New Thoughts: (10/19/13-10/22/13)
I will begin this study with a question, and we shall see if God will give answer. Is there a meaningful distinction between the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ? My instinctual reaction is to say no. Yet, I am then left to answer why, if these are all describing on and the same entity, are there so many variations. That is, however, an easy answer, given the myriad names by which God has been proclaimed. Likewise, Jesus even spoke of Himself by varied titles such as son of man and son of God.
The Old Testament is rich in names for God. These names tend to emphasize a particular aspect of His essential character, that specific way in which His being answered to the situation at hand. Likewise, Jesus, in alternately making Himself known as the Son of Man, and the Son of God, was emphasizing specific aspects of His singular self, as best addressed the moment.
This might give us an appropriate way of viewing these varied forms of address for the Holy Spirit. Yes, it is certainly true that whether spoken of as Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ or any other variation, it is the same, singular person of the Godhead. I might add at this point that whether we speak of Father, Son or Spirit, it is the same, singular God. Yet, we understand that this one God, being three in persons, each Person has His own unique role, His own part in the singular purpose. We understand that the name by which God is declared by His people on any given occasion emphasizes a particular aspect of His singular character, but not as denying all other aspects of His character. When John speaks of God as being love, he is not thereby rejecting any thought of God being wrath. When we set ourselves upon the mercy of God, we do not thereby deny that He is just, nor ask Him to act in any way contrary to Justice.
What happens in each of these circumstances is that we are focused on the most immediately applicable aspect of the Godhead. It might be said that, if we speak of Father, Son and Spirit in appropriate fashion, our choice of which person to speak to also has more to do with our present situation than anything. We rightly hold that to proclaim one person of the Trinity to the exclusion of all others is to at best be out of balance, and far more likely to be or become rank heresy. The Jesus-only movements stand out in this regard. But, in some degree the Charismatic movements run the risk of being so focused on the Holy Spirit that Father and Son become eclipsed. Other branches may so de-emphasize the Holy Spirit as to all but deny Him, which would be just as risky.
It is one thing to speak of God or to God in a fashion most suited to a particular circumstance, and it is well to take note of the specific way God addresses that circumstance. It feeds the fires of faith to see how God is the answer in each and every situation. It is another thing entirely to conclude and proclaim that God is only this specific aspect of Himself. It is the road to gross error when we so exalt one specific character of God that all others are ignored, just as exalting one Person of the Trinity to the exclusion of the others is gross error.
So, come back to the original question. Is there a distinction between Holy Spirit, Spirit of God and Holy Spirit? Fundamentally, the answer remains no. But! There is likely a distinction of emphasis, just as each name of God emphasizes a specific aspect of His being, so we might suppose that each name of the Spirit emphasizes a specific aspect of the Spirit.
With that in mind, it would be worthwhile to ask why Peter would choose the particular emphasis contained in declaring that it was the Spirit of Christ speaking through the Old Testament prophets? (And note that He was within them). This would be an important point to establish if dealing with a Jewish congregation, or a church amidst a Jewish population. It certainly declares the continuity of Christianity with the ancient faith of Israel. Look! The One Who gave the prophets speech is the very One Who came and died for you. When He spoke through them, He spoke of Himself. And, by the way, He is still speaking now, through those who preach the Gospel of His kingdom!
But, it seems more likely that these Gentile congregations, at least primarily so. They are viewed as being plants of Paul’s missionary efforts, and would be more familiar with his particular style and emphasis. Peter, Apostle to the Jews, is less familiar to them. They might even have the misapprehension that he and Paul are proclaiming distinct gospels from one another. This seems to have arisen in Corinth. No reason it would not arise in Asia Minor as well. We have no evidence of such divisiveness in this case, but were it present Peter would do well to address the unity of himself with Paul. I am not particularly convinced of this line of thought. It tries too hard to find a reason for the phrase.
It could very well be that this is just naturally the way Peter thought. To him, the particular wonder that this Christ with Whom he had walked for several years, his Teacher, was the very same being Who had spoken through the prophets: Wonder of wonders! How privileged he must have known himself to have been so honored. How assured in recognizing that his own preaching was by this very same Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ!
As I wrote that sentence, it seems to me I may have been led to the real reason for this connection, and it is both larger and simpler than I had been thinking. These people are indeed followers of Christ – Christians. They have been taught the gospel of Christ with authority, even apostolic authority. While there is value in recognizing that it is this same God whom they serve in Christ who spoke by the Spirit through the prophets, there is something else here: As the prophets spoke, so the preachers speak. It is all by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of Christ. He is God, as Christ is God. Behold, the Lord your God, He is One! That hasn’t changed for the Jew, it is critical for the Gentile to recognize this, to set aside all thought of pantheism. There is no pantheon in heaven, only the Triune Godhead, Three in One, and far more critical to this juncture, One though Three.
But, it is not only the unity of the godhead in view. It is the unity of the apostles. Paul taught them by the One Spirit of this One God. Peter likewise writes to them as preaching by the One Spirit of this One God. By and large, it still feels to me as though I am attempting to find too much meaning in this. There remains, however, the fact that God does not waste words, not even when inspiring His apostles. There is a reason for these statements. There is a reason for the reminder that the preacher preaches by the same power that the prophet prophesies. While we would never allow the risk of declaring our preachers inerrant, nor would we be so blind as to believe every claimant to the prophetic role; yet it is well to be reminded that the source for both, when that office is truly exercised, is the very Spirit of God.
Reading this point as presented in The Living Bible, we have this: “It was preached to us in the power of the same heaven-sent Holy Spirit who spoke to them.” Now, they may provide an emphasis on the same-ness of Spirit that is not directly stated in the underlying text, but the point is valid. The Spirit is the Spirit. If prophets and preachers both speak by the Spirit, it is assuredly the same Spirit, however we may choose to refer to Him. And that brings me to a point of application.
Today being Sunday, I shall soon be off to church. I shall be sitting under the ministry of my own pastor, who shall be preaching this same Gospel. Indeed, at present he is teaching a series on the Gospel of Mark, the which I should be particularly well prepared for given that I taught through that book last year, and have just emerged from my own lengthy study of the Gospels. And now, here I am looking at further writings by the source of Mark’s material. Yet, I have found in the past several weeks that Pastor Dana brings forth aspects of the message that, if I saw them myself, I have managed to forget. More likely by far that these are indeed new observations, new applications. The Word is, after all, infinitely rich, and perfectly suited to every day.
But, in light of this present train of thought, here is the important point: Do I perceive of Pastor Dana as preaching by the Holy Spirit? In light of my lesson today on Judges, I should remind myself of the point that God has said he does, therefore he does. This is not, not by any stretch, a question about the pastor. Far be it from me to suppose myself fit to judge who has the Spirit and who does not! No, the point here is not to declare my measure of the pastor, but the measure of myself! Do I give such heed to the sermon as befits hearing the Holy Spirit speak? Do I even think of it in these terms? The answer is no. I do not. And this is something of which I need clearly to repent.
Again, let me stress that there is no way I am going to give any pastor, any teacher, the benefit of being presumed infallible. No way! We are all of us fallen beings in a fallen world with fallen faculties. The Spirit speaking to us: He is infallible. The Spirit speaking through us is infallible. Yet, it is through fallen lips driven by a fallen mind. We are sadly capable of garbling the message, losing it in translation. At one and the same time, I will gladly, thankfully proclaim that God is able to get the message through nonetheless! Even through so feeble an effort as my own, He is able to speak Truth, even when I am off-course, yet He can point out the Way.
Lord, give me this mindset today, to hear You speaking in the sermon. Word of God speak! Speak and may Your servant hear and heed. Let it soak into me. Let me hear what the Spirit would say this day. It needs no wonder of tongues to have my attention, or it ought not need such spectacle. It needs only that I be mindful of Who is preaching, and be thrilled to hear Your words. Oh! Let this be my perspective today. Let this be the perspective of all Your people as they are once again blessed to hear from You.
Continuing with this consideration of the Holy Spirit in action, I turn my attention back to Paul for just a moment. “But, you are not in the flesh. You are in the Spirit, assuming the Spirit of God dwells in you. If you do not have the Spirit of Christ, you don’t belong to Him” (Ro 8:9). If you do not have the Spirit of Christ, you don’t belong to Him. Wow. And, Paul is clear: The Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit. It is the very same Spirit who speaks through the pastor who simultaneously dwells in me! It is as though He were talking to Himself. But, it is not like that. it is more the case that pastor and congregant, we both have need of His aid. The pastor’s sermon would be of no greater value than a magazine article, except the Spirit give him words to speak. His message would mean less to me than an NPR newscast, except the Spirit give me ears to hear.
There is something of a corollary to be had from this: If you do not have the Spirit of Christ, you can’t hear to any avail. You can’t hear because you don’t belong to Christ. It is fruitless for you to come week by week, playing the part but having no part in it. How are we to know which it is in our case? If the Spirit of God dwells in you, you are in the Spirit. You are hearing to some avail. You do recognize (deep unto deep) the authority of the Spirit speaking in what is preached and taught. And, more to the point, you act upon what you hear. You are not in the flesh.
Here, I find Peter melding with Mark melding with what I shall be teaching from Judges today. It is all of a theme. I could add in the back issue of Table Talk that I’ve been reading the last few days: Faith and Repentance. From today’s lesson in Judges, I take the reminder that there is a huge distinction between regret and repentance. Regret rues getting caught, rues the punishment that sin incurs. Repentance rues the denigration of God that sin entails, rues the damage done to our relationship with God. If you are in the flesh, then regret is as far as it goes. Put that in the other sequence. If regret is as far as it goes, you are in the flesh! The Spirit, by this measure, is not in you. You don’t belong to Christ. You may have thought you did, but you have been duped into thinking yourself saved when nothing could be further from the truth.
But, the situation is not hopeless. There is still the opportunity (for you are still breathing). It is possible yet that the Spirit would so move upon you as to shift you from regret to real repentance. God is forever calling us to make the leap. It is not a leap of blind faith. It is a leap of recognition. If God is God (and I assure you, He is!) then how must I respond? If He is telling me the truth about my situation, and my situation is this bad, surely I shall cry out like so many before me, “What must I do to be saved?” And the answer has never, ever changed. “Repent and believe.” Don’t just mouth empty sorrows for having been busted. Commit to change. Cease from the life of the flesh. No, this is no call to suicide. It is a call to living on a higher level. The lusts of the flesh are all of them empty, vain, deadly. The desire of the spirit, filled by the Spirit, is life and sustenance.
We are given these tests, such as I find in that quote from Romans, such as I find throughout John’s letters, as a means of seeing past the treachery of our own deceitful hearts. These words are Spirit and Truth. They are indeed sharp and powerful to cut through the fog of lies that is our usual state. God alone is able to show us the real condition of our hearts. God alone is able to effect a change of heart in us, to transform, to rebirth and recreate us into something of value. That was Peter’s point in opening this letter. It is all God. It is always all God. But, we have our part.
Here, he is emphasizing the magnificence of the gift we have been given. This salvation? It’s so marvelous that God has been speaking of it for millennia in advance of its arrival. Those through whom He was speaking wanted only to know more. Who, Lord? When, Lord? The gift of salvation, though, was so grand that even when they learned only that it would not come in their own day, yet they could not stop speaking of it. And look! Even angels in heaven are in awe of what God is doing here. How dare we treat it as some light thing? No! It is everything.
[10/21/13] Another passage which caught my eye as I collected my thoughts for this study is Ephesians 3:10. There, it is written, “All this in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to rulers and authorities in heavenly places.” We are used to thinking about the church’s mission in terms of reaching the lost, and of equipping the saints. But, as a witness to heavenly powers and authorities? The immediate connection is, of course, to this matter of angels wishing to observe what is happening with us. But Paul appears to be addressing something more. The angels, after all, do not stand in need of testimony to God’s greatness. Those powers which set themselves against the God of creation, on the other hand, must be informed of the futility of their cause, the inevitability of His victory, and the astounding means He has chosen to achieve this victory.
