"Are We There Yet"

Genesis 11:36-12:6

I love my family but I hate long road trips. The trips all start out happy and exciting but inevitably; they turn into a remake of the 1980’s film series “National Lampoon’s Vacation” starring me as Clark Griswold. For the first hour, I sip on Starbucks, Jennifer catches a nap in the passenger’s seat and the kids patiently watch DVDs. But between the third and the fourth hour someone always raises the question, “Are we there yet?” To which I calmly reply, “Not yet, just a little while longer.” However, after the fifth hour and the DVDs run-out, the Starbucks is gone and “Mama Bear” can no longer sleep because the baby is kicking her chair, the intensity of the questioning increases. “ARE WE THERE YET? “Max is bothering me.” To which I reply, “Not yet, just a little while longer. Max, stop bothering your sister.” “ARE WE THERE YET? I’m hungry.” To which I reply, “We just left Cracker Barrel. I told you to eat your catfish.” “ARE WE THERE YET? I have to go to the bathroom.” To which I reply, ‘Again, we just stopped five minutes ago.” “ARE WE THERE YET? I’m bored.” “DIDN’T I SAY NOT YET? WE’RE TAKING THE SCENIC ROUTE! GO TO SLEEP!” To which Jennifer states, “Charles, slow down! A state patrol is ahead!” Too late; lights are flashing. HUH!!!

Does this scene sound familiar? If Terah’s family trip was anything like ours, I wonder how many times in Haran Abram asked Terah the same question, “Are we there yet? Traveling in biblical times was hard. There were no freeways or SUVs; traveling was on foot with the added burden of taking care of children and livestock. More than that, Terah was a mature man (Gen. 11:26) (70+ years old) and Canaan was a long distance from Ur of the Chaldeans. Besides the physical ordeal of traveling, Terah traveled with emotional baggage. Tragically, his son Haran had died (Gen. 11:27) and for some unknown reason, Terah left behind his other son, Nahor and his wife Milcah, who was Haran’s daughter (Gen. 11:29) in Ur. Terah does, however, take with him Lot, Nahor’s son and Abram and his daughter-in-law, Sarai. But Sarai, ironically, is known more by her condition (she was barren with no child) at this time than her genealogy. (Gen. 11:30)

Genesis 11:31 says, “Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan; but when they came to Haran, they settled there.” What made Terah choose to leave Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan? What made Terah settle in Haran? Was he tired? Did his caravan breakdown? Did he choose to settle in Haran or did someone make the choice for him? With the vision of Canaan fading through the years, how many times did Terah ask himself or did his family ask him, “Are We There Yet?” We do not know why Terah abandoned his vision of Canaan and chose to settle in Haran. All we know is that he chose to leave Ur to go to the land of Canaan; but when he came to Haran, he chose to settle there and eventually died in Haran never reaching his final destination. Therefore, when God spoke to Abram and said, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” (12:1) Abram had a choice; choose God or choose to stay where he was.

Let’s keep it real. That must have been a hard choice. Would you leave your family? Would you leave your father’s house, leave your comfort, your security and your leader? Abram was born in Ur but Haran was his home. Would you leave your country based upon a voice that you heard? This, however, is the challenge we repeatedly face in Abram’s call by God --- are you going to choose to settle in Haran like Terah or are you going to choose to follow God and continue on your journey to Canaan? I must admit. I hate making choices sometimes and there are times I wish I could adjudicate that responsibility to others. Unfortunately, an empowered life does not work like that. It doesn’t matter if you are old or young --- if you want an empowered life, it requires courage to make the hard choices and the fortitude to live with their consequences.

