Nancy Taylor Tate
“Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” Hosea 6:3
If you have known me very long, you’ve probably heard me say that in 1981 the Lord called me in support of this vision—the preparation of a people for the end time purposes of the Lord—and that it continues to burn deep in my heart today. Truly, there is little I could do today except for what I am doing, because it has become who I am, my very life.
Looking back, I initially thought the Lord was calling me to support a person (my dad) and He was. What joy it brought as I helped him in whatever way I could. I typed, ran errands, and accepted responsibility in various positions. Whatever I did, if it was helpful, I took joy in it, because I was doing what God called me to do.
Principles of spiritual growth were becoming embedded in my life. An understanding of His presence, with a longing to abide there, filled me. A passion for the Lord and a deep desire to please Him increasingly governed my choices. I was still supporting my dad, yet something further was happening as a deep commitment to the Lord and His purposes was being worked into my life.
Many years have passed since then, and though the Lord has taken my dad home, it is still a joy for me today to support his message and writings as I also give expression to what the Lord has put in my own heart.
Choices we make! Little did I know the road that my decision to support my dad would lead me on. But what God has done in my life, I would not trade for any title or position in this world. What precious friends God has blessed us with, a people who love the Lord and are hungry for more of Him. We feel blessed beyond measure when we pray, worship, or share together.
Regarding our vision, we often mention the preparation of a people for the end time purposes of the Lord. Who is the Lord preparing? What is that preparation? Can we be a part of that people?
Absolutely, yes! God is doing a work in all those who have come to know the Lord Jesus Christ not just as their Savior, but as their Lord. He looks for those who would submit their lives to Him, that He might do a work deep within. The Lord’s desire is for us to grow and mature spiritually and come to know His heart and understand His ways. Yet that choice is up to us and our willingness to allow His deep inner working in our lives.
Salvation is a free gift: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9).
“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:7)
We must be born again. Yet in Matthew 16:24, notice the word if: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
There is cost involved if we choose to continue on to follow the Lord. Choices! We all make them every day.
Matthew 22:14 says, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Another way we could say this is “many are called, but few are willing to pay the price to be chosen.”
“Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which when a man has found it, he hides it, and for the joy of it goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44 MKJV
“Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls; who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matthew 13:45–46 MKJV
Paul said, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8a). Like a treasure hid in a field, or a pearl of great price, the excellency of knowing the Lord outweighed any cost Paul paid to know the Lord and become joined with Him in His purposes.
Taking up our cross (Matthew 16:24) speaks of the submission of our lives to the Lord’s will and to His ways. If we are willing to submit our lives to His Lordship and follow Him, He will work deep within our lives to bring us into a place of purpose and fulfillment only found in Him, a place of fellowship and oneness with Himself.
As we learn to live in identification with the Lord’s heart and come to know His thoughts and His ways, we become an expression of the Lord Himself, and a part of others who are also becoming ones through whom the Lord can intercede, speak, and move. What precious people, when our paths cross! What fellowship, when we have opportunity to share our hearts!
The preparation of a people for the end time purposes of the Lord! As we face our life circumstances and continue to submit our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and His inner working, may each of us be encouraged by what God is doing deep within our hearts. There is a people who the Lord is raising up for His end time glory … a people of which we, too, can be a part.
“Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” Hosea 6:3