If continuing with this matter of surprise and being surprised (or shocked, depending) that is, being moved from that place in which we thought we knew, to something other and astounding, we would be (or I who maintain it, at least) quite foolish to imagine there are no testimonies to it from others.
And though I am more than content in, and even pressed often to acknowledge, my experience(s) in the faith of the Son of God are rife with them, even to such point of saying “My faith most usually proves me wrong”. And if I were the only one so, I could not help but think myself exceptional.
And likewise I cannot deny there is an earthy and natural impetus to that, that the man in Christ may discover about man; he rarely considers himself common. He wants to have a chief seat (if not the chief seat), be singularly acknowledged (for what he considers the singularity of himself) and rise above what to him is often “the common mass of men” however he describes them. From rat catcher to brain surgeon, few might deny there is a natural inclination to seek after distinguishing one’s self. Or even embracing some notion to themselves that they have achieved that. Yep, it’s silly to say for its ubiquity, we are all already with a built in sense of being special and motive to see it known amongst others that we not be lost in the crush.
Yeah, I’d be a fool to say I’m immune to it even if able to describe it, or just because I can see it. I may be more striving to be exceptional (and using many ruses) than I know at all, and wouldn’t that be a big surprise? That thinking I know something of vanity so well, only to have that fool’s crown won to myself! Yet I think some might be able to hear something of this intimated in this clever quip once found:
“The problem with the average man is that he does not believe himself average”
And, if understood in certain and particular term of it being problem, then one might as easily understand this bit ascribed to TS Eliot:
Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don’t mean to do harm; but the harm does not interest them.
And just because I (or any one) as a believer might have some appreciation of our Lord’s embrace of the cross…even marveling at it (even His harmlessness in it) and His work of humility in embracing it, does not mean that in one’s self he yet knows the full extent of that thoroughness.
By way of fair disclosure, I have been employed as an actor for almost every moment of my life, and so, if auditioning before the chiefest of Directors calling for a certain thing I might merely be the fool who says…”Sure, I can do humility”. (As I can do happy, or sad, ecstatic, depressed, exultant, terrified, bold, timorous; I have a whole arsenal equipped for whatever a scene calls for)
But, as one may find, this Director is not at all impressed, nor even discouraged by such a one seeking to show off his wares, “Don’t worry, I well get from you precisely as I desire for the part” And if we have a part, even as member of this body, we will encounter elders who can see through our rusing (on page or in person) and, if needing even more direct direction, that Director is not too timid to step right on to our stage, in the midst of what we may think our most excellent performance and say: (again as TS Eliot may bear quoting)
“That is not what I meant at all; That is not it, at all.”
For as another has written:
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
We may know a little bit about a couple named Ananias and Saphira and their attempt at doing generosity. Or, a man may discover he doesn’t have to look to ancient pages.
“Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” Another wrote who, generally amongst us, is not described as ignorant. But he, still able to say:
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” (No matter what garlands we may seek to heap upon his head in our somber ceremonies or from pulpits spouting with many thunderous quotes)
Thankfully, such a one also wrote:
“But by the grace of God, I am what I am” Settled as it were into knowing himself as nothing more than a made thing in the hand of another, against which nothing can exact or avail by any feigning, and to which nothing can be added for attaining by striving.
And so as to this matter of surprise, I used to think such a thing as that:
“But by the grace of God, I am what I am”
was reserved to the savant, the expert practitioner, the “guru” of the faith (if you will), and only utterable by the most advanced in true piety as to almost be beyond reach. Imagine my surprise to discover it is the confession of a common man, knowing himself to be common, even common as dust…being swirled and moved only by a gracious wind. Something (or better, someone) in working him up, had whittled him down, dissolved himself within as to himself to knowing himself as nothing, that his testimony would always be to that grace. And the giver of that grace.
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
“neither is he that planteth any thing”
Was he…”putting on a show” and doing humility?
I’m persuaded he, that man, encountered many surprises in discovering who God is, how He works, and what He might do to, or with a man. Was he doing ecstatic when he said/wrote:
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
What might have been (does it need considering?) his frame here in hearing answer to this question:
“Who are you, Lord?”
Or we might consider others, who, even already being told of all that would transpire were not reproved in their surprise and being found:
And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
Or Peter’s discovery after yielding in some obedience, (though they had already been told at the ascension)
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
along with this:
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
they held their peace, and glorified God
It appears a not unusual thing for some? many? all? to be surprised at things.
Even such things of glory entirely and previously…unexpected.
Even that, no matter what a man may think he knows, have in any experience he may consider as having been in the Lord, or of the Lord…God always shows Himself…greater? I am wrong and content to be, therefore, about the greatness of God, for God forbid I shut myself off, (or any other) by either attitude or some silly and abject poverty of pomposity…from surprise.
Oh, yes, I cannot deny I can be set for shock and not even know it, thinking myself far more open to the all that God is in Christ by some vanity of my thinking, or thoughts of attainment, or even “years” of what might be (even erroneously) of following. God knows…I may not yet have even started! Is that “OK” with me?
How could it not be?
If it be what God knows?
Is God’s knowing…enough?
If not, what else could be?
If one is too old for surprises, or too wise to be surprised, or knows too much already beyond bearing of further surprise, God knows.
As only God knows.
But still…this:
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
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