The Invisible Man

If any are able to even barely receive the contention(s) made in “To the Invisible Sky Daddy”, then this will be less problematic.
But, if still either laboring against such contentions as too fluffily philosophical and/or not spiritual enough; or as merely ungrounded juvenile musings mixing a bit of crazy with some diluted or deluded derivative of true faith, will these verses help?

Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God! Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

The world cannot know us, because it does/has not known him, we are dead and hidden, and what any might know, or do know of any is never according to the natural senses for:

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

There is no explanation of this, or for this, how a man can look at what is unseen, it is only resolved in Christ, by Christ, through Christ as to the reality of it. And, of course, it must cause upset to the natural man and/or the natural mind if yet it’s being heeded by even the novice believer.

Yet, as said in previous writing(s), even the natural man is laboring (though unknown to him) all manner of unseen things. It is only when the natural mind is confronted with the truth of this (in natural/carnal man or novice believer) that upset ensues, even as it must. Some may change, some may seek to do away with you. And that is always and alone is God’s hand.

In one sense our invisibleness and submission to it, acceptance of it, even delight in it (if one is made able), is what manifests Christ’s presence “into the world”. O! but it is not that therefore all (or even any) will accept in the world, for that can never be our metric…acceptance. Our only concern, as we are, and must be won to, is faithfulness to the Savior, to our Lord. If there is any concern regarding our being known, or even wanting to be, the Lord is faithful. His light hits our opaqueness, our inner density, our spiritual obtuseness of any striving to be a something, quite emphatically and effectively.

He (our God) presents a man to us in truth, even continually and continuously, for our benefit, who made himself of no reputation.
Only the believer can either see, know, or believe this. And what relief is there found! (Talk about benefit!) Particularly for seeing Him who is invisible. Even great help to seeing Him who is invisible.

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Is it therefore “blind” faith, or faith that actually causes us to see? Of course for us who believe it is always the latter. Our blindness to what is and is unseen to all and every natural man (and natural/carnal mind) is what we declare. We are even those who no longer fear being called the blind by any other. Or the stupid. Woefully fearful or foolish. Even superstitious as if making up tales for comfort against things that go bump in the night, like death.

Yet it is the natural mind that labors in all sorts and manner, even superstitiously, of things unseen. A man can quite wholeheartedly believe, work as though, live as though, speak as though, he has a tomorrow of his own. And even right now. He truly believes it as real to him as his now; displaying, and quite actually showing he knows neither the now…or this thing he so blithely imagines he can handle with such facility as his own, a tomorrow.

It is both wisdom and benefit to us that the apostle wrote our saying to be: “God willing” that is not for us a catchphrase, but an inescapable (and inescapably wonderful) reality to be known. To not know one’s self as sustained in this very moment, even as a thing in creation (as all is) upheld by the word of God, is perhaps not only to miss much, but miss all. And rightly also did the apostle write as to where this, or from which “place” this is all taking place, as hidden with Christ in God. A place of no presumption. And no one there is seeking to be, trying to be, striving to be…anything but who and what they are…there. Or even trying to be seen. Or be heard.

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

This, though seemingly addressed to wives (as it is, and no less) is in address to that hidden man of the heart. Our Lord has a bride, a wife, a body of bone of his bones and flesh of His flesh of which is constituted by every believer as member. Both in heaven and as yet remaining in tents of flesh. But, even as our Lord of a “being” in (what appears) two places at once…so are we who remain in these tents.

and no one hath gone up to the heaven, except he who out of the heaven came down — the Son of Man who is in the heaven. (Young’s literal translation for clarity).

The man who has been won to setting his affections according to these/this truth:

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Must soon also learn the truth of this that follows:

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Strange, yet wonderful no? Are we yet in our own tents, or here “in the earth”, but no less and also, in Heaven where Christ is? No natural man (or mind) can receive this to any understanding as yet caught in all its either/or(s). And it is not that it is even explicable to any extent by any man of spiritual estate, but, as a statement and declaration of how things are, made to be, particularly to and for the believer, it is to be believed and entered into. Such matter(s), as all things of and in our Lord to and for us, are to the end of comfort, encouragement, and the glory of His name.

Being seated in heavenly places is not our vanity at work, but His great mercy of such glory. He has taken captivity captive even to the end of being captivated by Him and His marvelous work alone. In which all heaven rejoices (shouting)

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Are we not among those now? If not, or believing not, what hinders? Must our joy…know bounds? God forbid!

Of course this is not a litmus test of, nor for, anything. It is not to some end of having a “joy detector” for application to ourselves or others for measurement; and surely if we do seek to use such as against others, we will find such turned on ourselves to certain judgment(s). Joy in believing cannot, in one sense, be weaponized…yet….we do find it weapon, an even equipping of sorts against all the onslaughts and assaults our faith endures while in these tents of flesh. We need strength, do we not? It is not without reason and to good purpose we are to be reminded:

Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

The joy of the Lord. Jesus spoke of it as His. Even as a work performed in and by Him to be known of disciples, particularly in His word(s) to them (us?):

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

And strength if admitted as needed, as an even necessary thing to be provided, and provided through our Lord Jesus, the Christ of God, is inseparable from His joy…which is our strength. And the disciple soon learns, if he hasn’t already, the need of that strength of which that joy is. Our God is not sour faced.

Here is something of an aside, particularly referencing a particular matter of which I have not been shy to mention as often as necessary. If I do have anything, seen anything, had revealed anything…even to such end that I write (or speak) about it, or about these/those things, I would be utmostly[sic] remiss if not mentioning or denying, almost all has come as reproof, even rebuke.

