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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.

Why a man is given impossible things to speak of to an almost tedious end may not be a bad question. Things impossible both for a man to do and things impossible for a man to avoid. But for the believer this matter is alone resolved both in Jesus the Christ and by Jesus the Christ, for He alone is that man who does all the impossible.

And therefore…even because of His doing(s) He alone has authority to speak of, give instruction in, command to, recommend of all He does (for He is no hypocrite)…and even bring all substantial question to this thing, man, that cannot escape his loathe of being cross examined in the witness chair. Cross examined.

Let’s face it if we can. If we are made able. We are all of substance of expression. All things of creation are, all things cannot escape their being; and, in that being, hold expression of their being. Too circular in reason? Too plainly obvious as to be not worthy of note or saying? “Things are that they are”? And if we were to put too fine a point to it one might even think or say this is descent into the absurd. And, no less, in speaking of what is impossible (at least for man) might we frankly face that to any man it is impossible to accept himself as absurd…even to extreme as the absurdity?

Any attempt to beat up Descarte will have its own impossible to avoid consequences. And another might say “He is not here to defend himself, why then bring up anything as attributed to him as though it might be used as against him?” What? Did he alone of all men imagine he’d escape cross examination? And who says it is to be used as against him? But if in his expression (just as you in yours, me in mine) he hoped to have final word, or believe he might, then what he leaves or has left us of his expression is no less nor more than his being here, himself. His expression (just as you in yours, me in mine) is no less than that expression of his being of being. All is up for examining…even the light that “hits us” and is hitting us a thousand years after a star has died.

But there is also something else. Any call to the witness chair…even as loathed as it might be during cross examination, already speaks of some noting of a thing’s being. Something is according a worthiness to such placing. It is “worthy” enough to be examined. What we ignore we ignore (again…too circular?) but let’s also face it…what we high lite speaks as much for and of our being as to our being (in what we consider worthy of note) as anything else we might express. And for now, if it be possible for any to accept it, it is in that sense this man, Descarte be accorded his “props”. A great thinker. A noted philosopher…who (one would hope) knew enough of philosophy to understand a man’s words are an expression of himself…even if, or when, when under cross examination he is found hypocrite. For cross examination is the thorough examination. It exposes truth.

He (Descarte) is accorded his worthiness therefore, in “I think, therefore I am”. He makes claim of thinking, and thinking as to him of such verity that he can then establish his being upon it. To him it is first truth “I think” from which even all of (his) being can find full support for its proof of likewise truth. And (God forbid) I overstep and seek to get inside a place to which I am not invited (the being of Descarte) and there presume I can speak for him. But since we already do, that is, speak of others, I surely give, and cannot avoid giving him (in such worthiness of being called as witness to his own words) an honest hearing.

Do you, in any way (or even do I…who is no less “up for” cross examination) also hold his words as verity? Then they are as much yours…as his. If “taken in” (and how very much of what men say and have said…constitutes the you of you and the me of me? From “daddies” to philosophers, scientists, teachers, professors, preachers, mommies, friends, wives, husbands, novelists, pundits, et al…even enemies)…yes…if taken in…they now no less constitute in inseparable way what is expression of our self. We may long for “clean slate”…but again, let’s face it…by the time any of us (is it also inescapable?) come to any question of “who we really are” and find any provoking to know…is only that time after we have learned that already boat loads have been dumped in. In that sense it is already and always too late for any of us to do (impossible) anything about ourselves. And even if “unpacking” or throwing unwanted ballast overboard…we can never know if we are acting or only reacting. As in “why do I want to keep that…but get rid of that other?” Whence come my predilections to, and my resistance(s) against?

And I have a predilection toward appearing smart. Intelligent. (At very least to myself) Not ignorant nor naive. Against appearing unwise dupe. And, I suppose I could suppose in that way I am completely unlike any other man.

Did someone not say it is all but impossible for a man to accept to himself that he is the absurdity?

So, I must ask the smart man, the wise man, the man educated to and of parents, professors, preachers, philosophers, kind men, “good” men, men of great note and saying(s), men of impression and acheivement(s), is there any holding to “I think therefore I am”?