As I have mentioned before, I am teaching the book of Judges in Sunday School this year, and in fact Table Talk looks to the story of Deborah and Barak this morning. Let me just quote the opening statement of today’s devotional. “Throughout the redemptive history we find recorded in the Bible, we see that God often chose to raise up unlikely men and women to rescue His people from their enemies.” I might have gone so far as to say He consistently does so, and pursues the same course in dealing with His own enemies. This, it seems to me, goes directly to the power of Paul’s statement. God uses us – Us! – to witness to beings far and away more powerful. When he speaks of authorities in heavenly places, I think we must also hear that as accounting for those in hellish places. He is not, in other words, talking about a witness for the good guys, for those angels that are stooping down to see what has been done for us by their glorious Lord. Far more to the point, our salvation serves as a witness to the powers that once enslaved us in sin and blinded us to the true King of heaven.
Through these most unlikely of means, He demonstrates His power. That He brought about salvation through the death of Himself was a thing so marvelous that in spite of having had millennia to plan, with relatively full knowledge of what was to happen, the enemy still could not find a means to thwart God. Through the most unlikely of means, through men who, like Paul, were vehemently opposed to His work, He moved to expand His work. He grows His kingdom by reaching His enemies and making them friends. While we were yet sinners… He put to end the enmity of sin in us, and now is pleased to put us into service against the very powers in heavenly places which once owned us as slaves. A witness! A witness to powers far beyond our own! But, not a witness to our greatness, by any means. No, no. Not to us the glory, but to our great and glorious God in heaven, and to that salvation He has brought about by His Son, by His own mighty right arm. It is to this that we witness. It is for this that we are made children of the Most High.
This salvation, as Peter stresses in these verses, is a thing most glorious, most valuable, most amazing. The angels are so stunned by the handiwork of God in this work of salvation that they would be pleased to come down from heaven, lower themselves sufficient to see what it is that God has wrought in us. We, who were made just a bit lower than the angels, have yet been blessed with this marvelous of gifts. Angels will never know the wonder of it. Those angels who fell, being reserved for eternal judgment, do not appear to be granted the opportunity for salvation. Those angels who remained true to God have no need of it. The animal kingdom, though it, too, groans under the weight of man’s sins, will not experience this gift except indirectly. But, Peter points us to the highest heights. Those angels who, like Gabriel, like Michael, are wholly committed to God, whose model of obedience to His command Jesus sets before us in the model of prayer He gave us, would, given permission, be down here watching what God is doing in us. It is that marvelous!
Jesus taught us to pray, ‘Thy will be done on earth as in heaven.’ In heaven, it is these very angels who are about His work, and they pursue their work with alacrity. No questioning of the assignment, no procrastination; these are true servants of the Lord, and He is their Commander in Chief. When He says go, they are already gone. And they are, in this regard, set before us as the model of our own obedience. This is what we would be like, O, Lord. This is our desire, to obey You in full and instantly. Yes, and we desire further that all men would likewise hear and obey. Yet, at the same time, we know ourselves weak and fallen creatures. We know that if we are ever to come to that place of obedience we desire, it shall only be by God Himself working in us.
And even as we work through the joy and the sorrow of wanting to be what He is making us to be, while knowing we remain so very far from the goal, here are those angels who are already at that place of obedience, longing to be granted time to come see Him work on us. I recall the chorus so popular in the Charismatic church, “Look what the Lord has done!” In our hands and on our lips that song took on a sadly self-centered note. He healed my body. He did this for me, that for me. But, it was all for me. And in that, the song wanders astray, as do so many of His children. No, it’s all for Him! And it is the angels in heaven who are looking down and saying, “Look what our Lord is doing!” Who could imagine? Wonder of wonder, miracle of miracles! But for us who are the living? We have no room for boasting in this, far from it! Our good and proper response is that of David. What is man that You should care for him? Who am I that I should be granted the pleasure of serving You? How, O, God, can you bear my presence? With Isaiah, we ought to be humbled to the point of crying out, “Woe is me, for I have seen the Lord!” Which, I think, reflects something of the perspective of, “Woe is me, for the Lord has seen me.” He knows me. He knows my sins. What can possibly be the outcome except destruction? But, God had a better plan, and it is this miracle of rescue work that has the angels so intrigued.