Life is full of choices and everyone has some to make. The power of choices is that our future is not left up to chance for it is our choices and not our challenges that determine our final destination in life. We must remember that fate does not determine our outcomes but rather God --- and the level of faith we choose to place in him. Abram chose to put his faith in God. Sight unseen, without question, Abram left what he knew in search of what God was to show him (Canaan). That is what faith will do. Faith will give you a compelling reason to move on from your Harans. Unfortunately, too often we are stubborn to God’s will and unyielding to our own thoughts, wants, desires, addictions and emotional baggage. We tell others that we want to change but on the inside we lack a compelling reason to do so and stay in our Harans because in them we find our identity. The command of God (v.1) and the promises of God (vv.2-3) foreshadow the covenant that God will make with Abram (Ch.15). The only thing made clear to Abram is that where he is now (Haran) is not where he is to remain. Haran is not to become a final destination for him any more than the ark was to become such for Noah. The majesty of God is that God gives us free will – the ability to choose. Our past can only control today and tomorrow to the degree we allow it. The past should not be a place where we dwell but a place from which we learn all we can and then move on. That is why the promise to give the land to Abram (v.7) follows the promise to show the land to Abram (v.1) and “show” becomes “give” only when Abram makes his move.

I know what you are thinking. No one knows that you have quit but on the inside, you have chosen to throw in the towel and have said, “No mas.” You once had a vision of how your life should be but instead of honing your gifts, you have chosen to feel small and insignificant. You wanted a mutually rewarding marriage but you chose to be content with a roommate and obligatory sex. Maybe your vision was to quit smoking. Maybe it was to lose weight. Maybe it was to start reading the Bible, to attend church regularly and to develop a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Maybe it was to go back to school. Maybe it was to pay your bills on time and get out of debt. Maybe it was to start your own business. Maybe it was to end the patterns of abuse and addictions that curse your family. I don’t know what it is, but everyone, I believe, has or had a vision for their life. You may have gone as far as to start walking into that vision but something happened and instead of you reaching your goal, your walk stalled and you found yourself stuck between where you were and where you want to be.

The years are passing and you are tired of “living a lie.” You want people to see who you really are --- a person with imperfections and insecurities but you choose reputation and image over honesty and authenticity. You wanted to live your life under the cover and the anointing of Christ but life has given you some obstacles, some roadblocks, a Haran and then your spirit cried out, “Are We There Yet? Have you reached your destination? Are you walking in your purpose and fulfilling the passions of your life?” Instead of you answering, “No” and acknowledging your set-backs and seeking direction from God, you choose to adjust your expectations to your limitations and keep on pretending that everything is okay. But things are not okay anymore. The brokenness is becoming unbearable. The mask is becoming too cumbersome to wear. And like Terah, your choices today are becoming the realties of your future --- if you don’t choose differently, you will not reach Canaan but are destined to die in Haran. If this is you, God is speaking to you. God is saying, “Life does not have to be like this. You have a choice. You can alter the outcomes in your life by taking responsibility of your choices. You may not be able to control what happens to you but you can control what happens within you.”

The idea of taking responsibility for your life is not new to you. It’s a message many of us have been given throughout our entire lives. But I am not sure most of us understand what it really means. Some think being responsible is getting a good education, finding a job and earning enough money to support ourselves so we are not dependent on anyone else for survival. Many of us think we are taking responsibility for our lives when we try to change people we believe have control over us. But in reality, this is a victim’s mentality. Victim thinking says, “I am caught in my circumstances with no way out unless someone else changes or if someone else helps me.” If you are playing the role of a victim, it is impossible for you to assume responsibility for your future. The only way to take control of your life is to accept 100% responsibility for your life and to be 100% accountable for your future choices, actions and behaviors. You can’t take control of your life if you blame others for your choices and your decisions. At some point, it’s not Mama and Daddy’s fault that you are not winning in life. At some point, it’s not “the man” or some woman or the kids or your race or your sex that is holding you down. Sometimes, it is the person that you see everyday on the other side of the mirror and the choices that you are making that are entrapping you.

