The Door To Glory

Jesus knew His coming to this world would involve much suffering, yet His suffering or pain was not His focus.  Even as Paul recognised the sufferings of this world could not be compared to the glory which would be revealed in him, so Jesus for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross and despised the shame.  Jesus was never selfish or self-focused.  He did not balk at obedience to the Father because it would mean temptation, physical pain or spiritual separation.  John 12:23-24 says, "But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. ²⁴ Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."  Jesus didn't spend the bulk of His time speaking about His future pain, but how His death would be the path to eternal glory and fruit.

When Jesus spoke of His future crucifixion, He spoke of it with the ultimate end in mind.  He maintained an eternal perspective.  Women who desire to have a baby rejoice and celebrate their pregnancy with friends and family, even if it means migraines and morning sickness.  There are happy parties planned with friends, gifts are given, great care is taken to prepare a nursery, and a future mother ensures cute outfits and supplies are ready for the miraculous addition.  Prospective mothers experience a wide range of physical and emotional ups and downs to be sure, but the nine-month period of pregnancy is not set aside for weeping and mourning because a day of intense, excruciating pain is coming.  Future pain isn't the focus:  those nine months are filled with joy at the happy expectation a child will be born into a loving, growing family.

Jesus did not sugar-coat what awaited Him in Matthew 20:17-19:  "Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, ¹⁸ "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, ¹⁹ and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again."  What part of His message does your heart seize upon:  betrayal, condemnation, mockery, scourging, death, or resurrection?  The resurrection of the dead swallows up all those previous troubles as mere inconveniences easily shrugged off in the light of eternity.  We Christians can allow these passing pains to rob us of love, joy, and peace God has provided us through Christ's victory.  Our response to trials reveals to us the condition of our faith, whether we truly trust God or not, or if we will focus on ourselves or turn our eyes to Jesus.

Last night while I waited for my son to be dropped off outside a church, I saw through illuminated windows a wooden figure of Jesus fixed to a crucifix.  Though the carving was three-dimensional, it reduced Christ to one dimension.  There an image hung of God-made-flesh perpetually suffering, always dying, but never dead, risen, or glorified.  How blasphemous that wood appeared to me!  The invisible God who appeared on Mt. Sinai told His people in Deut. 4:15-16 they should never corrupt themselves by making a male or female image.  We ought not wash the blood from the cross, a picture of God's demonstration of love and sacrifice for undeserving sinners.  But by all means remove the pathetic impersonation of my God, the risen LORD who lives today, who will return to earth with eyes flaming with fire to judge His enemies.  Jesus once for all died for the sins of the world, and to affix Christ permanently to the cross only robs us of consolation and Him of glory.

Suffering is not our enemy, but our flesh can oppose the work God intends to do through it.  Our limited vision is often incapable of seeing how God is able to redeem the struggles and pains we endure.  But even as Jesus had to die so many could live, so we know that all things work for the good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  Jesus called His disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him.  Let us not falter at the prospect of betrayal, mocking, persecution, suffering, pain, or even death, for the day of our glorification draws nigh.  May the LORD enable us not to look at future pain or rejection with fear, but to look beyond into the face of our glorious Saviour gazing at us through His Word who will never leave or forsake us.

Is Seeing Believing?

"Seeing is believing," some say.  This statement can be safely tucked away with many other sayings which are not always true.  Thomas believed when he saw Jesus physically standing before Him, but some have believed who never laid eyes on Christ once.  The people who personally saw Jesus perform many miracles and even saw Lazarus whom Christ raised from the dead did not believe, as it is written in John 12:37-40:  "But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, ³⁸ that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?"³⁹ Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: ⁴⁰ "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them."