Wuest, in his translation of this passage, offers an interesting additional clause by way of explaining where Peter’s thinking is. This is bracketed text. It is not translation of the original, by any stretch, not even an exaggerated amplification of the text. But, it is of value nonetheless. Think of it as a misplaced footnote: “Like the cherubim above the mercy seat who gazed at the sprinkled blood and wondered at its meaning.” Even there in the first establishing of the holy place, there it was! The message embedded in gold. That mercy seat, that early pointer to Jesus the Christ of God’s choosing, was already a thing hard for the angels to imagine or really understand. Why would God do this? What is the point of all this? And for these creatures? Why bother? But, God is doing it, and therefore there is a reason. Therefore, something good and wonderful is happening here, and we would be witness to it when it happens. What does it mean? Even angels don’t know. But, they want to! And us? We are blessed to know, at least as those experiencing the wonder of it all. Yet, even we would be hard-pressed to say we really understand. We just know.
That’s going to offend some folks, I imagine. How can you separate knowledge and understanding? Well, I don’t; not on a regular basis. I do, however, recognize that in this heavenly economy there are things that are beyond me. Even in the earthly economy there is plenty which is beyond me. Can I claim a full understanding of astrophysics? By no means! But, I know planets orbit stars, and lesser satellites orbit planets. I know of phenomena like supernovas, black holes, neutron stars and solar winds. Do I understand them? Hardly! But, that doesn’t change the fact that I know of them. In some cases, knowledge reflects experience. I cannot explain to you the details of how the sun generates its power. It is beyond me. I can, however, tell you of the effects of that power, of the plants that grow by its light, of the warming effect, of the difference one’s choice in clothing color can make on that effect. Yes, it is actually quite normal, I think, to have knowledge even in the absence of real understanding. It may not be the ideal, but it would seem a common enough occurrence as should not raise eyebrows.
Peter’s topic is clear. He is addressing salvation, and what he is addressing in regards to salvation is its great value. It is so valuable that prophets, hearing of it, were hungry to learn more. Who, Lord? When, Lord? And, learning that it would not come in their own day, yet they could speak of little else. Were that not enough, even angels are awestruck by this thing God is doing. They would gladly bend down, stoop down to our level for a moment, so as to see what this salvation is like. Imagine! We are created a little lower than they, yet they see in our experience of God something they would gladly know for themselves. I dare say, they do so without any desire for knowing the effect of the Fall. But, to know the salvation of God, that most wondrous expression of His gracious lovingkindness! Surely, this is a thing most to be desired. And, it is ours! This is what Peter is reminding us about here. This marvelous salvation, this thing that is beyond the experience of heaven, is ours already.
The point for us should be as clear as the subject. If salvation meant so much to those who would not experience, be it the prophets or the angels, how much more ought we to value it when it is our experience and possession? I am mindful that those to whom Peter is writing are not so very different from me. They are feeling, perhaps, the weight of a world indifferent to God, or even opposed to God. They are not, at least not yet, facing threat of physical harm or material loss for having been chosen by God, but that is not to say there is no cost. There is the loss of social standing. There is the belittling and ridicule. There is the evident discomfort in those who once were close friends. And yes, there may well be some financial pressure as well, if not to the point of being life threatening.
This will be the primary thrust of Peter’s message. Yes! You are facing trials for your faith, but remember what that faith is about, remember who that faith is in! It is a call to count the cost. To be sure, there is a cost. There is an emotional toll, a financial tool, maybe even a physical toll that will be taken if you are true to the One Who has called you. But, over against those tolls, there is this inestimable gain. You have already been given possession of this salvation, this thing that (were it possible) makes angels jealous! It is yours! And, remember what Peter has been saying prior to this point. This salvation, a thing you experience now in part, is preserved whole in heaven by the very power of God! That same God Who, of His own planning and will, gave Himself over to death at the hands of evil men that you might be saved, Who rose again to life eternal, and is even now reigning on high, has set Himself as guard over your salvation. That same God Who even now indwells you, feeding your faith, renewing your mind, recalling you to truth: He is the One who gave you this gift. He is the One who opened your eyes to see the gift. He is the One who assures you that this salvation into which you have been born shall mature into the fullness of the image of His Son, of Himself.
Now, how much would you pay? But, you cannot pay. You well know that the cost is beyond you to pay. But, you also know that it is beside the point, for Another has already paid on your behalf, and you are possessed of the deed. That same Holy Spirit who is within, who advises and reminds and corrects and encourages is, as it is written somewhere, a sort of down-payment, a surety against receipt of the full package that is presently stored up for you in heaven, proof against any rust or decay or theft or any other thing that might diminish its worth. And you, as you make your way back home, are in the hands of Him Who says, “No one can take them from Me.”