Would a man be a liar to hold some made excursion beyond, would he be shown hypocrite under cross examination that such excursion was truly made to some place where a man cannot (where all is impossible to him) and cannot…not…not only be shown, but also, and no less, accept the absurdity of any attempt to establish his own being?

Where he is corrected to, and particularly in this particular…in regards to his own thinking.

“I think, therefore I only think I am”

Who shows…true man?

Clean slate…man?

The “I am” man?

It is a stunning matter for a man to learn. To be brought to. To be taught. To be instructed of. Enlightened to. Have come crashing into him. The reality of how much he actually hates in reality of the reality he would otherwise claim to have desire to know. To apprehend. To understand. To even…accept. And stunning is far too soft a word, even here.

To not merely find as though he of himself can make this discovery, that he is both liar and lying, first of and to himself, thence to all others as they may be seen or found, might more rightly be called impossible to a man. Well, because it is. It is impossible for man.

But the believer has been summoned to that place where lying is impossible. There are the eyes here of the maker of eyes. The ears here of the maker of ears. A mouth that speaks above all speakers. And a mind above all other minds of which all other minds, mouths, ears, and eyes are not the true, but types and shadows; not for comparison to, but of likeness of…serving only at best, for direction toward the true.

Summoned, yes. The believer is under all of judgment. Summoned to it. And it not at all means he has worked this to his own acceptability, quite the contrary, ever the contrary…for for him, and to him, it is inescapable. Incontrovertible. Eyes are searching, ears are hearing, and a mouth speaking words that are quick and active vivisecting him, dividing asunder all and everything that is of matter to him, severing tendrils of bindings to matter (and all that is merely of material nature) that spirit be made manifest first to him, then as God wills through him as preeminent of all, and holding primacy in all. Nothing is said here that is first said, here. The Spirit gives life. The flesh profits nothing.

And he finds a warring. Even that warring inescapable. And of such nature of dread tumult that it would be utmost folly for any to imply here the man chooses, or can summon to himself enough space, find place of peace, or presence of mind to find place of withdrawing to even consider choice or choices…as though he might hide in a closet while every armament in rounds of bullets and artillery constantly whiz by (I speak as a man) and the unceasing thunder of bombs refutes any thought there might even be a safe closet to withdraw to…to hide for a moment, and thus consider…choices. He will either die, or die to, any thought of his own escape. But even this, he does not know.

Too dire a scenario? Or too real?

One would reasonably say (I speak as a man) “Where is peace in this, where can it be if what is spoken of is true?” But that is not the right question. The only matter pertinent to anything, and in particular for now in this commentary is “Is it true?”, regardless of ones disposition toward it. If it is not settled to one (or any) that what was both given to that apostle to write and understand that the flesh is at enmity with the spirit and the spirit at enmity with the flesh, and that there is a natural hostility to the truth(s) of God, it may yet be proved to him. The matter is not therefore whether one wants to believe such, but whether this truth has been made clear to him. For at that point, and in such warring must come a concomitant knowing “I cannot make peace for myself here, it is a thing that must be done for me, or I perish”.

And so even as entry into what would appear as all unsavory to a man and not of his own choosing for himself, God may give grace to understand and further establish first…to that man, then in that man and, if God wills, through that man…that nothing avails here except the work of Christ to bring to peace in the midst of such warring. Yes, peace in the storm.

Jesus is/was never reluctant to speak all given to Him by the Father for our instruction, enlightening, comfort and joy that we be made able (as He) to bear all seeming contradiction(s). He did not withdraw or exempt Himself from us in any way as a man might in expressing what would be considered among men as a hard truth by saying “I hate to tell you this…but…”

No, instead He speaks of matters (we learn) quite true without need of feigned sorrow nor what would be called sugar coating. “In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world”. It has been said elsewhere of such remarkable words that in a sense…only Jesus Christ (speaking the word(s) of God to us) could “get away” with such saying to us…for He Himself is the guarantor of the good cheer He tells us to have…to even “be of”. No wonder only He can get away (so to speak) with saying such. For if we are persuaded it is He alone who first overcomes the world in all, and in giving of Himself to us and for us is made such guarantor, we understand now it is not as much of command given to be of “good cheer”…but matter of knowing possession of (or being possessed and captured by) the very Christ of God. Yep, He is a conqueror in all. And so we come to learn that commandment which all of once spelled death to us, through Christ are made to us eternal life. Even to such extreme (but is it?) that there are those told and hear “And you shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake”…without a shred of “Gee, I hate (or I am sorry) to tell you this…but…”

