Spring 1975
Reach for the Stars
Bill Britton
former Vice President of Pinecrest

There have always been men who walked in a realm beyond the limitations of their time and generation. While most men feel that they have to settle for the status quo, and seem satisfied with whatever is made available to their generation, there are some who are spiritual pioneers, who “reach for the stars.”

Enoch was such a man. The Bible says: “Enoch walked with God; and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). Now this may not seem like such a great thing to some of you, but let me remind you . . . Enoch did not live in a day when men were walking with God. It had been almost a thousand years since Adam had walked with God in the garden. After the fall, men had only the promise of death. The earth was filled with violence, and the ungodliness of men was a stench that reached to heaven. There were no churches in every village and hamlet. There was no saviour yet who had died for the sins of men. Saints of God were almost unheard of.

Yet in the midst of this, Enoch believed that he could reach beyond the limitations of his generation, and walk with God. Hebrews 11:5 says that Enoch pleased God. It also says that he was a man of faith, and that by faith he was translated that he should not see death. This was something unheard of. Adam had been dead for more than fifty years. Though men lived many years, yet no one had hope of escaping death. But by faith Enoch believed that he could. And he did.

The First Prophet

Enoch was the first one we read of who had a “Thus saith the Lord.” We read in Jude 14 that “Enoch prophesied, saying Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all.” Now Enoch as only the seventh from Adam, and he lived in a day when we can hardly find a half dozen saints, let alone ten thousand. Yet he looked far beyond his own day, and saw into the great Day of the Lord when the saints of God would execute a great victory over evil in the earth.

I realize that today we are living in a time of evil, a time of death. War, famine, and pestilence will take the lives of millions. The outlook is very dark. But don’t hold me down to this death realm, for like Enoch, I believe there is a greater place in God than men are seeing in this generation. Like Enoch, I am laying hold of the Life of God, and “reaching for the stars.” Glory to God!

Noah Found Grace

Noah had never heard Enoch prophesy. He had never heard Adam tell of the wonders of the Garden of Eden. He was born at a time when the wickedness of men was so great that it was causing God to repent that He had ever made man. There seemed no hope for mankind. The word of the Lord had been spoken: “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth.” Judgment seemed inevitable. Noah had no one to encourage him in the ways of righteousness, or a five-fold ministry to help perfect him. He lived in a day of wickedness and judgment.

But Noah would not settle for the lot of other men. Genesis 6:8 says: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” “But Noah . . .!” There have always been those who stand out from others by their refusal to conform to the ways of the world. And this man was an outstanding example. Ezekiel 14:14 lists him as one of the three who could deliver their souls by their righteousness. Hebrews 11:7 says that Noah was a man of faith and that he believed the warning of God concerning things not seen as yet, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. And it was not only himself he was interested in saving, but the Bible says that he prepared an ark “to the saving of his house,” as well as the inhabitants of the beast realm.

Let Me Go On in God

I know this is a day of wickedness and judgment. I realize that the word of the Lord has gone forth against this generation of religious and moral decay. But I have had a warning from God; “Build an ark!” There is deliverance from judgment. Not only for myself, but others also who have never heard from God. For when the Ark is ready, they will come in. I realize that even the preachers are preaching that righteousness and perfection cannot be reached in this life. But I have heard from God that I can find grace in the eyes of the Lord. Let me alone. Let me reach for the stars. I refuse to be held down to this realm of sin and judgment. I am pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. If you cannot receive such a word, walk where you must, but let the pioneers of faith press on in God. They cannot stop until, like Noah, they step out into a new earth, full of the righteousness of God.

Give Me a Double Portion

Elisha was a young man, the son of a judge. He was a strong, husky young man, and a hard worker. He had a good future, and no doubt would have been able to have a nice farm and a fine family. But one day while he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he was with the twelfth, the prophet of God came by where he was working and cast his mantle over the boy. His life was immediately changed. He had heard the call of God for a higher calling. He left his oxen and began reaching for the stars.

Elijah was the greatest prophet of that day, but he was very unpopular with the government. In the natural, it was not an easy choice for Elisha to make. But God had chosen wisely. He had picked a man to succeed Elijah. This was a large calling and required a man of daring faith. Elisha was that man.

His ministry did not start in a blaze of glory. He began by being a servant to the man of God. He washed the dishes, the clothes, the prophet’s feet. He carried the wood and built the fire and did all the other necessary but menial jobs while Elijah spent his time seeking the face of God. This is where many men fail their calling. When the ministry turns out to be less than spectacular, they decide to go back to their “oxen.” But Elisha kept plugging ahead on his way to the stars. If it took humility, he would take the low seat. If it took faithfulness, he would pay the price. Whatever it took, he had a spiritual stubbornness that made him determined to go all the way. He had heard from God. Nothing else mattered.

Ask a Hard Thing

Elisha received no encouragement in following Elijah. Everywhere he went the sons of the prophets tried to discourage him. His answer was: “Hold your peace.” Even Elijah tested him three times, but his answer was “As the Lord liveth, I will not leave thee.” He had no elders in the church to give him a word of encouragement or to pray him over the obstacles. He could not run home to mother and dad for a few days to rest up and relieve the tension. All he had was his determination to see this thing through and receive that which he felt belonged to him by virtue of his call in God.

Finally they are across Jordon. He has just seen a tremendous miracle by the hand of the prophet. It is time to get his inheritance. The question comes: “Ask what I shall do for thee.” Can’t you just hear this young man’s humble answer as he stands before the great man of God? Here was Elijah who had stood before King Ahab and judged the nation of Israel for her sin. Here is the one who had spoken the word that withheld the rain for three and a half years, and then had stood alone against 400 prophets of Baal and defeated them with a mighty demonstration of the power of God. Ask, says the prophet. The young Elisha looks at him. What do you think he asked for? “Let me be just half the prophet that you have been, and I’ll be satisfied?” No, no. His faith reached for the stars as he cried out “I want TWICE what you’ve got!” Glory to God, what a request! You know the story. He received so much of the life of God that he caused iron to float, poison pots to be nutritious, the dead to be raised to life again, and the ditches to be filled with water. He healed the leper, fed a multitude on a few loaves of bread and a handful of corn, and caused the widow’s pot of oil to flow until all her debts were paid. At his word, barren women brought forth sons, and he captured an entire army single handed. And when he finally goes to be with the Lord, his body still has so much of the life of God in it that a dead corpse that is accidentally thrown in the grave on top of him comes to life and goes running off.

Don’t Fence Me In!

Praise God, with examples like that in the Word, I am encouraged to ask largely of the Lord. We are dealing with One who is able to do for us exceeding abundantly above what we can ask or think! Do you think you can bankrupt heaven? Well, think again. Think with the mind of the Spirit, and come up with a heart full of living faith. Rise above your circumstances. Don’t be bound to the limitations of your generation. You don’t have to stand and stagnate in the status quo. You can reach into that which God hath prepared for them that love Him.

God has had men who have quenched the violence of fire, stopped the mouths of lions, turned to flight the armies of the aliens, and subdued kingdoms. He is not going to stop with that. He is looking for pioneers of faith who dare to reach for the stars. He wants a people who will break forth upon this world with such a manifestation of His glory that all creation will be set free from the curse of death that is upon it. Be that man! Be that woman! Let faith and courage flood your soul! Look beyond the earthly limitations. Reach for the stars!