THE FINAL CALL
"After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a [war] trumpet speaking with me, said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.'"
—Revelation 4:1
THE INVITATION STILL STANDS
As we arrive at the final chapter of this book, I want you to pause for a moment.
Before you close these pages...
Before you move on to the next book...
Before you return to the demands of everyday life...
Listen once more to the voice that has echoed throughout this entire journey.
"Come up hither."
These are not merely words spoken to the Apostle John.
They are the heartbeat of the Father.
They are His continual invitation to every generation.
His invitation has never changed.
He called Adam.
He called Abraham.
He called Moses.
He called David.
He called Isaiah.
He called the apostles.
Today, He is calling you.
Not into a religion.
Not into a denomination.
Not merely into ministry.
He is calling you into Himself.
Everything else begins there.
THE SECRET PLACE IS THE BEGINNING, NOT THE END
If there is one lesson I pray remains with you after reading this book, it is this:
The secret place is not the destination.
It is the beginning.
It is where heaven prepares ordinary people for extraordinary assignments.
It is where sons are formed.
It is where destinies are awakened.
It is where broken hearts are healed.
It is where weary souls find rest.
It is where fearful believers become courageous witnesses.
It is where hidden seeds eventually become fruitful trees.
Nothing of eternal significance is born outside God's presence.
Every revival...
Every awakening...
Every great movement of God...
Every transformed life...
Every lasting ministry...
Every genuine manifestation of His glory...
has always begun in the secret place.
WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THIS INVITATION?
The question is no longer whether God is calling.
The question is whether we will answer.
Many hear His voice.
Few respond.
Many begin the journey.
Few remain.
Many desire the blessings of God.
Few desire God Himself.
Throughout these chapters we have seen that intimacy requires pursuit.
It requires humility.
It requires repentance.
It requires obedience.
It requires remaining.
But above all,
it requires love.
No one remains in God's presence because of obligation for very long.
We remain because we have discovered that nothing in this world compares with Him.
When His presence becomes your greatest delight,
obedience ceases to be a burden.
Prayer ceases to be a duty.
Worship ceases to be a programme.
The Christian life becomes a love story.
THERE IS MORE
One of the greatest dangers in the Christian life is becoming satisfied.
Satisfied with yesterday's encounter.
Satisfied with yesterday's revelation.
Satisfied with yesterday's anointing.
God is infinite.
Therefore, there is always more.
More of His love.
More of His wisdom.
More of His holiness.
More of His glory.
More of His heart.
Paul never stopped pursuing Christ.
Moses continually desired to know Him more deeply.
David continually longed for His presence.
The closer we come to God,
the more we realise how much more there is to know.
This should never discourage us.
It should excite us.
Eternity itself will not exhaust the riches of Christ.
Why then should we stop pursuing Him now?
THE DAYS AHEAD
I believe with all my heart that the days ahead will require believers unlike any generation before us.
Not because God has changed.
But because the challenges before the Church continue to increase.
The answer will never be found in greater human ability.
It will always be found in deeper intimacy.
The Church does not need more celebrities.
She needs more worshippers.
She does not need more personalities.
She needs more people who know the voice of the Shepherd.
She does not need greater entertainment.
She needs greater consecration.
The world is desperate for authenticity.
It is waiting to encounter believers who genuinely know God.
Believers who carry His peace into anxious homes.
His wisdom into confused cultures.
His purity into compromised environments.
His compassion into wounded communities.
His light into increasing darkness.
These are the people God is raising.
May you be among them.
BECOMING THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD
Throughout this book we have spoken often about the secret place.
But now I want to leave you with one final thought.
The Father's ultimate desire has never simply been for us to enter His presence.
His desire is that we become a people through whom His presence is continually revealed.
The secret place shapes us until we begin carrying the atmosphere of heaven wherever we go.
Our words become seasoned with grace.
Our homes become places of peace.
Our churches become houses of prayer.
Our workplaces become places of integrity.
Our communities become touched by the love of Christ.
Wherever the believer goes,
the fragrance of Christ should follow.
This is what the world desperately needs.
Not perfect Christians.
People who have learned to live continually before the face of God.
UNTIL HE COMES
There is another reason we must remain faithful.
Our King is coming again.
Every day brings us one step closer to the fulfilment of God's eternal plan.
One day,
faith will become sight.
Prayer will become perfect communion.
Hope will become reality.
The battle against sin will finally end.
The secret place will become our eternal dwelling.
The One whom we have loved without seeing,
we shall behold face to face.
On that day,
every sacrifice will have been worthwhile.
Every hidden prayer.
Every act of obedience.
Every tear.
Every season of waiting.
Every lonely hour spent with God.
Nothing invested in His presence is ever lost.
Everything done for His glory carries eternal reward.
A FINAL CHARGE
Beloved,
Do not settle.
Do not become distracted.
Do not become weary.
Do not allow familiarity to rob you of your hunger for God.
Guard your secret place.
Protect your intimacy.
Remain in His Word.
Remain in prayer.
Remain humble.
Remain teachable.
Remain yielded.
Remain full of the Holy Spirit.
Love Jesus more deeply tomorrow than you do today.
Pursue Him until His thoughts become your thoughts.
His heart becomes your heart.
His burden becomes your burden.
His joy becomes your joy.
Stay on the mountain until He sends you.
Stay in His presence until His glory rests upon you.
Stay before His face until the world begins to see Jesus in you.
Remember,
God is not looking for perfect people.
He is looking for available people.
Completely surrendered people.
People who will answer when He says,
"Come up hither."