Yes, only God in and through Christ can get away without apology for speaking the truth in all. For He is the truth in all, without holding back from us all necessary to us, for His glory and our good. Even to such saying that all once formerly sought, all once striven for, all once diligently manipulated toward of all and even every man…to acceptance in and of the world by whatever means such acceptance and acceptability is garnered…is now made not only futile to seek, but voided in Him. It’s just not there. No believer need seek to make himself odious to anything (especially the world) for in and through Christ, he already is. Ha ha! It’s too late for us to make ourselves…anything! (Even as it truly has always been too late for us to do anything…about ourselves!)

What a relief.

We are what we are.

Thanks be to God!

When considering this matter of identities, as with all matters the Lord would make clear to us, we cannot escape the matter of apparent paradox(es). Seeming paradox(es). Seeming contradictions. O! we might very much prefer it not be so, especially at those points in which they are met in all the confounding by which they bind the mind of the natural. But, if we confess it, can we then deny it; that there is need for mind’s renewal? Even to this matter of apparent paradox(es)? Especially to and of ourselves if we are to be in any way, honest? For we may find we have little or no peace at all otherwise in seeking out the reconciliation with the God who desires truth in the inward parts and whom is only made known to us through Jesus, His Christ.

Even the above holds some point, even a very salient point, for the purpose of a righteous contention. A need for a smoothing out, settling, clarity. For by faith (specifically the faith of the Son of God) we have received such reconciliation as a matter accomplished already, finished, complete and perfect. Done for us as a gift to us; that we dare not seek to add to nor foolishly think enhancement is in our hands to accomplish, the which will in truth (if seeking to embellish) only accomplish a degradation…not of the gift which is from above and untouchable and un-subject to degrading, but of estate of mind displayed in such degradation.

Yes, we can fall…further. And we are strenuously warned against it, God help us. Not forgetting, (God forbid!) it is His good pleasure to help us. Even with all warnings and cautions. See? Even here I, no more than any, can escape a frank confrontation with a matter requiring not some, but all the light and grace there is for reconciling. For even in such admission of needing all, this cannot be used as lever or leverage to control God’s dispensing.

An apostle confronted the same. If where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more…the natural mind sets up the equation falsely…that encouragement of, or to sin is implicitly the lever to pull to see more grace or have it more abound.. But let’s face it, there is a one great thing we might all know of ourselves…there’s no help required nor encouragement needed as provided by any argument or contention to encourage our sinning. It is ample enough, as is. Can a man be honest before God? Or better, perhaps, before those eyes who cannot but tell the truth on themselves? For even if attempting to lie…we truly show ourselves…liars. And so truth must out, always…before those eyes. Do we believe this?

Therefore in this matter of selves and identity (including identification) it becomes plain. One knows all, sees all, understands to all and any depths..all…and a one who does not. We can surely go onto say one is of all righteousness and holiness while another is in desperate need of these. One cannot lie…while another even if seeking to, cannot but make himself plain. One is in all control and dominion over all created things even to Heaven and earth…while another is one of those created things. Identity of each should be rather plain to the disciple.

But here is where the expression of such is not, nor can ever, nor will ever be a matter of mere words. Yes the words are simple enough that in all simplicity a child can grasp in some understanding when presented “I am me and you are you”…”you are baby boy (or girl), and I am daddy”. But we know something (don’t we?) even of pretending, how that child may grow, slip into oversize shoes not his own and slog around the house, deepening his voice and saying “I am daddy”. Or even “the” daddy.

We will not here touch too much upon the possibilities in this predilection and their two very different expressions of motive. For one may be a toward a more healthy (or less odious) desire to imitate, while another may be of desire to usurp and replace. There can even be a mix of the two. For if a father is a so called “good” father, it is not as deserving of harsh rebuke that child have desire to be like him when usurpation also lay just around the corner. But he must be warned. It is enough we consider Adam, and his (even our own) predilections. Irked at being clay? A created thing? Enough said about that for now.

Identity is always in play. And to be considered.

