INNATE POWER – do you have it? use it?

The Arctic tern is one of the most remarkable birds in the world. It makes the longest annual migration ever recorded in the whole animal kingdom.

During its breeding season, the Arctic tern is found far to the north, where it enjoys long summer days. In winter, it heads far south in the Southern hemisphere to enjoy the longest days there.  This means the Arctic tern experiences more sunlight during a calendar year than any other creature on Earth.

The average roundtrip distance from Greenland/Iceland to the Weddell Sea in Antarctica, and back again, was recorded at 70,900 km, (ranging from 59,500 to 81,600 km)  As Arctic terns can live to 30 years, the total distance flown in a tern’s lifetime may exceed 2.4 million km, which is equivalent to around 3 return journeys to the Moon!

Migration maps.

The map on the left shows the most travelled route, while the map on the right shows the routes of all the tagged birds.

These small birds (average 95-125g with a wingspan of 75-85cm) make their long trip on nothing but the urgings and the endurance that God put in them at creation. 

The force which drives them also empowers them for their long journey.

 

Similarly, with the new covenant, a contract between God and man, God places WITHIN each believer a new nature which both drives and empowers our lives. 

This nature was not available from our human birth. 
We get this new nature when we agree with God about our sinful condition and believe that the Lord Jesus Christ took our sins in His own body and died on the cross, bearing the penalty for our sin, and that because His sacrifice on our behalf was acceptable to God, God raised Him from the dead.

At the point of repenting of our sin and believing and accepting God’s Gift, we become a “new creation” born of God,  adopted into His own family, indwelt by the Spirit of God, having a new, spiritual nature which desires to please God.

The Arctic tern endures the longest migration known in the animal kingdom,
on the basis of THE URGINGS AND ENDURANCE WITHIN THEM,
given by their Creator. 

Just so, we, in our new nature,
are EMPOWERED BY THE URGINGS AND ENDURANCE
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN US
to live lives of victory over sin, satan and his forces.

Are we allowing that Spirit-nature to drive and empower us?

Are we using the power to endure – to ‘run the race’ – to ‘strive toward the mark’?

Are we experiencing His victory in us?

Romans 8:37
We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren
be steadfast, unmoveable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
for you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord