The promise of freedom that stirs hope in, and for liberty I would venture to say, is not unfamiliar to any who have been made able to consider the Lord’s word(s) here:
“If you continue in my word then are you my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”.
There is so much acceptance of the latter part that disciples do not find it infrequently mentioned, quoted as and in some salubrity [sic] by even those who make no mention of either having been touched by Jesus Christ or as being under discipline (disciples) of Him. “The truth shall make you free” has fallen into such general usage, application, and acceptance as it often stands alone as (or “a”) truth itself. It can be rallying cry, or used as such by any or many to some particular point of view being proposed; and of such assumed verity that general usage and acceptance is considered salubrious. As in “Know the truth of things for in it lie great benefit…even freedom”. But we, as believers, dare not neglect the whole of the proclamation (appearing to some yet as only proposition) that it hinges upon. Continuance in the Lord’s word.
And as such, if for total consideration, we might also see that some promise of liberty hinging upon such continuance will and can only be attractive(?) inspiring(?) provocative(?) enticing(?) to such as know, or are in experience of, some inhibition, constraints upon, or restriction of, their liberty. The man in any sort of jail looks forward to the day of walking out the gate. Unless he is resigned to his imprisonment as being forever. Yet even a man in such resignation to a life sentence might find something stirred if told “Your case is now being reopened and reconsidered”.
Tell this to a man blithely walking the sunny boulevard in Spring with a wallet full of cash, his girlfriend on his arm and headed to a brunch at the newest chic restaurant and he might more likely say “What case? There’s no case against me. Why, I’ve never even been arrested! What are you talking about…are you crazy?” as far too many who have shared the gospel openly may know. (How used to…are you, being thought…”crazy”? How much rolling of eyes at you…can you bear?)
Some know, or already have some sense of their restriction. Some, even walking with a wallet full of cash and all general approval of man may not know it yet. Some may never know nor have any care to. That is not our business. Our business is to tell what we hear in the secret place, openly, and without shame. And our promise is no less than that spoken of by Jesus the Christ, that all who are taught of the Father shall come to Him. Not to us, God forbid. They may indeed call or think us crazy at whatever time they do. Our metrics are never based, even remotely, upon acceptance of ourselves. God both forbid and help! And here’s a “kicker”. Some may even “come” in a manner we do not yet recognize nor approve as correct formula; yes, we have to let that go, also.
All and anything that that might seek to interpose itself, contradict in any way, add codicil or addendum to this foundation that stands sure…must even quake and fall before it in its immovable surety (regardless of what we think…even of ourselves and/or others…and one will find just how much our “thinking of ourselves” affects the way we view and think of others) whose surety is this:
“The foundation of God stands sure having this seal, the Lord knows those who are His”
All must bend or be broken to it. All. Even (or perhaps, especially) the all of which, and by which, we use our own metrics of determining the eithers of fitness, acceptability, proper conduct and deportment, and even to us…response.
O! yes! Tell me…who of us would not have some opinion of Saul there, as we watched a beloved brother Stephen being stoned mercilessly to death (with Christ yet on his lips and tongue speaking mercy) as one consenting?
Aha! Are we yet open to all rebuke? All reproval? All…correction? (And I speak as one as to you…as in same boat)
“The foundation of God stands sure having this seal, the Lord knows those who are His”
Do we see? Do we yet see? The Lord…knows.
We can get consumed with horse and cart, God knows. And God surely knows I have, and have been.
We can even enter that curious place so wonderfully and graphically portrayed in the movie the Matrix. Do you know it? Have you seen it? Have you wondered if the makers of it were “touched” or did God sovereignly see in all to its distribution? (O! horse and cart again!) I have wondered, I have questioned…because I have seen wonders in it…a man called “Neo” (new), a man telling another “you will learn, just as I have, there is a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path”
O! so rich in references to truth and how things “truly are” (even a battle raging between mechanisms and true men) that can be seen only once a surrender to truth and a motion against illusions is provoked to the swallowing of a “pill”. Taken in…even to where the man is in peril of death now, by its swallowing. (Have you eaten a little scroll?) He can only “live through” that experience with an intervention…a help, a helper. O! my! He might die as this panorama of how things truly are is at the threshold…for without help he could not see it…and live. (Was it mercy or withholding enacted on Moses’ behalf? Is there a “helper”…now?)
Is God now withholding? Or is it a patience ministered, a mercy ministered…even to us…who in yet of some lack of confidence in our helper are preserved from seeing an all, which could surely condemn in its seeing…this present lack of confidence?
Is God hiding? Or patiently waiting? Is it cart? Is it horse? (Hard to escape!)
If it is resolved to us that this foundation does stand sure…even with a sure seal…we will no longer be dogged by cart and horse…but rather delight in their considering…because they always lead to only one.
What does the resurrection “look like”? Someone said in so many words that it is not merely limited to an “event”/fact/ happening as such, but is actually (truly) a person.
I am the Resurrection and the life…
Did you get the call? Responded to a summons? Received an invite with your name engraved?
To a place? Or was it from a place? Was it to a person (so personally engraved) or from the person of all person? To an “event”? To see something? Or to see all that is not…thing?
O, yes! Many questions! Even in all what may appear puzzlement and vexing as to who’s who here, what’s what and how’s how. A delightful leading always…to One. Remember…it is a gift of grace to be puzzled enough so that one is provoked to “ask, seek, knock”. This is an inherited right of the believer…even only of the believer and for the believer…to be allowed entrance, as one summoned, called, invited entrance…into the all that was once (and for whatever remains)…a delightful mystery…God.
And where no man can prohibit. Or give license.
But anyway (do I sense some eyes rolling…somewhere? having truly nothing to do with anything I do) there’s this…there’s a right baking of noodles (our own minds) referenced…that hews so closely to referencing what must be renewed (out with the old! it’s burnt!) that I dare not deny you some possibility of pleasure in its considering.
The Oracle speaks…and what happens is…
Consequence.
It is not as though Jesus is/was unaware of what’s cookin’.
He just refused to be offended by, even loved…(O! my!) what wasn’t ready…yet.
Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
And all after, even in His speaking…is consequence. Even promise to what is not yet ready…of following.
May we find Jesus’ word(s) fully consequential.
To even know what’s cookin’.
For our God is a consuming fire.
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