And so it is an apostle expressed quite a matter (and I am convinced, sought to) as invitation to understanding of a matter in his experience that is not, and was not, a matter of mere words. No matter how often they may be rotely repeated until they are not. But because his expression was intensely personal (as we see) and remarkably so…this matter itself helps serve in the matter of identity. None of us are Paul, but we sure may have desire to know what he knows (or knew) and presented. Such can even be a Godly jealousy, provoked…to have what another does and provoked of depths and glories sensed in the words.

But lest we imagine Paul himself did not have some matter of contending with apparent paradox and weaknesses of mere words that are in total dependence for spirit’s informing, we can consider. For unless the spirit inhabit and disclose the words, (as no less for a man) matters must remain obscure. Things are for us and to us always in need of resolution surely, and with as much confidence we can have that the spirit will do, and does no less than that; despite any seeming contradiction.

Appreciation of a matter must include (if it be rightly to a just balance) all of the matter.

I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives within in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.

It is only because the seeming “second” sentence is true (do you believe it?) that what appears as first there can be shown us, made true to us and in us.

Who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Too personal? Too exclusive? Too much a “place” where no man but Christ can bring “another”? In so much verity that it becomes plain all the impossibility of man to accomplish is now broadly on display without contradiction?

Wonderful. Even too wonderful.

Vision and focus are being narrowed to a perfect narrowing…where only Christ can be of hope and help. Not of theory, not of filmy nor diaphanous substance constructed of mere words…but of eternal and (O!) so weighty substance…to you, in you, for you.

If one is of Christ this is all and only and ever has been…sole pursuit, sole of seeking after, sole of finding, sole of reminder, sole of consequence to rebuke(s)…even in and through all things appointed of God for our experience(s) and any understanding.

O! but we may rightly say “I have seen my many mistakes”, “I have seen my many of fallings short” “I have seen my many many errors in thoughts and practice…even while seeking to be a faithful seeker”.

“I cannot deny my utter weakness and weaknesses”

Cool. Now you are free to boast of them.

And the words are both the frame and the framing for that house, and even a city being built together, whose builder and maker are God.

And by the grace of God you are what you are. A man.

Free from all once striving to show yourself more than that.

God knows what power and work it takes for a man to see, and to some extreme, himself. O! but this is no small matter and cannot escape wonder. Yet it is of great necessity it be accomplished on our behalf, for without firm establishment of identity and identities how can there be relating or relationship? A self in relation (or relationship) to another cannot escape the necessity of this knowing…for lest it be made clear all presumption cannot but ensue. Do we see that?

The examples that may be given make it all the more plain so that I am confident none of us are unaware. And again, without apology for entrance into what only appears paradoxical, we venture.

As close as both a man and woman may become even in bond of marriage, or even using friends as example, we know lines can be crossed. (Do we?) Those places or circumstance where one oversteps and inserts themselves and even exerts themselves into matters an “other”, or the other sense an unlawful incursion. Oh yes, I can speak “for my wife” in many things, and she for me no less, but there are, and have been times where I must be reminded, as forcefully as needed, “You are not me!”. No matter how close we may get or be (and with friends, no less) once we allow a blurring to cloud our sight to such extent of presumption there must be a reestablishment of identity(s). Yes, we can get very close in a marriage, very close in a friendship so that even to an observer we appear as one, and we may even make such proclamation “we are one in marriage”…but in that relationship where others, even observers “are not” we cannot escape the necessity of knowing identity.

This is where paradox only seems and is assigned its place to being only of appearance. The paradox is only washed away in reality. And by the reality that is Christ.

It’s almost too simple as to not need any elucidating. Nevertheless I enjoy my liberty as I hope you, no less, enjoy yours. Simply…no matter how close, no matter how deep, no matter to what extent we proclaim our joining in and to the Lord, embrace our joining in the Lord, yes, even gloriously rejoice in our joining in the Lord, none of us is that very Lord, Jesus the Christ of God. He remains who He is, His identity secure…and even by Him and His work alone, is it that we (no matter how strongly we be knit together) not only find ours, but are given to maintain ours! O! but this seems even more paradoxical! Is this writer saying “A man doesn’t even know himself or his own identity till he be joined to Christ by Christ, and in Christ?”

Yes.

