Seeing, understanding, words to pictures, pictures to words all and only to that one end whence is that one end of man, the apprehension of Jesus Christ, is all and only in Christ and done of God.
Jesus is that man…alone, made in the image and likeness of God…proving faithful to it. No man formed or forms his own eye to see, his own ear to hear, nor his own mind to understanding.
How many undercut their own unbelief and either prove themselves hypocrites to it, or their own faith (again proving themselves hypocrite to it) by holding any conviction, deep as it may be, that “the purpose of the eye” or “the purpose of the ear…” by denying, or refusing to concede to that first principle (even if only self held) of purpose. Purpose presupposes a thing…a thing that provides purposing (and reason) to a function or end. So it is, no less, with mind and consciousness. The faith of any man may be undercut (as it must be if it is only their own) by any refusing to see or hear what the Lord says. Jesus is the perfection of orderliness to man…made manifest. And surely then His word(s), whether understood or not, appreciated or not, taken in, or not, nevertheless hold all, that in poverty of words, a man such as myself would express as pertinent. Important. Solely worthy of consideration.
Search yourself as need be, do you desire (with a desire provided, if provided) anything less than a sure thing? If you are persuaded you are not created from “maybe”, then surely you are not created for it. Of what…are you sure? Yes! A need to know. Our brother Paul was not frivolously speaking when writing “that I may know Him…” For all that was of such “may” that could seem to go either way so to speak, had to be removed. And Paul had already spoken of what he had lost and counted as dung in that pursuit. All his own standing. That he be found standing only in One, and one thing (are we convinced, yet?)
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Too lofty? Or is it too familiar as in “But gee, everyone knows that already”? How careful “may” we be to see we have not become dull of hearing? If we haven’t yet learned how good a thing it is to have another “watching out for us”, we can. Even a one who “ever liveth to make intercession for us”. Even when we think “we know already”. Lessons may be painful, but they are lessons nonetheless. Happy might be the man who learns to tell on himself (confess your faults to one another) before being exposed as the man who refuses, and has, to do so. But we will talk later about the “man of sin” if God allows. Where he is, and how he can only be seen, in order he be plainly exposed to being known, except by a revealing. And how, as a created thing he must take his place already assigned, under the Lord’s feet. Even in all subjection to a new creation.
And God forbid I be found presenting myself as one who has apprehended, as one who does not know of himself things that rightly be counted to utter shame when brought up against what was claimed by that man as already known. Thanks be to God for such mercy as can cause a man to stand in the light of these words…”Why do you call me Lord, Lord…”. One simply cannot boast of His mercy apart from some knowing of its necessity.
But let’s face it, if we can. Can we? We are all in some search of, some gaining of, some understanding of a “how” that will help us. And it is not as if God Himself does not know this of us. Even in sending of His own son as all the how…He knows questions remain, and these matters are not “not good.” But whether they be good in God’s sight only God can show. A writer (of Hebrews) speaks of those who through use have had some exercise.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
We are not called to the mere inheritance of Adam’s only knowing that good and evil exist with no knowledge of any discerning between them. For him life itself then was to himself…a gamble. And so he was given gamblers odds, yet odds he could never calculate from. Odds he could not accept. Left always trying to beat the table. Who does not know this of their own Adam?
So, and still, much may be found…abounding. Of how to beat the table, or better one’s odds. “How to Pray Effective Prayers” and the like, of holding some vague promise that one can get from God (when all is already given) a something by praying as another treatise might indicate “Prayers That Move God”, or “How To Have Faith That Works” and the like.
Our “how to” in Christ is a bit different. But it is not to the end of beating the table, but of seeing how abundantly a table is set and has been set, before us.
Yet, in even all the other “how to’s” might things nevertheless, be gleaned? God knows. Just as God knows such “how” of how, and what, we are in total need of. And how superstitions abound to such uninformed need as against its true being of being both dire, and total. Sometimes we think or act from silly notion of needing only a little help.
Even the natural man is forever found “blowing on his dice” inwardly before a roll, an attempt, an adventure, an escapade or excursion. But we who (if we are) are called know something of this sense that nothing less than a “sure thing” suffices. We are made of a surety (Of God are we in Christ Jesus) to an end of surety. We are to be established. And we learn here, there is no gaming the Judge of all. At all.
Listen if you can, and are made able. We are in all the real that is. Yes, even all the trouble…there is. (God help me!) We are prone to whatever extent we are to parse words, to exempt some or exerpt some according to our own preferences. To even gloss over some (and their significance) until such is incumbent upon us…to know. Such matters of answer so often lead to even greater matters of question that were it not for mercy and grace, their sheer weight of depths and gravity would surely undo us. Irremediably undo us.
We are set to a hunt, not at all unlike Paul who (if one believes and can see) strove mightily to present both what he was after, while not seeking to cover all his own weakness uncovered in that pursuit. He knew something of a necessity that knowing anything less, or other than Christ as his life…was not a sure thing. In fact he was so sure of his weakeness(es) he came to boast of them…for to him they had their purpose revealed, that the power of Christ might rest upon him. Total weakness, meet perfect power.
Is there any other way?
