The Most Important How

How common is it for people to miss what is most important!  We get ahead of ourselves, looking to a desired end when it is only by looking to Jesus will we arrive there.  I remember when I first sensed an unexpected call from God to prepare for pastoral ministry.  The questions repeated over and over in my mind was "When and how?"  These questions remained unanswered until a door was miraculously opened.  It was similar when the LORD placed Australia on my heart:  I was more focused on how my family could immigrate to Australia rather than "how" being answered by faith in Him.  If you asked me how we arrived in Australia, we arrived by plane; the more important how was we also came by faith in Jesus.  It was Jesus and faith in Him, not the fact after many years we finally stood on Australian soil, how we found ourselves sustained ever since.

Faith in God often requires action.  Abraham's faith in God was revealed when he left his homeland to go where God showed Him.  By faith Moses climbed Sinai when the other Hebrews cowered in fear before the presence of the almighty God.  By faith Joshua and the children of Israel crossed the Jordan into Canaan, trusting through God they would be victorious.  By faith Gideon attacked the mighty Midianites and prevailed with 300 men.  By faith Saul, after he was struck blind by Jesus Christ who confronted him on the road, continued onto Damascus to wait until he received further instruction.  This was an act of faith I have often overlooked.  If we were struck blind on the road, we likely would have gone back home to Jerusalem to recover or seek medical treatment.  Saul was obedient to the command of Christ, and three days later miraculously received his sight according to the word of the LORD.

Saul went to Damascus with intent to persecute believers, arrest and bring them bound to Jerusalem for judgment.  Losing his physical sight was the path to spiritual enlightenment by God's grace.  Ananias, a follower of Jesus Christ, was prompted to seek out Saul and lay hands on him to receive his sight.  It did not matter how Ananias went to Damascus--whether by foot or beast--as long as he went by faith in Jesus.  Acts 9:17-20 reads, "And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." ¹⁸ Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. ¹⁹ So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. ²⁰ Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God."

What a trade off!  Saul experienced blindness, hunger and thirst for three days but at God's appointed time was blessed beyond measure to be accepted as "brother," received his sight, was filled with the Holy Spirit, born again, empowered and gifted to preach Christ.  Saul's cause at one time was to persecute the church, yet God graciously transformed him by faith in Jesus and gave him an infinitely better one as an afflicted, persecuted child of God.  Saul, who later was called Paul, wrote to believers in 2 Corinthians 4:13-18:  "And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. ¹⁵ For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. ¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Temporary blindness was a small trial in the life of the apostle Paul, yet all tribulation and suffering he experienced with eyes of faith in Jesus was momentary, "light affliction" which could not be compared with the glory God would reveal in believers (Romans 8:18).  In light of eternity by faith in Christ the sufferings of this life fade away, obscured by the blessing of God's presence and fellowship with Him and an eternal home with Him in heaven.  For all those who want to enjoy our created purpose for existence as servants of God, faith in Jesus is the vehicle to bring us there by God's grace.  God does not make light of our suffering, yet all affliction is light compared to the eternal weight of glory God has in store for us.  Our outward man is perishing, and by faith our inner man is being renewed day by day.  Should God direct you to climb a mountain or travel to another city, how or when you arrive there by God's grace is of little consequence compared to the most important how:  by faith in Him.

Looking To Our Saviour

At a funeral when I was a kid, I remember hearing about the departed "looking down from heaven on us," lifting a drink in a celebratory salute.  The one who shared this perspective seemed comforted by the thought, and encouraged us that our loved one was in a much better place.  I wondered how one could arrive to such a conclusion, and if it was indeed possible.  As I have grown a bit in understanding concerning the biblical view, the idea suggested runs contrary to the revelation God has provided in His word.

I do not profess to know exactly what departed believers are doing at this moment, for God has not told us.  But it would be altogether inconsistent for anyone in the presence of the Almighty God in heaven to turn their focus from God worthy of worship and look back towards earth with longing.  We long for those who have gone to God, and it is a foreign concept for those in His presence to desire to be anywhere else.  When Jesus spoke of the rich man and Lazarus in Sheol it was the condemned rich man who desired Lazarus to be sent with a warning of the eternal torment awaiting those who die in their sins.  Lazarus, who was finally comforted, did not even address the suggestion.  Perhaps he didn't even hear the rich man begging because he was completely, totally at peace in the presence of the LORD that will never grow old.

The idea of a redeemed soul looking back to earth (if it is even possible) reminds me a bit of Lot's wife who looked longing back to Sodom.  In a vision on Patmos John caught a glimpse of the activity in the throne room of God Revelation 4:8-11:  "The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" ⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ¹¹ "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."  These living creatures do not grow weary of offering glory, honour and thanks to God, for all things are created by God for God.  These beings understood what we can be ignorant of:  the awesome splendour and worthiness of God to be praised.

