Translate or Die Trying
Greetings and good morning brothers and sisters This is Dr. James Perry continuing with our
series where we seek to explore the deeper meanings of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over
the years, the heavenly Father has revealed many revelations of spiritual truth to me, and I want
to share them with you. This morning we will ponder our lives as we seek to understand what it
means to translate or die trying.
And now, sit back and listen to today's message.
Translate or Die Trying
“By Faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because
God has translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased
God.” Hebrew, Chapter 11, Verse 5.
March or die! Command given to Foreign Legion Recruits
Brothers and sisters, in today’s broadcast we shall examine the translation which is the supreme
achievement in the flesh. Sometimes, a meaning or a value can be captured or realized in analogies.
So we shall try to grasp the meaning of the supreme goal in the flesh. Now we know that this
achievement is not often realized by many brothers and sisters during the life in the flesh, but we also
know that this same achievement is not the goal of many brothers and sisters during the life in the
flesh. There are a few vague references that we are aware both they occur in an isolated settings so
that we are left in bafflement as to the meaning of the examples that we are given. Such statements
as “ And Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him; and Elijah ascended up to
heaven in a chariot of fire. Such references have the effect of bouncing off of our souls. Rather than
have these examples bouncing off of our souls, we want our souls to embrace them, absorb them,
and activate our souls to duplicate these examples. Let us begin.
Most of us are familiar with a physical or intellectual challenge, but too often the spiritual challenge
is not recognized, and even when recognized is not often wholeheartedly acted upon. The spiritual
challenge , smoldering like a fire ready to leap into full blaze under suitable stimuli. It was present
during the physical and intellectual challenge, but camouflaged as these challenges rode on the back
of it. The spiritual challenge is the daunting challenge of eternity and it begins right here in this life.
While the material and the intellectual challenges called for a level of functioning while impressive
was still within the normal human purview, the spiritual challenge calls for recreating the self and
then transcending the self to go on and join the eternal beat of the universe. It is a vast and
unimaginable journey that while having clear benchmarks, really has no end. One phase of
achievement only liberates the potential for the next phase. Now just what is this spiritual challenge?
The spiritual challenge is to be perfect even as the Heavenly Father is perfect. This spiritual
perfection unlike the physical and intellectual challenges involves the process of character
transformation. The Father is spiritual, and therefore we must develop a spiritual character. Unlike
the physical and intellectual challenges where we pursue our wills, this challenge requires that we
pursue the Father’s will. But do not be dismayed, this challenge will call forth all of the potentials
that we can muster. It is the supreme challenge of eternity. The Father not only requires intellectual
functioning and material functioning at the highest possible degree we are capable, but also requires
spiritual functioning at the highest possible degree. It requires transformation of the character so that
the heretofore selfish accomplishments shall be utilized for the unselfish welfare of all of us. We
must not only become unselfish, but must also become unselfishly loving and kind, even merciful,
not to mention forgiving. We must learn to be just in the face of injustice; we must learn to be merciful.
The requirement for this challenge as you might imagine are severe. There must first be a moral
nature, a sense of duty to serve as the foundation of this spiritual achievement, for the spiritual goal
does not nullify the need to be moral, but enhances it, spiritualize it and transcends it. This
qualifying moral sense makes possible the acceptance of the Father’s invitation to be perfect even
as he is perfect. Unlike the material and even the intellectual challenges, there is no respite from this
challenge, only a replenishing of spiritual energy and additional instructions through prayer and
worship. The Master instructor unlike physical instructors and intellectual instructor who instruct
from the outside, instructs from the inside. There are many spiritual assistants on the outside who
assists us in implementing this instructions, assistants who manipulate the social, moral and even
physical environments so that we get the opportunity to carry out these instructions of love and
mercy, and service to our brothers and sisters. The Master is the instruction as well as the instructor.
His Son some two thousand years ago demonstrated for all times the perfect way of executing these
instructions and having done that stands ready to guide and direct all who seeks to obey the Father’s
eternal command: To be perfect even as He is perfect. These assistants on the outside are spiritual
and are not visible to our material eyes, but their effect is terribly real, as they move us from crisis
to crisis always seeking to reach and capture that supreme value and meanings. They work tirelessly
and unremitting seeking to assist us in cooperating more and more with the Master Instructor.
And while physical determination and sheer will power were necessary for the physical and
intellectual challenges, here we run into a new necessary quality, and that is of faith. We must never
doubt that we can achieve this goal, for doubt will guarantee that we will not achieve it. Here we
must be sustained by faith as we move from crisis to crisis, always seeking the value and meaning
of our toils, always insisting that there is a value and a meanings in our toils that are necessary to
successful complete the spiritual course requirement. And the course requirement is no more or less
than we mature spiritually to the point where we can become one with the Master Instructor who will
then carry us away from the material mind of our conception, leaving the material body and mind
behind as we move to the level of spiritual functioning. This becoming one with the Master
Instructor, this translation with the Master Instructor is necessary to continue to live on a higher
level, thus the injunction to translate or die trying.
This concludes today's message of understanding what it means to translate or die trying. We hope
you find something in this message to ponder and pray about as you go about your day.
Until next time, this is Dr. James Perry.
Inspirational Messages
By Dr. James Perry
Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done!
Translate or Die Trying
