In Your Face

What does one do in the face of the all knowing? What can one do, but discover who and what they themselves are in such doing?

A quote is attributed to a sister saint:

It is foolish to think that we will enter heaven without entering into ourselves.

This quote seems readily applicable as an outgrowth of Jesus’ own words in regards to a reality, here:

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

And though some translations end with “in your midst”, that may create a vaguery [sic] as a thing presented in some ambiguity, the not improper rendering of that Greek word ἐντὸς, as “within, inside within” remains. And I am surely no Greek scholar.

Nevertheless and contextually even within that verse, Jesus is speaking in spirit contrasting of a where a thing is, and not to be spoken of as a “here or there”, but to where it alone truly is. (As need be forgive poor reference to the kingdom of God as thing and it) And though this sister’s quote is not incongruent with Jesus’ word(s) I am not sure the intent of them was made to be strictly congruent to them.

There is something more when she says “foolish”. Not that the Lord’s words need addition, nor would bear them, but that as a sojourner now speaking to other sojourners and seekers, she has been disabused of certain notions. Notions even now found foolish. She is not in seeking to add to the Lord’s word(s), but rather, and as seeker, had them verified to herself.

And it is not merely our allowance to speak of those things we have discovered in seeking and following after God’s Christ, but also our great joy, privilege, and birthright encouraged. All of God’s people are, in one way or other, tellers. And this liberty of ours in Christ is under such a stern forbidding of God as against any who would forbid. Inhibit. Or seek to silence with dogma. Any seeking, attempt(s), motive(s) toward stifling what is every believer’s birthright to speak in and of the faith, is not viewed casually from on High. To put a very fine point upon it, only the believer has license to, and true liberty in, speaking.

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;…

one wrote. And those who are convicted of this truth:

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

also know the day of judgement is always quite at hand, for they carry this judgment in themselves, keeping the Lord’s words. This keeping (even) they come to understand is not as many may commonly appraise as in an always faithful doing, but rather as a matter kept locked to heart. A matter of such magnitude to them, the Lord’s word(s), that they dare not let go; even, and especially, when they themselves are found contravening such.

They have learned through what may be fiery trials and consequence it is far better, and to their salvation, to say “I am the man” rather than let one word slip. They have endured judgment(s) in themselves as against themselves and would dare not feign any standing upon their own righteousness, doings, or deeds. In truth the opposite is far more favorably tendered before God, that despite their innumerable failings, Christ has shown Himself tendered toward them. Given. And abiding.

They have marks, even stripes upon their souls that none but others born of the spirit might even be made to see. They know “faithful are the wounds of a friend”. No less knowing it is beyond their own ability for any keeping of anything at all, and that Christ abides faithful in His not denying of Himself, even when we appear faithless. That this inner keeping in learning of being kept is the Lord’s work alone, so that none will deny they have known a man in actions (even of themselves) that have contradicted by those actions, the Lord’s spirit. Yet the Lord remains…even and especially with proofs undeniable if made able to bear:

“As many as I love I rebuke and chasten…”

And none can bear the Lord’s judgment(s) except they be of Him, born of Him, and kept of Him. The fire(s) that judge the world, cleanse and save the believer. But they are hot…nevertheless. He is hot, nevertheless. Looking with eyes as flames of fire.

Utterly piercing and in-dissuade-able.

And so the word foolish in that sister’s quote. A silly and vain hope to be dispensed with, that we are not judged, and to be, and are. All our best reasons and reasonings that would dissuade from and encourage all timidity to the knowing of ourselves, even by entrance into ourselves, are not without some powerful abetting. A one in cahoots with a man dissuade-able, to keep him from seeing that man as he is…in terrifying isolation (for that abbettor is not friend) and most desperate disobedience that must always incur wrath and judgment. Never underestimate the seeming reasonableness of this enemy and abbetor. In his cahoots with a man.

Yet, we are to untimidly turn him over to his deserved and righteous judgment. “Let” that righteous judgment be seen as exercised upon and against him. Righteously.

The cleaving of soul and spirit will always leave a scar. Scars with no need of shame, but will come of sharp judgements in all need of a balm. To not deny them, perhaps even learn the great work of patience (as a gift) to their reception in this cleaving, this dividing asunder, cannot but be anything but a marvel in our eyes. How faithful is our God!

What does one do in the face of all knowing? One man hides, or sleeps through this garden of all trial, while one man comes forth from this garden speaking:

Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

Our hope to know that man as He is, cannot but come except by turning another man over to death. A man that perhaps seems against all reason to consider as only fit for consigning to death, a man of some religious esteem, even appearing as of some spiritual attainments. That man that even discerns himself as discerning. That man that thinks himself…necessary.

Whatever are of his motions are being exposed, rooted out, shown for the pernicious vanity they are; before whose eyes, and before Him, with whom we have to do.

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Blinded by the light.