On earth people drink because they are thirsty, to meet a physical need:  in the presence of the God Who gives Living Water in a glorified, perfected state we will discover afresh how much we need Him and want to thank and praise Him.  In Him all our thirsts are satiated and our hunger satisfied.  In the presence of the awesome God it will require a summons from Jesus to return to this earth after the rapture, because we will never be content to be apart from Him.  While thinking about those who have passed looking down upon us may provide a degree of comfort for some, the greatest comfort and help in our sorrow is to do as Hebrews 12 says, to be looking unto Jesus by faith who is the Author and Finisher of our faith.  When our eyes are fixed on Him as we rest in His goodness, mercy and grace, we discover comfort, help and perfect peace not found anywhere else.  In the presence of our Saviour who is our all in all, all else is put in proper perspective.

God Remembers

About 11 years ago a video went viral of a man in Yosemite cheering and weeping over a "double-rainbow" before him in the valley.  Amid the awe and wonder (perhaps heightened by chemicals) the fellow asked, "What does it mean?"  The man recognised the beauty of colour, design and symmetry, and for the question he asked the Bible provides the answer.  It is more than a natural phenomenon explained scientifically but proof of a Creator with a distinct purpose in mind.

After God judged the world with a great flood of water, He remembered Noah and his family and made a covenant with them and the earth.  Genesis 9:12-16 reads, "And God said: "This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: ¹³ I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. ¹⁴ It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; ¹⁵ and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. ¹⁶ The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth."

Growing up, whenever there was a visible rainbow we brought it to the attention of the whole family.  I remember many times my mum saying something like, "Hey kids!  Come quick and look!  A rainbow!"  My brother, sister and I would run over the window or go outside to see the rainbow for ourselves.  I love how God says He looks upon the rainbow and remembers the promise He has made between Himself and every creature of the earth.  There have been many floods since that day long ago, but none that brought global destruction and death.  Rainbows are not always visible to us, but when they are they have been set there by God and He created and sustained us to see them.  The birds and beasts do not notice the rainbow, but people made in the image of God do--and cheer over the beauty without realising the divine message and promise behind it.

Whether a rainbow is seen in the cloud, over a scenic valley, from the mist of a garden hose or in the refraction of a prism, it is a reminder for me of God's promise He looks upon and is faithful to keep.  White light from the sun is a combination of the whole visible spectrum of light, and a rainbow is when the different wavelengths of light are divided so each can be seen individually.  So it is with the truth of God's word:  the more we read, listen and consider, the more we see and appreciate the beauty of our LORD and His goodness to us all.  He is the source of all that is beautiful, and He gives us the capacity to rest in awe of His glory.

Take and Give

I remember counsel I received as a new pastor, how the role requires an ability to "take it."  This was not speaking of the call to pastoral ministry but what is required at times when dealing with conflict and problems.  Ministry involves people, and every person is a sinner--including me.  When Christians were taking their personal gripes before secular courts Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:7, "Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?"  There is a point when we must humbly choose the high road when someone is giving you a piece of their mind and does not know the whole story.  People in leadership will find themselves criticised, questioned, judged and opposed.  Those who cannot accept this reality are better off doing anything else than fighting for respect or trying to justify yourself.

It was good advice to receive as a young pastor up front, and I later learned an important second part of the same:  after I had taken it, I needed to give it to God.  It is one thing to feel like a whipping boy, and it is another to remember Jesus was scourged for my sins.  Jesus was able to bear the sins of the world upon Him, and I could not bear the weight of my own iniquity!  "Tell someone who cares," people say.  Believe me, Jesus does care more than anyone I know.  1 Peter 5:5-7 says, "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." ⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."  Sometimes we hear of problems and suffering that burdens us greatly, and only Christ can sustain and uphold us.  More than merely being a confidant, all our confidence and hope is in Him. 

A wise man will take on board counsel and advice given from others, and there is always a risk we will take offence.  Sometimes we can be offended because of malicious or hateful speech towards us and others, yet offense can occur when our expectations are unmet.  The disciples were offended a woman would waste precious oil by anointing Jesus when He commended her for doing a good thing.  The townsfolk of Nazareth were offended because of the wise words Jesus said in their synagogue.  We can be confident whatever God has us take, we can give to Him because He cares for us.  I have found this to be a good practice with commendation and praise as well.  When we are complimented, it is good to humbly receive it and quickly give it to the LORD because He is the deserving one.  Holding praise close to our hearts fills us with pride and works to strip us of reliance upon God as our source of wisdom and strength.

In a world of give and take, I have found when we must "take" it is healthy (and helpful!) to give.  Praise the LORD He is longsuffering to bear with us, and continues to care for us.