© AMKCH

I call it the Thousand Mile Journey as an exaggeration to show the difficulties life may bring along the way.

Psa 119:11-12 Your word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed art you, O LORD: teach me your statutes.

Eze 3:10 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto your receive in your heart, and hear with your ears.

1 Tim 2:4 Who will have ALL men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

These scriptures are the most important words next to “I am God, there is none other”. It is these words that will help you make that “thousand mile journey” through life. What do I mean by “thousand mile journey”? I am talking about getting God’s word from your head to your heart and keeping it there.

All throughout God’s Word, He talks about those who hear with their ears and see with their eyes. He says those people are blessed with an understanding of the Scriptures to the point that they will obey… and therefore He can bless them. Let’s take a look at just a few of these passages:

Matt 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Matt 11:7-10 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went you out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, which shall prepare your way before thee.

:11-15 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent (determined) take it by force (determination). 3 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

:16-19 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

The valiant (violent) are those who are able to take heaven by force. Those who dare to be holy and approach the Throne of Grace in spite of men and devils. These lay hold of God’s over 500 promises and believe them no matter what the boss says, no matter what the neighbor’s say, no matter what the children say. If You will receive it, John the Baptist was Elias which was for to come before Christ came. John took hold of the promise of the Messiah and ran with it! He who has ears to hear let him hear. Let him understand to the point of believing and running with it, that thousand mile journey, through temptation and worldly possessions – the storms and troubles of life.

Just reading about God and His Son, Jesus Christ, and not getting it into your heart is like He says in many of his analogies and parables. He explains why he uses parables:

Matt 13:10-17 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speak you unto them in parables?

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Therefore (this is why) speak I to them in parables: because they, seeing, see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which says, By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them.

:18-23 Hear you therefore the parable of the sower. When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and anon with joy receives it; Yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Jn 14:21 He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

This is only one example of the thousand mile journey. So many people listen to what the preacher is saying (hopefully the truth), but they fall asleep during service, or are distracted by thoughts of other things going on in their lives. They are not HEARING what God is trying to say to them. They cannot make that thousand mile journey because their heart just isn’t in it. But those who do hear will hear, and those who will see, will see, to the point of acknowledging and obeying.

Jn 14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments.

Look at what happens to those who choose to hear and see with their heart. They could be healed. They could be blessed. They could accomplish what many people don’t because they refuse to see or hear. Those who choose not to take that thousand mile journey, getting God’s Word, not only into their heads (head knowledge), but into their hearts also, could loose the protection and provision of God!

God gave ten simple commandments. From those, Jesus gave us only two. Check these out:

Mat 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, You shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, You shalt love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

When we allow God’s word to travel from our head to our heart, our willingness to obey Him will follow. Then the love for God and ourselves will grow. Then, obedience to these simple commandments will come into place in our lives… and our rewards will come.

Yes, but how will I really know when I’ve reached the end of that journey? Ultimately, when you are singing praises to God on the second earth.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea

2 Pet 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.

But while we await this, we can know if we are obeying His commandments of love. Do you love your enemy? Do you pray for the enemies in the middle east, and the far north like China, Russia, Iran, Gaza, just to name a few, who are killing the Americans and Christians. THIS is HOW we show God’s love; by doing good to those who hate us.

Mat 5:38-30 You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That you resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

:40 And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have thy cloak also.

:41 And whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two.

:42 Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not away.

:43-47 Ye have heard that it has been said, You shalt love your neighbour, and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? do not even the publicans the same? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Mat 5:48 Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

There is only one Redeemer. There is only one True King. There is only one man whereby mankind can be saved. The Lord Christ Jesus.

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Rev 19:16 And He has on His vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Gal 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

THIS is the only man who can help you make that thousand mile journey with healing, health and the abundant life in Him.

How do I make the journey? Read and meditate on God’s Word continually.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for He has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.

Jn 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Listening to someone preach or teach is one thing. You can listen all you want, but if it doesn’t get from your head, down the miles to your heart, it will do you no good. So why bother? We bother because God loves us so much that He gave His ONLY Son… so that ANYONE who would believe and trust in Him, WILL be saved. THAT’S why we make this thousand mile journey from our heads to our hearts. If we don’t travel this thousand mile journey, we cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.

:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

This is saying that just because you SAY you are a “Christian” doesn’t mean you are! Just because you go to church, and sing loudly in the choir, or are active in the different “socials” or Bible studies, doesn’t mean you ARE or even know OF GOD!!! It’s all in how you speak to and TREAT others… including those who despise you.

Matt 7:24-25 Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

:26-27 And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

This is what Christ came to earth for. He was born of a maiden who kept herself pure according to the law. I’m sure you’ve heard the story. He taught ALL those people who would listen. You also know this. but did you also know that His arrest, torture, and crucifixion were illegal according to the laws of that day? Did you know that after the third day, God, His Father, raised Him from the grave? Did you know that He ascended into Heaven and now sits at His Fathers right hand and is going to be your judge at that final day? Did you know that He is with you right now, right there where you are? He is… or can be, in each and every one of us, if we only ask Him to.

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Lk 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Jn 3:14-18 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Jn 14:26-27 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

When you have come to the point of beginning that Thousand Mile Journey, He will go with you!

But we can’t just study the Word of God, but also, note things that are happening in the world today. Read the books and learn… and allow God’s Holy Spirit to teach and to show you HOW to live It. Once you have decided to go on that thousand mile journey, trusting in our Savior to guide you along the way, He says:

Jn 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Read “extra Biblical” books also. YOUNG’S Analytical Concordant is the best that I know of. I have discovered that Strong’s Concordant has too many errors in it and, it was taken from the KJV and not from the original text. Also, an E.W. Bullinger’s Bible. This book has awesome footnotes, and Appendixes. and was taken from the original text. He really explains so much that otherwise we would not know. You can pick these up at your local Bible book Store. I must say though, that the KJV is the closest to the original text that I have found.

As you study God’s Word and apply it to your daily life, God will help you make that thousand mile journey toward life in Him.

I hope this message has been a blessing to you.

Trim your wicks and make sure your lamps are filled with oil! THE KING IS COMING SOON!