Hanging Out With Jesus

I was reminded recently of a conversation I had with a Christian brother who grew up in the Midwest and moved to California later in life.  He said one of the things he missed about his culture back home was it was acceptable and expected for friends to just "drop by" for a chat when they were in the area.  Having grown up and lived in California for a large portion of my life, I can affirm some do see it as inconsiderate and intrusive to show up at a friend's house without first calling ahead as a courtesy.  Mobile phones have made this even more expected.  My friend preferred the freedom to offer and receive hospitality at a moment's notice, for people to drop whatever they were doing to open the door and welcome you into their home--or vice versa.  He valued this accessibility and hospitality as a basic courtesy that was foreign to many Californians he met.

I had a friend at high school who lived in a gated residence on a prominent hill in the East County of San Diego.  His parent's property and house had a view you would see in a movie or in a music video--the kind of place that would be cool to drop by and hang out if you were in the area.  Despite my friend and his family being very friendly and welcoming, those locked, automated gates put the place off limits for me to "drop by."  I would only go there if I was giving my friend a ride or going to an organised gathering, for the gates sent the message these people obviously valued their privacy and ought to be able to enjoy their home in peace without the intercom buzzing at odd hours.  I may have been more welcome to show up unannounced than I thought I was, but I never wanted to intrude or outstay my welcome.  It was a privilege to be invited by my friend to his house and hang out, and I didn't want jeopardise my good standing by being a nuisance.

Isn't it awesome we can never be a nuisance to God because of His great lovingkindness towards us?  His kingdom and presence is infinitely more glorious than the most luxurious property or house.  I'm not quite sure my friend's parents knew my name without being reminded, but God knows us inside and out because He created us.  The privilege of being called, accepted and invited to God's throne room in heaven that is always open to Christians is beyond compare.  Think of it!  There is more security involved in turning a doorknob or pushing the button of an intercom at a gate than to be instantly in God's throne room of grace at our time of need.  And it isn't like God's throne room is reserved only for official business, for being infinite in power and wisdom God is able to do everything we cannot.  God is never inconvenienced and does not need to drop anything to focus on a matter at hand, for all is at His hand at all times and is perfectly, fully accomplished by Him without fail.  It is no imposition for God to give us all His attention, for being eternal He always has more time than there are seconds in the day.

Hebrews 4:14-16 says, "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  Jesus is always sympathetic with our weaknesses because He knows what it is to be human, and His triumph over all sin and temptation shows He is able to help us.  When the disciples rebuffed people who brought their babies to be blessed by Jesus, He rebuked them forcefully.  There are no locked gates, angelic guards or bailiffs we must explain ourselves to that block the way to freely enter the presence of God in heaven:  it is our sin that can block our way, sin Jesus shed His blood to provide atonement for.  We don't need to have an "official" reason to approach God's throne of grace, and we can drop by and hang out as long as we like without imposing upon our LORD who loves us.  What good reason do we have to ever leave?

Fresh Vision?

Because God looks at the heart as well as appearances, it is good for us to consider not only words we say but what they imply.  It is common in Christians circles for biblical phrases to become hackneyed, far removed from their original context, or be plain misleading.  As much as we like to think we are circumspect thinkers, the most wise among us can be reduced to parroting what we have heard or follow along with respected Christian leaders without much critical thought.  It is wise to exercise caution when we encounter terms or phrases we do not first observe in scripture.

Case in point:  today I saw a post of a Christian ministry that explained people from all over the country gathered to pray over a "fresh vision."  Frankly I am not exactly sure what is meant by this phrase, but I can say what it clearly implies.  What it implies is the original or previous "vision" for ministry has become a bit old or outdated.  Perhaps expectations have not been met or attempts to follow the existing "vision" have not been as profitable as hoped.  It suggests the old vision is boring--not timeless and without flaw like the good old path of Gospel truth.  What is most concerning about praying over "fresh vision" is the lack of the mention of seeking God who gives sight to the blind.  This longing for fresh vision may be a result of people's personal spiritual walks growing stale and result in a departure from the original purpose of a ministry's existence.

