Spring 1986
The Law Of Contrast
Wade E Taylor

Recently, I was privileged to speak at a ministers retreat north of Anchorage, Alaska. A week after I returned home to Pinecrest, I left with Dr. Richard Forde, a teacher at Pinecrest, to go to Barbados, an Island in the southern part of the West Indies where he has a home, for an intensely needed time of rest, and to spend time in prayer.

When I left Anchorage, Alaska it was considerably below zero. The wind was driving the snow that was falling, and the cold was bone chilling. When I arrived in Barbados, it was 85 degrees and the sun was brightly shining on the palm trees and the multicolored flowers that were everywhere.

Both Alaska and Barbados were outstanding in their own ways. I had exchanged majestic mile high, barren yet impressive, snow covered mountains and ice glaciers for palm and coconut trees, along with the beautiful flowers and fruit trees that were everywhere. The contrast between Alaska and Barbados made a lasting impression on me.

Many truths in the Scripture are established thru contrast. An example is in Luke 3:2. "Annas and Caiphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness". Here, the religious system of that day is contrasted with a man clothed in a leather girdle, alone in the wilderness, but through whom God could speak. The irony and contrast in this passage of Scripture is intense.

Another example is the life of Abraham which is contrasted with that of Lot. Or, Isaac who is contrasted with Ismael, or the life of Jacob contrasted with that of Esau. In the New Testament, Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus is contrasted with Martha who served.

As I meditated on the contrast that I saw so vividly between Alaska and Barbados, the Lord quickened these Scriptural contrasts to me and I saw a principle at work.

In each of the above situations that were set forth in Scripture through contrast, the natural line sought its own way and end, while the spiritual line was dependent on an act or intervention of God for its establishment and provision. In 1 Corinthians 15:45 we are told, "For that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterward that which is spiritual".

Initially, the natural seemed to flourish, but ultimately the spiritual line was brought forth to establish His purpose and glory. The contrast in each of these instances in Scripture is very pronounced and meaningful.

Pinecrest has struggled for years under an intense financial burden. Through the goodness of the Lord, and His people who were willing to give, this has in a large measure changed. The "line of the natural", the financial struggle, no longer predominates. Now, Pinecrest can enter a new day in which the emphasis can be on the "spiritual line", the bringing forth of His higher purpose in training lives to know His presence, His anointing and His voice.

In our society, we have been taught that "bigger is better", and that "quantity is the sign of his blessing". Yet in the Scriptural examples, this is clearly disproven, as the establishing of the "Spiritual line" required a time of testing and suffering. Then the Spiritual line flourished, after Divine Intervention and provision.

This pattern and principle has found its outworking in the life of Pinecrest, which was called to prepare lives to personally know the Lord and to train ministries of "quality" for His purposes.

Pinecrest is clearly called of the Lord to produce a "Spiritual line" that experientially knows and walks with the Lord, as did John the Baptist, who through the preparation of the Lord, became "THE VOICE OF ONE crying in the wilderness".

It is my desire and prayer that Pinecrest will produce Quality rather than Quantity, Abrahams rather than Lots.

Your love towards the Lord and your desire to please Him through your financial support of this ministry is greatly appreciated that this vision and ministry may reach the reality and purpose that the Lord intended for it.