The Jews in Christ's day could not cite "lack of concrete evidence" for their unbelief, and neither can people today.  Quoting from the Bible Knowledge Commentary it says, "Then John again quoted from Isaiah 6:10 to explain that the nation as a whole was unable to believe. Because they constantly rejected God’s revelation, He had punished them with judicial blindness and deadened...hearts. People in Jesus’ day, like those in Isaiah’s day, refused to believe. They “would not believe;" therefore they could not believe."  No man can charge God with blame for his own unbelief, for God has clearly revealed Himself through creation, the order of the heavenly bodies, the complexity of the human body, the existence of a conscience in people, and through the Law, prophets, and Jesus Christ.  He fulfilled prophesies, did many signs and miracles which cannot be historically disputed, died on a Roman cross, and rose from the dead.  He was seen by over 500 people at one time (1 Cor. 15:6), many of whom faced death for their profession of faith in Christ as the Resurrection and the Life.

Jesus said, "Except you see signs and wonders, you will not believe" (John 4:48).  John 12:37 says even some who see divine signs will refuse to believe.  The most sound logic and undeniable proofs can be explained away and rejected by those unwilling to believe.  It is not that man cannot believe:  it is better said he will not.  God will not trample on man's will, having freely provided every man the choice to follow his own will or surrender himself to God's will.  There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end of it is death.  The soul that sins shall surely die, but those who repent and trust in Christ as LORD will receive life eternal.  Believe the Word of God or don't.  But I beg all men to cease labouring under the foolish notion God must do some arbitrary act before you will believe in Him.  Your existence and consciousness alone should awaken within you the realisation there must be a consciousness who has gone before to create this world and all within for His purposes.

God has spoken.  God has revealed Himself, and those willing to believe will perceive the truth.  Do you want to see?  Look into the life and person of Jesus Christ yourself.  Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19, "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; ¹⁹ to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."  After Jesus read these words from the scroll of Isaiah that day, some believed and some didn't.  Some were enraged and tried to kill Him, but others followed Him.  Are you willing to believe or would you kill God if you could?

Insidious Idolatry

Over the past couple months I first noticed my vision was blurred, especially over distance.  I have always been blessed with good vision, and I decided it was time to have my eyes checked professionally.  I was diagnosed with mild astigmatism and sent to a specialist because it appeared my optic nerves were swollen and performed poorly on a peripheral vision test.  After a few additional tests were done, it was discovered I have a fairly rare condition called "optic disc drusen" which is when deposits of calcium and protein collect in the optic nerve.  Typically it is considered a benign condition, but it can lead to increasing peripheral vision loss and even blindness.

One site I read called it an "insidious" condition, which sounds more menacing than it is.  Most often (like in my case) optic disc drusen is discovered when ruling out more dangerous conditions.  The second definition of word "insidious" in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is, "having a gradual and cumulative effect:  subtle; developing so gradually as to be well established before becoming apparent."  In the case of optic disc drusen, there is no known cure or recognised treatment.  My life and my eyes are in God's hands, and I am comforted and at rest placing my soul and sight under His care.

Eye conditions are not the only conditions which are insidious.  Sin is most insidious.  The first definition offered in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is, "awaiting a chance to entrap:  treacherous; harmful but enticing:  seductive."  Idolatry is one of those sins which easily pass unnoticed.  Often we must have our idols stripped from us before we realise the grip they have on our lives.  In Judges 17-18, a man named Micah is an example of such a one.  In a day when everyone did what was right in their own eyes, Micah crafted an ephod, household idols, and even hired a Levite as a priest.  He believed himself devout, and believed God would do him good for his efforts - despite the self-serving and idolatrous nature of his worship (Judges 17:13).

Such riches did not go unnoticed, and five spies from the tribe of Dan discovered the expensive treasures within Micah's house.  The discussed with the Levite a promotion and a better deal, and when he agreed with the backing of 600 armed men they took Micah's idols.  When Micah discovered the theft, he and some neighbours pursued the men of Dan.  They questioned his motive for following them, and Micah said in Judges 18:24, "You have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and you have gone away. Now what more do I have? How can you say to me, 'What ails you?"  Micah's heart and money were invested in idols made with his hands.  When they were taken away from him by force, he felt the full weight of their loss.  He felt bereaved of what was most important, though they were idols, mere nothings.