Is there anything uncomfortable to you in reading this, something preferred to be “glossed over” (God forbid ignored) rather than be investigated? Sought for understanding? Are we like Peter who, upon hearing the Lord telling of all that would be done him did some quick internal tallying and understood with some fear “He is the Lord, He is sent for me to follow, I am following…and therefore…what is His experience is going to be made my own” Uh oh! Jesus knew it wasn’t compassion for Him speaking in rebuke to Him “far be it from you Lord”. Jesus’s surely had senses exercised to discern good and evil…and knew who and what was speaking. And why.
And, it wasn’t compassion. And He addressed it.
Oh, yes flattery “you are too good for such a thing” can’t game the Judge. Neither does manipulation, our maneuvering, our attempts to gain favor (when all is already given) or our trying to figure out “how” this works so it will work better for me…avail. Woo boy, yes, we’re in a place and in communion with a real…person. The real person from whom all other personhood is found originating. And all our misjudgments and practices according to what this once meant to us, “to know a person” are all being trashed…to be realigned. All the matters we use and try upon others to get from them (ha ha, even wives at times!) don’t work here. Happy is the man who finds a wife made from the substance of Christ! He may find perfection, at times to him perhaps a too perfect frustration in seeing what a manipulator can’t do. Can’t accomplish. Cannot avail. Can’t get, according to manipulation!
So, does this cause some upsetting?
For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
“Wait! Wait!” one might say, “I didn’t sign up for this!” That’s right…we didn’t. We didn’t enlist, we are conscripts. And the terms of peace with our Captain are His, not our own. The terms of life are His, not ours. The way is His, not ours. This does much to unconfuse the “who’s who” in this Kingdom we are given. Or, do we want confusion? Confounding?
To him who has, more shall be given…(or do we not so much like that application to this instance?)
Yes, at first the finding of just how weak one is made in Christ, even toward Christ whose head is God is strange to us, even unwanted…but then we may learn how well this equips us to not overlook a still, small voice. The voice of our salvation. We become weak…toward it.
Yes, we are in a place we are given to handle, but can’t to our own ends. Is that itself…troubling? As if that is not made yet true enough to us, dare we also be made able to receive this: (though I dare no one, God forbid I present a challenge)
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
We are where God is doing all, even through Christ, where once we thought ourselves of some power or influence; even delighted in it, even found pride in it. Power to us was very important. It signaled a way to keep some calamity at bay, all the while ignorant of the real calamity in our souls of being so devoted to seeking it alone. And at any cost to the soul. Ours and those of others. But then we were touched by the true power of all, enough to give life in spirit, and light to the soul. A “someone” was made very small for our sakes, even that He might enter and “fit” into our heart, an also thing once so very small…and hard. And having entered as seed, He grows, and the place of our habitations, our hearts, the deepest place from which we know life and motive, also is expanded. And how many we find now…”in there”! Christ, and all of His! Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. This place we now live is really really large. Entered through a small door, so narrow, so singular, and so precious. The seed of God…His very Word.
Nothing here is to our harm, and power for, or against anything here would not only be unnecessary, but shown vain. Even as Paul came to understand, as having no dominion over anyone’s faith. Yet helpers in joy even as we have received such help. And we find the joy of the Lord is indeed, strength.
But who can deny such learning…is? Our being given to see Christ and know Him to the measure of such giving of sight. Even through those times of much troubling of waters when we might even find ourselves asking “Lord, do you not care that we perish?”
Yes…storms show some power, even as all things of creation are given some power of expression. From neutrinos to a whole of a universe. But, we are in the Maker and Doer of all. In whom we live, and move, and have our being.
And yes, at the first some (or many) things seem disturbing. Even such notion that God alone “handles” delusion to His ends. Even such as is called “strong”. “O!” but we may say “that is because God is in some reaction to a thing He discovers or finds resisting Him” as though God Himself was in some need of finding out the who and what of all that is made by His hand, and for His good pleasure. Have we forgotten what foundation stands sure? The Lord knows those who are His.
O!, yes, we may not (yet, or fully), but God surely does!
Even Jesus proceeded with the disciples for such time allowed Him and they until such time as a certain thing was to be spoken…”You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…and ordained you…”
There was this thing of which they were then to be informed per God’s purpose in and through Christ, and it surely disabuses any notion of their being with Jesus the Christ of their own preference, will, or even merit. And yes, God forbid, if we even find some pride at some notion of being the better than another (for pride will seek the slightest crack for entry) in such choosing, or even knowing of it, we are reminded Judas himself…is also a chosen. Yes, God has a way of handling…all. Especially pride.
Where is boasting then?
Our focus gets adjusted, our sight narrowed, even while horizons broaden. We begin to see those “coming from afar”, sons and daughters…even out from the strangest of places; even of places we once thought were all hardened in unbelief and in some way consigned to being the “off limits”; the too far gone, the too self loving, the too rebellious, too devious, too deluded, or too resistant. Even the too religious. and superstitious. At least until God shows us this mercy through Christ of how in all our own superstition, we too, inwardly are found blowing on our dice before a roll in a gamble we hope will turn out well for us.
You are made of a sure “thing” and for a sure thing, and there can be no joy in anything but, for you.
Even should you find you are the chiefest of sinners. We would not be the first to be let in on a mystery. And for whom Christ came.
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; And he will shew them his covenant.
Who can deliver out of His hand? Who can deliver into His hand? The ins and outs of things…set upside down and right side up through only One.
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