Therefore, though we can not control other people or many situations that we encounter, we can control the choices that we make. No matter how bleak life seems, there are always options available to us. Some options may require a sacrifice. Some options may require a change of perspective. Some options may require repentance and humility while others may require recompense for past decisions. News flash --- that’s life. It’s when we mistakenly believe that we are stuck --- with no alternatives --- that our difficulties overwhelm us. When we see ourselves as victims of our circumstances, we surrender our power to overcome our circumstances to the Adversary by relying on external sources for happiness and wholeness. That’s why we drink. That’s why we eat too much. That’s why we stay in relationships that are unhealthy. That’s why we remain broken. It is because we choose to see ourselves as victims instead of choosing to see ourselves as whole. However, we can break this cycle of brokenness by accepting responsibility for our choices; for it’s our choices that pave the way for our future.

The truth is you don’t have to do anything. Many of us abandon our dreams and settle just to relieve ourselves of the pain and the struggles of life. On the outside we represent the American Dream but on the inside we are zombies trapped in a purgatory of lukewarm expectations and unactualized visions. To the world, we live, obtain degrees, buy cars and accumulate stuff. Some of us marry, have children and give the external appearance of fulfilled lives. However, on the inside, there is no passion and there is no purpose. We must remember that when we choose not to make a choice, we make a choice. Indifference is a choice.

Through your past choices, you have determined who you are and where you are today and now through your choices you can change all that. How does it happen? It happens when you reach a certain level of spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity is that point in your life when you say, “Lord, no matter what it costs, no matter what it takes. Lord, let your will --- not my will be done. (Luke 22:42) Spiritual maturity is that point in your life when you say, “The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) Spiritual maturity is knowing, “I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself. (Philippians 3:12)

With spiritual maturity, you are willing to submit yourself to God (Gen. 12:1) and understand that a “submissive will” is not a sign of weakness; a submissive will is a choice to be totally and completely committed to Jesus. With spiritual maturity, you realize that if your life is not a blessing to someone else, “you are not quite there yet” in this journey called life (Gen. 12:2). Living for oneself is okay but God calls us to greater works. It is through our legacy and not our accomplishments that our name becomes great. The blessings of God are not all for Abram. A great nation, blessed, a great name are all promised to Abram. God challenges Abram, and us today, to be more than a recipient…we must also be a transmitter of that blessing. What a novel concept in a culture that thrives on shameless self-promotion and unbridled individualism.

With spiritual maturity, you don’t have to play it safe and worry about being taken advantage of, for you know that God has promised “to bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you” (Gen. 12:3). With spiritual maturity, you realize that those of us who are stronger, wiser and more equipped have an obligation to bring others along with us (Gen. 12:4). Some scholars debate Lott’s motivation to follow Abram. But I believe that people can see the anointing of God on you. You don’t have to say anything or do anything. All you have to do is continue on the path that God showed you and people will follow. With spiritual maturity, your faith will supersede human comprehension and if we allow God, God will take us places and do things in our lives that we never thought possible. (Gen. 12:3) Verse 2 states that Abram would be a blessing but the question becomes to whom and for whom? Now we have the answer. Abram is to a blessing to humanity. What an impossible thought when we consider the instruments that God chose to use: an old man in Abram and a barren woman in Sarai. However, that is how God works. God can take the improbable and make it possible.

My question to you today is simply, “Are you there yet?” Has your faith given you a compelling reason to leave Haran? Are you there yet? Have you taken responsibility for your choices? Are you there yet? Have you come to the conclusion that indifference is a choice? Are you there yet? Have your reached a level of spiritual maturity that you can receive and act on the vision that God has given you? Your vision is to make it to Canaan but you are still in Haran. God has a purpose and plan for your life. Don’t you believe it? Step out on faith. Don’t worry about having all the answers. Just be obedient to the will and call of God. Your parent’s fate does not have to be yours. Break the curse. You can be free. You can be whole. How much longer are you going to stay in Haran?

The choice is yours.



----- Rev. Charles Maxell, Jr.