Nor does he know his brother(s). Or any, for that matter. Nor can he keep an identity, apart from this work.

If we consider what we have been given of Christ, and by Christ as our life, and our instructions for healthy pursuit (and handling, if you will) we may consider such as this in that light:

And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?

But as to identity, as to the “who’s who” in our relationships, we submit God has never had this matter as issue. He surely knows Himself fully, who and what He is, and even all things of creation, surely including anything of us. It is we who need light, not God. God who is all that light. Is it too far a stretch, or in sounding too condemnatory to say once we assumed our very selves to be…that god? We walked in our own light. Yes, to ourselves we once were. It took (and always takes) the work of God to establish to us…who we are, and who He is. We are creature and created thing, He is not. He is first in all and always, we are not (unless by some folly we still hold some persuasion we are responsible for Him and not He as responsible for all.)

But here is another thing we enter as we do in this establishment…we are granted to appreciate “other”. Oh yes, we can enjoy (and do) the many things and matters of which the arm of His salvation has secured (liberty being one)…but again, no matter how deeply this may extend to us, even in such sharing of, and by Him toward us…it is almost laughable to ask… no it is quite laughable, does that make any of us…God? Lord?

O! but you say, how ridiculous! Yes, indeed. But I will also assume (or is it presumption?) you are not unfamiliar with some who have gone about proclaiming (often ending under a psychiatrist’s care in some institution) “I am Jesus Christ!”

O! What we have entered! What we are called to! To even know God…as God…is no matter for slighting! Yes, we can recite and cite the scriptures as need be “Sanctify the Lord in your hearts”…”let” Him be continually set apart to all special place of preeminence. Reserve to Him (as even granted us by Him in such power toward us as gift to do so) such place of all exaltation, for truly it is this that keeps us from the insanity (and is therefore come to be seen more as gift) than a stridency of law uttered to us. Knowing Him, is what keeps us from the crazy. Despite how and to the world they would define it as.

This is what keeps us…from return descent into that abyss of crazy land. God gives us gift of preservation and prevention of such once confusion…and the truth of the matter is…the more He reveals of Himself…the very much more we know (even as we draw closer) “I am not…Him”.

It does seem almost paradox, no? Wouldn’t the lines have to get blurred? Wouldn’t being so strongly “in another” make confusion impossible to resist and be overcome by? But thankfully, gratefully, truthfully, “it” is all and only (our being in Him) what plainly shows and even delivers us from, the very confusion of our once estate to even hold such (now) obvious absurdity. No matter what authority, placement, knowing of being in Him we may see, enjoy, or be granted in Him, and by Him, none is ever less than for this working in us (O! you are God and I am not!) and sharing commonly with and to one another.

We “get to” love! We are granted such grace, such allowance to both know and enter into what we thought we all knew…till we met Him! And began our discipleship under His tutelage. We are student, He is Master. We are loved (and even know of it) only because He first loved us. He is the all in all, and we are blessed to know Him as that.

No one “around the throne” is either sorry about the activity of casting their crowns, nor confused as to Whom such is rightly cast. Without this, do we see, or better, with this (do we see) we are given such a great gift to worship, to adore, to, yes…reverence and appreciate a One beheld?

Do we need fresh eyes? Have you ever needed “fresh eyes” to see your wife…as she truly is, and not as she may have become to you “Oh, it’s just her…again” through the wearing thin of time’s constant beat toward familiarity? Yet…suddenly…we may find ourselves as men “taken out of time”…men delivered from all that is prone to “take for granted” a whole of creation that is perfectly formed…and not only so, but also being perfectly upheld to a precise end.

As surely as this works in us for and to God for our joy, so it does, and is, and must work in us toward one another…and absolutely no less! How humdrum and boring and monotonous with the dread rhythms of hell must all otherwise become!
And is!

In Christ each member is an unsearchable well of gift(ing). And how each is received and “handled” speaks both of what we have received…and what we may yet be in need of.

O! but does that sound too “high and mighty” of a man to say?

But I didn’t. A new man did, Even the new man, did.

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

O! yes, when we see that man so prone to taking things for granted, for assuming to a presuming, for going along thinking in anything less than, or according to anything other than the reality of the newness of life…we meet him. Thanks be to God for the One who delivers us from his clutches! The only one who can deliver from such dire darkness and (of) presuming!