Seeing, then, the immense, nay, infinite value of this gift that is yours; knowing He has given this to you freely, gladly; knowing that everything you own or ever shall would not suffice as repayment, or even as a reasonable token of gratitude, how shall you then respond? How shall I respond? There is a clear model set for us in the Old Testament. I think in particular of Abraham’s servant. Forgive me the lack of references, I am working apart from my library this week. But you know the story. Here was a man bound in some wise to Abraham’s household, though not of his blood. We understand the practices of the time. It may have been some point of insolvency in his past had led him to put himself in Abraham’s service for a season. But, that season had come and gone, and still he was here. Indeed, long after Isaac had grown to be a man, still, he is here. And he is so trusted by Abraham that he is sent off to seek out a wife for Isaac. He is so trustworthy that he pursues this task with a godliness that might be said to exceed Abraham’s.
Later, we find this activity codified in the Mosaic Law. That servitude was to be for a season is clearly stipulated. That a servant, reaching the end of that term, might willingly choose to remain a servant, remain attached to that household, was also a provision of the law. Where this be the case, the servant shall bear the mark in his ear, a piercing done by his chosen master. Thus, the mark was evidence on behalf of both parties, that they were agreed on this arrangement. It is in light of this that the New Testament speaks of believers as bearing the mark of Christ. We have willingly given ourselves as lifetime servants to His household, and He has willingly accepted us as such. Truly, He has made us to be so much more than household servants, but let us focus on that aspect for now.
He has given us all, and given it all under guarantee. We, in return, have willingly proclaimed ourselves servants of Christ. Even an eternity of sound service to His household could not begin to repay His kindness towards us, but it is the least we could do. Listen! If we have a true sense of what He has given us, there is nothing He might ask of us that could possibly seem like too much. There is nothing He could call us to leave behind that would seem too high a price. Peter, we will recall, hearing about the nature of this kingdom calling, said, “Lord, we have given up everything for You.” No doubt but that there was a great deal of hyperbole in that statement, but the sentiment was not so very far off the mark. They may not have done so yet, but they would, and they would do so willingly, gladly. But, this same Peter also recognized the value of what he was being given. “Where else would we go, Lord? You have the words of eternal life.” We may indeed have given up everything, but we have gained far more.
Now, Peter is building up to a ‘therefore’ with all this talk of salvation. He is leading us to make that same comparison. Here is what you are giving up in what you are dealing with, in the rejection you feel. And then, here is what you are gaining, what you have already gained. Set them in the balance: The disapproval of men on the one hand, the assurance of God on the other. It is clear which is of greater worth. So, then, as the pressure builds from man, keep your eyes on Christ. If there is trouble – and there will be trouble – remember Who it is that has given you salvation. Even should you be called upon to face death for His sake, know that in Him you yet live, and move and have being. It is His hand upon you, and if God is for you, who can be effectively against you? No, no. Fear and honor Him who has the power of life and death, and remain ever mindful that He has already declared His love of you, His choice of you. Therefore, be strong children of obedience, true servants of the kingdom. That is where Peter his going, and perhaps it is best to save these thoughts for the next study.
What is before me now is the same message I was teaching in class on Sunday. It’s a question of focus. There is a chorus in the church which is, I suspect, about as old as I am, or nearly so. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wondrous face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim.” We were considering the distinction between regret and repentance this week, how regret comes of having our focus upon ourselves still, ruing the consequences but unwilling to change the underlying behaviors. Repentance, on the other hand, has its focus on God, sees the pain and sorrow our sins are causing Him, understands how our actions are tarnishing His name, and realize that there will inevitably be an impact on His relationship with us. It is this focus, this perspective, which will bring such agony of soul as will lead us to change our ways.
In this letter, there is still a question of focus, but not so much in regards to how we react to our own sins. The propriety of that reaction is assumed, at least for the moment. No. Here we are looking at how we will respond to those who sin against us. Will we be mindful of that which Jesus taught us? “If you will not forgive, neither will you be forgiven.” “Forgive us, God, in like fashion as we forgive others.” How comfortable are you with praying those words? Truly, they are as likely to be cause for repentance as cause for comfort. Let us not pray them lightly, but allow that conviction to come, that we might learn better to walk in the ways of our Master.