At the moment at Calvary Chapel Sydney we are studying through the book of Revelation, and that is an ancient vision that remains as fresh and relevant as it was the day it was penned by John the apostle.  Come to think of it, every single biblical vision remains fresh because Jesus has the power to make all things new.  It isn't a fresh vision that is needed to know what to do moving forward but to have the almighty God who is high and lifted up in our sights, being filled with the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth.  It is true what Proverbs 29:18 says in the KJV, yet we cannot omit or forget the second part:  "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."  Since Jesus has fulfilled the Law of Moses, we are to fix our eyes on Jesus and love God and one another as He loves us--for he who loves one another has fulfilled the Law.

When Jesus is our vision like the lyrics of the classic Irish hymn says, we can be confident He will always lead us in the good, righteous way.  We need Him more than vision itself.  The blind prophet Ahijah is a prime example of the insight God gives those who fear and obey Him in 1 Kings 14.  It is we who grow weary in doing good; it is we who are reluctant like the children of Israel to walk in the good old paths by faith in God.  God is faithful to quicken and renew our souls when we seek Him:  "Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart, naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.  Thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.  Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word, I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord:  thou my great Father, and I Thy true son, thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one." (Audrey Assad version)

Upheld From Birth

As we go through life, it is natural for us to become burdened by all manner of things because our understanding is finite, our strength is limited, we soon grow weary and can feel overwhelmed.  Even the most mighty workmen among us need a break in the heat and to sleep, and the cumulative effect of our exertions over time begin to weigh heavily upon us.  Because we are strong and able to do things, we tend to take more upon ourselves than we can carry easily and wear ourselves out.  Even Moses had to learn this lesson by experience.  Seeing the responses from people in the U.S. concerning the recent election, it appears people from all walks of life continue to feel the weight of the world rests upon their shoulders regardless of who is in office.  History has revealed having a majority in government does not ensure those in your own party will be willing work together (much less the opposition!), and this knowledge does nothing to lighten a taxing mental load.

In a world filled with worries, anxieties and cares, God causes His light to shine and unmasks idols that can be the cause of the burdens we carry.  For the children of Israel, this was literally the case.  God spoke through the prophet in Isaiah 46:1-2:  "Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; their idols were on the beasts and on the cattle. Your carriages were heavily loaded, a burden to the weary beast. ² They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but have themselves gone into captivity."  Bel and Nebo were idols that were more than dead weight:  they were false hope that only burdened man and beast.  Desperate people hoped in vain for help from these gilded objects that could not see, speak, hear, walk or do anything.  People fleeing from their homes to save their lives loaded the bulky idols onto carts that only wearied and slowed down their oxen.  These idols proved only to be a hindrance, and their misguided affections of God's people were exposed by treasuring images that could not save rather than trusting the God of Israel alone.

See God's gracious and encouraging response to weary souls in Isaiah 46:3-4:  "Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb: ⁴ even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you."  Regardless if God's people had been taken captive to Babylon or were the poor who remained in Israel, God told all the remnant of Israel to listen to Him.  While they toiled to secure their idols in a vertical position on their carts, God was faithful to uphold His people from their birth as a nation.  Each one of them had been personally knit together and carried by God from their mother's womb.   As sure as they had been born, God would faithfully carry them in their old age.  God preserved them during their most vulnerable and weak moments, and God could be trusted to carry them into the future.  God promised to steady and support them even when a day came when they could not stand or walk unaided.  God was never burdened, weary or tired of carrying His people:  it was they who grew weary of Him.  They were the ones guilty of burdening themselves body and mind when His yoke is easy and His burden light.

When you feel anxious and the weight of the world upon your shoulders, that it falls to you to support and carry others, know it is God who carries you.  Jesus taught that "sufficient for the day is its own trouble," and this reminds me of our physical limitations coupled with the tendency to take on extra burdens God has not called us to carry.  We are not called to right all the wrongs in a nation, change the hearts of men, and fight those who oppose our views or convictions:  we are called to trust God and rely upon Him.  Christians ought to be numbered among the most joyful, carefree people because we continue to respond obediently to the call of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-29:  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  Rest is impossible when we are collapsing under the weight of our burdens and anxieties, by the pressure heaped upon our souls by idolatry.  Knowing we are born again by faith in Jesus who will also carry and deliver us, we experience peace that passes understanding come what may.

Expanding in Service

There are many churches that operate well, are spiritually healthy and fruitful without having a permanent place of worship.  It is common in Australia for churches to hire out schools or rooms on Sunday because this is what is available and affordable.  That's how it was for the church I grew up attending, and I faintly remember the services being held in the cafeteria of a local high school.  Whether a church fellowship meets house to house, rents a hall, is in the midst of a renovation, building project, or settled in a permanent location, it is always a good season to serve the LORD in one accord with each another.

In a passage I read today, it was instructive on how the service of the Levites changed when the temple was built in Jerusalem.  During decades in the wilderness, one main role of the Levites was to haul the tabernacle and the articles around, to set up and dismantle the tabernacle as the LORD led His people like a flock to the promised land.  A lot of Christians in portable churches look forward to the prospects of having a place to call their own like the Hebrews looked forward to Canaan, where ministry (finally!) goes beyond stacking and unstacking chairs or setting up the sound system and rolling up the cords every week.  It is ironic should these people one day have their desire, they will look back with fondness to the portable season--not for the inconvenience of setting up, tearing down and hauling stuff around--but the blessing to be part of God's work in a practical way with people who love Jesus.  A church being saddled with a building and staff can result in reduced opportunities for regular people to get in the trenches and be part of the work.

With the building of the temple, the scope of the work of the Levites was not reduced but expanded in their service to God and the priests.  Also at David's command the age of the Levites began serving in the temple was lowered from 30 to 20.  Rather than having less to do because the tabernacle no longer needed to be carried and constructed, there was more help needed!  1 Chronicles 23:28-32 explains:  "...their duty was to help the sons of Aaron in the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts and in the chambers, in the purifying of all holy things and the work of the service of the house of God, ²⁹ both with the showbread and the fine flour for the grain offering, with the unleavened cakes and what is baked in the pan, with what is mixed and with all kinds of measures and sizes; ³⁰ to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening; ³¹ and at every presentation of a burnt offering to the LORD on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons and on the set feasts, by number according to the ordinance governing them, regularly before the LORD; ³² and that they should attend to the needs of the tabernacle of meeting, the needs of the holy place, and the needs of the sons of Aaron their brethren in the work of the house of the LORD."

A big shift of the focus of the service of the Levites was from carrying stuff to people--serving with their brethren the priests in the worship of God.  Regarding the church, it is important at all stages of development and growth the LORD Jesus be the one we focus on serving as well as edifying and supporting one another in love.  It would be a shame to be more intent on securing or renovating a building than to make disciples of Jesus, and for us to realise disciples can be made and strengthened in these very things.  When a day comes we do not need to load trailers with chairs and sound equipment, we can serve in different ways:  like helping project words during worship, host a prayer group, teach children, contribute financially, help clean, and make hospital or house calls to encourage others.  Having a temple, the Levite's scope of work increased and their usefulness grew instead of diminishing.  Their identity was not in what they did or how they contributed but in their awesome God.

Whether we are perpetually stacking and moving chairs or settled in a building on property owned by the church, at every age there is always good, profitable work we can do in serving our LORD Jesus and supporting one another in His service.  Just being present and demonstrating love for one another at church in obedience to Christ is a greater encouragement than most people realise.