O! this salvation! O! this work of God in Christ to us, and for us!

Do we need fresh eyes…for God? For a wife? For a friend? For all and everything? Even…enemies as we may think them to be? God help us!

Do I pain you with too frank disclosure? Does it hurt a bit? It does, doesn’t it? But so you do not think there’s a wounding of unnecessary infliction to bring a man down a notch or two so he won’t be so hurtful, will you believe?

Will you believe a man who has seen his wife…as enemy? Is that not enough? Then God also and no less? His Christ, too? Seen Him as enemy…of some fault. (Never confuse responsibility for fault, lest you be found frankly demanding all responsibility be placed upon you…a responsibility one cannot bear to the showing of all faults of which one is unaware.)

Paul had it settled to him. There is no fault in Christ, and He is well able to take all responsibility for us.

We are weak. He is both faultless and responsible.

Too much?

Then be a help and knock a man down a notch or two. By lifting up another Man.

After all, it is no less than your calling in Him to do so. To be a help so.

Do you…can you, will you…love me?

Whatsoever you do as unto the least…

This is what a true friend has told me:

These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

Yes, it is enough a man, even any man, have one true friend who has such power as to cause one to live through this.

One friend is necessary. More friends are not unnecessary.

There are eyes before which I, and no man, can lie. He has His as He is who He is.

And His eyes are as a burning fire.

And I am what I am.

And you are what you are.

“Why so much about Paul?” is a fair question. Or why so much mention of him and the writings (are they revelations to any?) given through him with some obviously and comparatively less mention of some others? Good questions. Fair questions, if they exist in any other as they are not non-existent in me, also.

God knows.

No doubt this can appear a coy response if there are such questions. It does seem to be, in some sense, too handy a ploy or catch all; nevertheless I can only rest where God has allowed me. God knows.

Our all and only justification for things done, things not done, views and perspectives held vs whatever blindness remains, is only one, Jesus the Christ. We may see things, we may say things (we are even encouraged to it) but there is, for us, only one foundation upon which any can, or anything is that is, is standing. All things being upheld by the word of His power. Even folly when allowed.

Just as it is to me, and for me, impossible to distinguish in myself faith from presumption (I must be shown) or of those places where I have spoken too much, or too little, I cannot justify myself. Nevertheless, having the same spirit of faith, we speak. Even (even most particularly!) that when we speak not from faith but from presumption…we have faith of being corrected. Disciplined. Chastened. Rebuked. We have a Lord, we have a Father, diligent in and to such.

And even if or when we think we see guidelines and rules, as salubrious as they may sound or appear, we dare not trust in ourselves to their fulfilling. We are (strangely in this faith) made open to being shown all wrong and that…because of Christ, and only so, it is alright. Now, admittedly this sounds too much a way of carelessness and caprice, but how this is not so is for another book, for now. (How can it be made alright to be wrong?…yes…a very good question!)

Saying that, there is no explanation as to my knowing all, or any of my “why’s” I might present as explanation, must come short. Even to any question of “Why so much about Paul?” But we are to share what we see even of not knowing all (or any) of the why’s we have been given to see it…as to us in particular. We are told sight helps the whole body to the extent it is given by God through Christ. Yours, mine, and ours. If we deny this mutuality, then we are no less denying any mutuality in Christ and of Christ, whose body we are. All and anything given of God to any part in the knowledge of Christ in even the deepest and most closeted finding, builds up the whole. And all is for comfort, encouragement (yes!) even rebuke and if or as need be, chastening. We don’t get to choose at this buffet “I only came for the dessert cart”. We are eating all the Lamb.

That being said, what might be seen (rightly, or wrongly, God knows) of Paul? A man conspicuously chosen? Is that a thing seen? A man in such and particular state of mind as to be totally opposed (at least to himself) and going about to do all he could in his strength and by whatever means and authority available to him to wipe out the name of Jesus from among men by by bringing as many as possible of those who declared that name to prison and/or death? Is that a thing seen? A man in some experience of the very precise targeting of God to all particularly personal (O! so personal) experience… “Saul, Saul”! Is that a thing seen?

