God's World Wide Web

I read a story somewhere about a young man who was in a war situation and his platoon was coming under heavy attack from the enemy. He and his comrades had to retreat in defeat, with the enemy giving chase. Somehow the young man was separated from the rest of the platoon, and he came upon a rocky ledge containing a cave. He crawled into the cave, crying out to God to save him and protect him from his enemies. He even tried to bargain with God, and said that if God saved him, he would serve Him for the rest of his days.

In despair he looked up and saw a spider beginning to weave its web at the entrance to the cave, and in bitterness of heart, he thought, “I asked God for protection and deliverance, and here I get a spider”.

Soon he heard the sound of the enemy coming closer, as they scoured the area looking for those in hiding. He knew they would kill him if he was discovered, and he crouched fearfully, waiting to try a last ditch desperate attempt to surprise the enemy and perhaps save his life. One soldier with a gun walked slowly towards the cave entrance, and the young man’s heart pounded madly as he awaited the inevitable. As the enemy moved cautiously towards the entrance, he noticed the spider’s web, and backed away, calling to a comrade, “There can’t be anyone here. They would have had to break this spider’s web to get in. Let’s move on.”

Apparently the young man later made good his promise and became a preacher and evangelist, but though I don’t know his name, I am grateful for his story.

You see I have a spider called Spud. He’s not live, but he has been used many times in stories to my grandchildren, explaining how a web is so strong and powerful that it can hold more than it’s maker’s weight. If we had the ability to spin a web, it would be stronger than steel and the web God weaves stretches into eternity!

Every spider’s web is distinctive, and an entomologist would be able to recognize the species of spider from the type of pattern in which the web is made. Apparently the identifying characteristics would be read something like a fingerprint!

The web God weaves reveals His character!

Like links interspersed in a chain, God weaves His web between people and situations, and countries and continents; between kings and commoners, and between the prosperous and the persecuted; between tribes and races, colours and creeds. He weaves with what is indestructible, and with that which no man can withstand. Man can turn from wisdom, and become foolish. He can lose wealth and health yet refuse advice. He can place his trust in his own opinions, and accept or deny consequences. He can argue, accuse, condone and compromise; he can lead his life under all sorts of false presumptions; but no matter where he may try to hide or retreat, or deny the existence of anything or any body that does not fit within his own imaginative capability, he can not withstand the power of God’s,- woven in love,- world wide web!

God’s Word assures us that it is not His will that any should be lost. Those who come to Him He will in no wise cast out.

The young man who was saved later wrote a comment that shows God’s control over all things.

“Where God is, a spider’s web is as a stone wall. Where God is not, a stone wall is as a spider’s web”.

3 Points to Ponder

Power                                      

Persistence

Productivity

Power. A web is powerful, strong. To achieve its purpose of holding the spider’s prey, it is able to hold far more than the spider’s weight.

Prayer is our way of approaching God’s power. God’s power is supreme. He is able to hold, and to keep from falling, and to present those He holds, spotless before the glorious presence of the Lord, without fault and with great joy---.

Persistence. Break a web, and the spider will persistently start over again, patiently reconstructing until it has achieved its purpose, building the web in a strategic place where prey can be captured.

To achieve its purpose, prayer needs to be persistent, as well as proclaiming the will of the Lord in its subject matter. Prayer is part of our communication with our Lord, and dependent on our relationship with Him. Our relationship with Him brings us into a greater knowledge of His Person, and His will for His people.

God is persistent in His call, - “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Whoever hears my call, and opens the door, I will come in---”

In the power and persistence, the end product is achieved.

Productivity. Productivity in prayer is also dependent on the power and persistence of the prayer, and the power and persistence of God, in order that His purposes and plans can be fulfilled.
The fruit of the Spirit – the “produce” of a Spirit filled life - now that is productivity.