

It is at this point that we enter into the land of THOUGH leading to the YET MODE.  THOUGH:

• The fig tree should not blossom
• There be no fruit on the vines
• The yield of the olive should fail
• The fields produce no food
• The flock should be cut off from the fold
• There be no cattle in the stalls

These six things...are REALITY.  What kinds of realities are you facing today.  THOUGH:

• The world is falling apart
• There be no money coming in
• The job market is dried up
• There is no money to buy what is needed
• The health is failing and no insurance is found
• Everything I once trusted has disappeared
• The doctor said...the mechanic said...the boss said...the president said...the d-evil said
• Fill in the blank of what you are facing

SO...what do you do IN THE FACE OF THESE REALITIES?  You don't DENY reality...BECAUSE REALITY IS REAL...but you do deny the reality the right to you rule your life.  You deny reality by thinking, speaking and doing the truth.  TRUTH TRUMPS REALITY. 
SO...what is truth?  Well Jesus praying to the Father answered this question.  "Father...sanctify them by TRUTH...THY WORD IS TRUTH." (John 17:17)

The YET MODE is a choice in the face of reality.  The words YET I WILL speaks of this choice.  The CHOICE then changes into a DECLARATION.  YET I WILL:

--Exult in the Lord
--Rejoice in the Lord
--I will rejoice in the God of my salvation
--The Lord God is my strength
--He has made my feet like hinds feet
--He makes me walk on my high places



FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

As I stand in faith....about ANYTHING...I am faced with the choice that...Either He is or He ain't...Either He will or won't...Either He can or He can't. I CHOOSE by an act of my VOLITION...my FREE WILL...based on His WORD and His WILL ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN...that He IS...WILL...AND CAN!!!!!!!!!!  What...is...your...choice?

Love and Faith Filled Kisses
Rodney "Living The Lifestyle" Boyd.