And here, may God help me. For you may see a “seem” inconsequential and I may be in all presumption of raising it, nevertheless…may it not be to anything but wholesome provocation for investigation. God knows. But here we have a man (if we believe) called, chosen, even under the most miraculous of circumstance (but is it ever less for any man?) included in and among a company as one “not having known” Jesus the Christ in the days of His flesh, who is included in this company and by this company who once, in seeking to determine how such would be chosen said:

Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

No, the case is not being made (nor can it) of any rule or constraint being made of the disciples called as apostles to “of whom” they must or only could, choose. Yet, they showed a persuasion that it ought to be of one who was physically with them (and Jesus)

all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us

There is no case they were mistaken in this, nor that the lot falling to Matthias was in any way less than God’s choosing. They had, these apostles, by prayer and all they knew to that time…sought to remove from their own hands and preference…any choice being made according to any of their own preference. This is no accusation of some falling short or error. But it shows disposition and even to whom they limited such choosing…(one who went in and out among them) which may surely have been according to God’s instruction to them.

But they encountered an “expansion”. (Do we?) When Paul’s revelation was presented, when Paul’s testimony heard, when Paul’s spirit was discerned as being in and of the spirit of Christ…and even as one quite particularly who had never accompanied Jesus (after the flesh), they (after the flesh), even once strenuously opposed (after the flesh)…with all this (is it a thing seen?)…he could not be denied his place in the body…and was indeed acknowledged as an apostle of no less standing nor stature than those who ate, drank, slept beside, walked dusty roads, “heard” Jesus through compressions of air expelled over vocal cords, witnessed overturned merchants tables, than any other.

This (dare it be said?) “should” hold no less wonder nor lack of glorious praise (in its form) from us as it once did from a “them”:

But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.

Do you ever think of yourself at some remove? Consider that in some way you (or I) are disadvantaged by time and/or circumstance? That a “something” more manifestly displayed in power and glory happened in “a then” and according to some (even if minutely) different working than discerned in some “now”?

Yes, to me, Paul speaks (and is even a wonderful example of all hope) against such folly I have often given myself to.

And yes, Peter does no less. John does no less. Even their chastening and rebuke against such folly cannot be denied. They too came to well understand what man understood about the frailty and unprofitability of the flesh according to its own knowing:

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. 2 Cor 5:16

Odd, right? At least in some way, right? Paul wrote this (or was given it to write) even sounding as though he were one claiming to have once known Jesus “after the flesh” in that “we”. But we know he wasn’t in the common sense of knowing as once the other apostles also knew Him, what His feet looked like after a dusty walk, what His breath smelled like up close, what His height was compared among them. NO. Not that at all. Yet he still wrote “we” to include himself as one once knowing after the flesh.

Yes, paul understood something of an enlightening necessary worked even curiosuly and strongly in himself…to all dissuasion against “knowing after the flesh” and all persuasion to knowing only after the spirit.

And, thanks be to God what was worked in him as one “born out of time” to lay hold, grasp, secure by true testimony that “what is for one, is no less than for all”.

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

The sufferings of Christ and the honor upon Jesus the Christ is/was enough to transport him.

God forbid we think otherwise in any way.

I belabor again the matter of belaboring things. For when found contending the matter of our experiences in Christ being both intensely and exquisitely personal, there is no choice to it. We must go, as we must go. Nor am I ashamed of this matter of seeming paradox or apparent contradiction how that God, through Christ assembles us to, with, and even in one another, and to no less measure than we are in Christ. As much as we are of and in Christ, we are no less of and in the body, together.

This is itself a marvel to consider, such a particular fashioning, such a personal marking of ownership that, apart from the spirit that binds us to one another, we might all easily conclude…each is made too differently from the other to fit…yet it is precisely this work and working that both causes us to fit, and reveals our fitting. The stamp of ownership, the mark of purchase is upon each, regardless of how differently these matters (even so personally wrought in us and to us) might otherwise appear. The same spirit is all and only what is distributed for any recognition, no matter appearances as discerned otherwise. And learning to recognize the Christ of God as He is, even in His body, is both our calling and delightful portion.