But, trials will come. There will be pressure, intense pressure. There will be manifold encouragements too throw it all away, and return to wallowing in the mud with our old fellows. If, in those times, our focus is on self, we are going to find ourselves in trouble. If, on the other hand, our focus is on the kingdom of God, then the words of that old chorus are going to speak truly to us; that all these light and momentary afflictions, as Paul calls them, will be unworthy of notice, let alone comment. Here is eternity with Christ. There is the challenge of our road towards home. The road may be dusty, bumpy, strewn with hazards. But, Christ awaits. Home awaits. We have but to persevere in the journey, and this we shall, for He is ever with us.
There remains a question we must each answer for ourselves. If it came down to it, if God called me to give away everything in His service, could I do it? If this call to sacrifice all came with full knowledge that the benefits of this service would not accrue to myself, nor to my family, nor to anybody else I know or ever will know, could I still do it? Here, I dare say, is the great idol of modern life. We speak of our days as being the age of information. We dwell in an information economy. But, we would be more accurate, I think, to say our days are the age of gratification. We care about very few things more than our creature comforts, our convenience.
We consider as necessities things which are surely luxuries. We consider it normal, and almost a right, that we should be able to dine at a restaurant at least once a week. We consider instant access to everybody we know either by phone or by email or by whatever other means to be an obligation owed us. You don’t answer your phone after 9? What’s your problem? You didn’t respond to my text message immediately. Are you OK? You didn’t like my latest Facebook entry. I guess we can’t be friends anymore.
We become bothered and feel put upon because the vegetables down at the local supermarket aren’t perfectly ripened. Maybe we found a bruise on our pepper, and you know? They shouldn’t be able to get away with selling these inferior products. We deserve better! That phrase sums up the mindset of so many of us. “We deserve better.” But, in truth, we deserve far worse. We deserve less than nothing. We really need to get over ourselves, and see the real troubles and challenges around us. We need to become far less enamored of our comforts and for more discomfited by the great need of the lost around us.
I don’t believe I am at this point yet. I think back upon that song I wrote years back, “What would you do if I said to give it all away?” I’m not sure. I don’t know that I could willingly give up the house, the niceties of working from home. What would I do if my wife were taken from me, or my daughter? What would I do if I had to let go of my music collection, of music in general? What would I do if, as I see happening with my dad, senses like sight and hearing were taken away? Would I still be ready, willing and able to serve this God of mine? Would He still reign not merely supreme in my heart, but exclusively?
There’s another matter I need to ponder upon. God is not satisfied to reign supreme among my collection of gods. No. He will tolerate no other. He reigns exclusively or He reigns not at all. Yet, I cannot doubt that I have these other idols to deal with. I am a man in need of a Savior. I ever shall be. I am a man in need of the Holy Spirit to guide me, to open my eyes to the idols in my own life, and the means of their destruction. I am a man in need of the work of God in my life, that I might truly sing, “Oh, Lord, I am willing to what You must do to make me like You, Lord. Make me like You.” I have occasionally been willing. It seems I have been less so of late. Yet, I would be more so. I suppose, then, this is the first place in which I need to cry out, “I am willing. Do what You must.”
Yes, Lord, and as I have known in the past, let me know again. I am willing. But, Lord, remind me as You do what You must that I have invited this work. Remind me, that I may submit willingly. Remind me, that I may rejoice with You in the results of Your work in me. Holy Father, I would ask further. I would ask that You would indeed bring me to the place of sacrificial living. You have asked so little of me, yet I tend to see it as so much. Give some of my time? How I inflate that request in my thinking, yet it is nothing! You created time. Why should I be so impressed at devoting some of it back to Your service? God, I am not satisfied with this plateau I’ve reached. You call me higher, yet I find myself inclining towards sloth. I’m ok with this place. But, I’m not ok with this place, for it is not the place You have indicated. If, indeed, there are things I must let go of to follow You, O! God! Grant me the fortitude to loose my grip and follow. Surround me with Your strength, Lord, for I know myself too well, my weakness, my unwillingness. I need Your change in me, that I may change in You.
