GOING, NOT KNOWING

My Daddy had a lot of War stories.  In particular, I remember him telling me about when he received his orders to "Ship-Out".  The order simply said "destination unknown".  He was on a mission that required secrecy to the point that not even he knew the plan.  When he said good-bye to his Mother (my grandmother), he couldn't even tell her where he was going, when he would return, or what he would be doing; his Orders were "unknown".  He said that was the hardest part, "not being about to assure his mother that he would return".  Daddy said that he was in the middle of the Atlantic ocean before he was told where he was heading, but he still didn't know what to expect.

Actually, that kind of mission is nothing new for those whose Commander-in-Chief is Jesus Christ.  He often asks us to ship out, orders unknown.  Whether or not we do, determines whether or not we experience the plans He designed for us.

Paul understood this "sealed orders" thing - as evidenced by his response in Acts 20:22.  The elders from the church in Ephesus were very afraid for Paul as he considered going back to Jerusalem.  They knew there was major danger awaiting him there.  Here's Paul's response:  "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there."  In fact, Paul did get attacked and he got arrested in Jerusalem.  But that arrest led him to fulfilling his lifetime ambition - to carry the Gospel to Rome.  And he was transported there as Caesar's guest - at Caesar's expense!

Now it could be that your Lord is pushing you in a direction that has no map, lots of questions, and not many specifics.  You only know that there is this Holy Spirit compulsion to take that step.  It may very well be that your Lord is asking you to board that ship - orders unknown.  All you know is that He wants you on that ship.

Remember, God usually leads by revealing one step at a time, not the whole plan.  Your mission is to take the next step.  And God's leading tends to work this way - you take a step, you see a step.  The waters of the Jordan River didn't part for God's ancient people until they stepped into the water.  It's like that automatic door at the grocery store.  The door only opens as you start walking toward it.

Soldiers of Jesus ship out even when their orders are unknown. And when they do, amazing things start happening - waters part, doors open, enemies flee, walls fall down.  "Going, not knowing" - that is often the path to the greatest victories you have ever seen!