Though I have to be careful here about any linking presumptuously as though I easily see all, or even any cause and effect, God knows (O! How God knows!) my being completely wrong about things (in either apprehension, execution(s) of doings, and perspective) has necessitated so much, and so innumerable, correction. This of course, does not mean anything in any regard to now thinking “But now, I am correct”.

No, I am what needs correction. Over, and over, and over again (and so much so that I dare not deny) it has been proved, at least to me. And to me it is no shame to admit, for I have (if even in most slightest way and of most tender ministry) tasted the awful terror of being found liar. So it is not even so much as what may appear “honest” confession, but some terror of denying that provokes me. In this I may simply be showing I am most novice of all, while I speak of novices and perhaps presumptuously speak of spiritual men. “This man would not be honest about such things except as in fear of the whip, what a piss poor example for such a thing as might be called honesty!”

Yes! Yes indeed! I am not skeered of saying “Yes! I fear the whip! Far more than my imagining any love of truth is in me of myself!”

All my striving, even as seen over some short decades to not be that, to be the fellow who is right, gets things right, see things right, does things right, knows himself as right, and out from whom flows nothing but rightness, some goodness, some merit, some truth (one might be so bold as to say, naturally) is shown of such carnality and blindness with fearful consequence as truth can only come when pressed out. No, such a man is mercurial, like that fountain spewing seeming praise to God, with Dragon’s breath. Yeah, I know that guy.

But here I would be no less remiss if not saying, even (or is it particularly?) when that guy is exposed, exposed to such measure of wonder “but who would have any care, who could have any care, why would any ever have any care for such a one?”, that I have seen mercy come, not only as a thing so seemingly unbidden, but in most direct contrast, most obvious contrariety against what such a one deserves, speaking against what all and everything but itself sees right to speak…judgment and full condemnation, mercy…comes.

I tell you, in such circumstance of that guy, and of and at such times, mercy, though surely needed, is not even in sight (seemingly), or on the agenda, or making the list of the things ask-able (for it seems almost a blasphemy to even consider!) yet…it comes. He comes. Has come. And in soberest moments I dare not deny His coming. Even to and for, such a one.

Now of course this appears (even as I write) and sounds like a man so unconvinced or unfamiliar with mercy that again, it is almost blasphemy for him to speak of it. It’s like this guy is not much of a believer at all, if at all. He may even be the most novice of all novices, seeming to have so little confidence in mercy’s appearing through Christ! Yes! Yes indeed! If I am graced to occupy that, I tell you…for me it is enough.

Yes, I may, even more than any ever known or to yet be, need to have my face pushed down in dirt, chokingly breathing dust against what feels a righteous boot upon a powerless neck, a glistening blade tinging brightly in its utterly ineffable sharpness ready to fall with all that is expected, and no more than all thought, and every thought, testifies as expected “I am about to not be“. Hopes of a better end are not even there to see or consider.

But, yet, comes a hand…comes a hand “Get up and dust yourself off, let’s take a walk and talk, instead”. And I don’t even remember asking for mercy that I might say “It was because I asked for mercy, He has come.”

No, it must have been a someone else or from a where of somewhere else that bid it to me. And to Him, yes to Him, in that walking and talking it would appear as blasphemy to insert any doubt with “but I thought it was all over for me” as though my perceptions could rightly occupy any necessary place of opposition or even discussion of His knowing and doing. Yes, He knew/knows exactly how I thought, what I felt, what I expected. He knows. He is far less interested in my rightness or wrongness about things (at least to me) than this, His (must be) overwhelming pleasure in showing mercy. I mean for me (at least) He has done it over, and over, and over again.

Therefore I am leery to make those presumptuous linkings mentioned…is it because I am so wrong he shows himself so good and merciful(?) or can it be, His goodness is, always was, and always will be in consistency to Himself, having less than zero (if it may be said) to do with any even rightness or wrongness I may perceive of myself as of myself. And I am never sorry to consider this.

He is good in absence of all of this man’s (me, and my) doings. Or appraisal. In even other words, might His mercy be in all absence of my necessity for it, or even knowing of need, for it? He is merciful, period. He is good, period. Can this be that in delivery from burden of sin is an also and likewise delivery from any and all trying to be good? Is that heresy? I can say (if only) for me trying to be good (as in my own eyes read “right”) has proved an unbearable burden, with often terrifying consequences.

I cannot tell you without tears of your boredom flowing, of how often has been said and thought “B-b-b-but I thought I knew what I was doing”. And often with my own tears accompanying. It seems something so far inescapable (and dear Lord, may it never be less so) that that mercy asked for, and asked precisely for a they that “do not know what they do” is no less given and available to a “they”.

Even to a man striving to be singular, distinguished, better, not a part of a they or an anyone, but once striving always to be a someone…can find comfort to so to speak, be lost in a crowd of anyones as a seeming invisible man, yet know he is seen?

I am persuaded it is no other way.

There is no other way than Him. And His way.

Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

They say unto him, We are able.

He told them they did not know that for which they were asking before the above. Do we? Yet, mercy for those who do not know.

Even such as extends to this in His sharing while we are all as yet in all unknowing of what we ask:

“You shall indeed drink of my cup…”

See, it’s already too late if you already know you want a tight seat close to Jesus. He provoked you to that desire if one has it, and He already knows…even without any speaking what is in any and every man…for He knows. As He alone knows what knowing is.

And God help me, and God help you, even, perhaps especially if we have both made it to these last few sentences, together. Not that they are of themselves anything, but you have been made able to bear a fool writing of, and on what seems one hand unspeakable joy and glory, and a few paragraphs later of some terrors and seemingly undesirable in all, experience. As a neck under a sword.

But, by God’s grace we are made fit to all. And be filled of all.

A man in heaven beholding so a man in earth can speak. And who is equal to such a task? Who alone…is able to make of any…this:

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Things in seeming opposition.

But only…seeming.