It occurred to me we do not often recognise our idols until they are ripped away from us.  Our flesh resents being separated from what we have idolised.  But idolatry is an insidious deception.  Sin prowls around the door of our heart, waiting for an opportunity to strike.  Micah's idols had become his life, but they prevented him from experiencing the life of faith God desired.  Micah's idols became a snare for him and his family, and later became a snare for the entire tribe of Dan as their power grew.  Micah reveals we may recognise our idols best in hindsight.  One way we can discern what was actually an idol for us is how we would feel when it is taken from us.  Idolatry starts small and in the heart, but it will not stay small for long.  Like an advanced case of optic disc drusen, the field of vision slowly narrows until blindness is the result.

May the LORD wrench from our grip all idols which have a hold on us so we might serve and glorify Him alone!  It is Jesus who gives sight to the blind, and He will reveal even this to those willing to heed Him.

Living it Up?

There is no shortage of worldly options which offer themselves as substitutes for the life God intends.  The flesh always prefers gratification over denial.  But Jesus said if we will be His disciples, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him.  He always lived to please the Father, and as we learn to follow Him we find satisfaction for our souls.  Denial of the flesh becomes a great source of joy, for in obedience to God there is rest and freedom from the bondage of sin.

No man can serve two masters, Jesus said:  we cannot serve both God and money.  The pursuit of wealth and love of money causes men to be pierced through with many sorrows, though money promises what only God can deliver.  Trusting money instead of God places our feet on a foundation of slippery sand.  People look to money to supply security, material possessions, the freedom to acquire, and to open doors for travel and experiences.  But like all things men idolise, money is incapable of supplying what we seek.  People want to "Live it up!" but these empty pursuits only makes a man sink lower.  A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions, and all the money in the world cannot quench a man's unquenchable thirst for belonging, significance, purpose, and eternal life.

Alcohol is another worldly substitute for the Spirit-filled life.  Ephesians 5:17-18 says, "Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit..."  There is a stark contrast between drinking to excess and being filled with the Spirit and are completely incompatible with one another.  Alcohol stimulates dopamine production in the "reward centre" of the brain, but only intensifies feelings of depression later.  Our bodies can become dependent on alcohol, and the permanent effects are deadly.  Instead of looking to strong drink to cope with pressures of life, we are called to rely upon the Holy Spirit and the strength only He can supply.  Drinking has put many in the poorhouse, but those filled with Spirit have wealth money cannot buy.  Drinking makes a man forgetful and brings regrets, yet those who are filled with the Spirit have sharpened perception without fear or shame.

The mother of Lemuel said to her son in Proverbs 31:4-5, "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; ⁵ lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted."  After warning her son not to give himself to ways which destroy kings, she reminded him that as a king he was always "on duty."  Should he give himself over to drunkenness he would be unfit to uphold God's justice.  His judgment would be clouded and be an influence for evil rather than good.  The same is true for a child of God, having been made kings and priests unto Him through the Gospel (Rev. 1:6).  No Christian is ever "off duty."  It is God's will that we be continually filled with the Holy Spirit so we might live above reproach, conscious of God's leading and being empowered by Him.  Even the risk of momentarily forgetting God and His righteous judgments should be enough cause for us to remain sober and vigilant.

What is the impact of a Holy Spirit-filled life?  The passage continued in Ephesians 5:18-21:  "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God."  Drunkenness is a characteristic of the unsaved, a life of fleshly excess.  Being filled with the Spirit brings God's Word to bear upon our lives, puts a new song in our hearts, causes us to overflow with thanksgiving, and enables us to maintain a humble perspective before men and God.  Happiness depends on what happens, and the euphoria supplied by alcohol is temporary.  The joy of the LORD is the strength of a Christian, and this fruit of the Spirit is available continually to all who trust in Christ - without the hangover.

Money, alcohol, fame, and earthly security are all pathetic, temporary substitutes for the genuine supplied only by God.  God provides the true riches and the Holy Spirit.  All who repent and trust in Jesus are known by God, and He gives eternal life to all who come to Him by faith.  The world sells knock-off goods at shockingly high prices:  they demand the death of your body and eternal soul.  If you love the things of this world, you are being ripped off and robbed blind.  Hear the words of a Saviour who actually loves you.  Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."  In Christ we discover the "High Life" - a life worth living!