Insanity...
Terry Dashner (www.ffcba.com)
Roughly 300 years before Christ was born, Rome and Cartage were
at war with each other for control of the Mediterranean Sea.
Between 264 and 146 B.C., they fought three wars. The first
Punic War (264-241 B.C.), called Punic Wars because Punici was
the Roman word for Phoenicians, was fought over control of the
island of Sicily. The Romans feared a strong presence of
Phoenicians on the island would disrupt the balance of trade in
the Mediterranean Sea. The only way Rome could stop Carthage was
to break her naval supremacy.
Using the design of a captured Carthaginian warship, Rome began
to build a navy of her own. Although Rome soon possessed the
same ships, Roman sailors could not match the experience and
skill of the Carthaginians. So Rome substituted soldiers for
experienced sailors. When an enemy ship came near, a plank was
dropped (like a drawbridge) so that its spiked tip fastened to
the deck of the enemy's ship. Armed Roman soldiers then crossed
over and captured the ship. By this method Rome crippled the
navy of Carthage.
What if Rome had continued--although being subdued at every
turn--trying to fight the Carthaginian navy without using their
wits and capitalizing on their army's strength? The Roman
Republic would have certainly died out, and North Africa would
have become a world empire. This begs the question. What is
insanity? It is doing the same thing over and over again but
each time expecting different results. Can you identify with
this definition?
If you find yourself defeated in life, while attempting to
address the defeat and depression by the same actions
day-in-and-day-out, maybe it's time to muster up the courage and
try something different. I know trying something different may
disrupt your comfort zone and stretch you beyond yourself, but
isn't it worth a try? To win the Mediterranean Sea, the Romans
were willing to try something different in their approach to
naval warfare. Because they thought "outside the box" and
applied their greatest asset to the situation, Rome went on to
become a world empire.
Have you done an assessment of your greatest strengths lately?
Why not? You need to know your strengths in order to address the
enemies of life. The Bible says that God has given us all
spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus His only begotten Son. If
you want to walk blessed, you must turn to Christ because in Him
alone is everything you need. He is our greatest strength. Again
the Bible says that all the promises of God are in Christ, yes
and Amen! That means that Jesus is the mediator between God and
man. If you want what God has for you, you must go to the Son.
The Bible says that we can do all things through Christ who is
our strength. Are you getting the picture?
Many times we find ourselves in situations over our heads. We
keep trying to press against them in our own strength and
creativity. After a while we become exhausted because we are no
match for the opposition. To continue striking the situation in
human strength alone is insanity because each time we are doing
the same actions but expecting different results. Why not try
something ingenious? Why not cast the situation on God, and let
Him help? God is for us and wants us to win. But He can't help
us if we don't ask for His help. I believe that God has a way
for you. I believe that He wants to break you out of your defeat
and depression. I believe that if you call on Him, He will hear
you and help you win.
God might have a special word of instruction for you that will
help you overcome your enemy by an ingenious plan that
capitalizes on your strengths and exploits the power of your
enemy. Can you believe this? If so, go for it. Rome did.
Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus is alive and coming again.
Pastor T.