And of course, God forbid we fail to recognize a one as our brother Paul. Though some may argue his calling was too particular, his assignment too distinguished, his office of such manifest difference to all or any other that he is himself beyond consideration (as both no more nor less a part of this body than any other) and as such is “off limits” for personal consideration…there is but one question, “did he?” The question is simple. Who, in all scripture we have as one won to Christ, is more forthcoming about his personal estate, his personal struggle(s), his confessions of weakness and yes, sometime fear and doubt about whatever things he mentions, than he?

And since this is raised to some contention the counter contention could easily be raised…why consider him then “more” than any other? Why find him (or some of his revelations) worthy of “more probing” more discussion, more observation, then? Surely we could say sheer volume or weight of writing, or matters of depth in exposition. But then, do you see, if we consider all “of that” weighty stuff so worthy of consideration…this itself adds weight to anything we might also consider as sort of personal confession of his, no less. Or do you (or I, or we,) still thinks in terms of some is wheat, others stuff is well, more chaff-like? God knows, we may. Do we?

God knows…if he is indeed “deep”, then all comes of that depth. His fears. His doubts. His labors and struggles. His self confessions. Be careful then (who can say such!?), for how many have been comforted (have you?) by such word as “My grace is sufficient for you” while having no regard to discarding those trials through which such provoking of seeking came…to hear them? Yes, indeed, Paul tells us much about himself. And the way of his seeking after the Christ and in its effects upon him. We are caught then, aren’t we in this matter, even as we are (and no less as we are) made captives of Jesus Christ and to one another. Christ’s exceptionalism, preeminence, or [sic] exceptionality (God forbid), should never keep us from considering Him to all depth. God forbid we care to remain ignorant of whom and what we eat as life. And:

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

And if we believe (do we?) Paul was given to speak and write according to that same spirit of Christ given and received, even as things of life to us, then surely all recorded is worthy for taking in.

Even such matter as:

For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

Mentioned. And in this context of coming to question (as some man might in finding such prevalence of sin when seeking after Christ) “is Christ then a minister of sin?”

But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid! For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

It was as it has to be, and had to be settled to Paul, as it must no less to us that, there being no sin in Jesus the Christ, there can be no ministry of it from Him.

Think for a moment, saint. Think of any or any place in which you may have once held misgiving about the Lord and His gospel. Think even if you can, and God allows, of those places of your strongest objection if possible. Did you ever think Jesus accursed? A cursed one? A blasphemer, a carrier and promulgator of all un-righteousness and dissuader of persons to the most perverse of leading…that you sought disciple’s deaths…as one might seek to wipe out a cancer?

You know, even some of the most “hardened” atheists I have ever spoke with still concede (in their feigned magnanimity) “Jesus said some pretty good stuff”. But Saul of Tarsus? Spare none, kill or imprison them all. Of course you know this. Paul had a quite particular view of that man named (and called) Christ by His disciples…and strenuously went about (thinking he was doing God’s work) to wipe them out wherever they be found. Sin? This was its deepest working to him. Perverting the way of God, delivered to the “Jews”…even to the perverting of Jews, and Jewery.

Now in this context, when such matter of sin and sinner(s) arises (to Paul, no longer that Saul) in consequence discovered when seeking after the Christ of justification, can we see what was settled to Paul…completely…that there can be no consideration that Christ is the cause of sin found? Yes, he would not rebuild to that place once torn down, once so completely settled to him that to do so would itself be the fuller measure of transgression displayed…to now attribute sin to Christ. Yes, to him as settled as settled could be to a man that there is neither unrighteousness, cause of stumbling, nor anything of any unsavory nature issuing from Christ. And lest we forget, it is the Paul (once Saul) who had to have an entire disposition uprooted and set aright by God’s revelation of His Christ.

That we all know of this, have easy access to the scriptures testimony about this once Saul, should not diminish appreciation nor be casually taken of God’s work of persuasion and convincing. And that, no less toward us who believe, such power is in exercise.

Yes, we will come to places of deep upsetting at times, places of such seeming desolation at our seeing, even despairing of ourselves that we may (God forbid) hold something against the Christ as a fault of His, in bringing us to such seeing and knowing.

God forbid!

One may say that whole matter:

But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners

Is something neither to you, about you, or for you, but that Paul was perhaps writing to some other particular man, but not you. Well enough. And that even any matter of raising it (as in these few words and pages) is of no consequence to or for you. God forbid I disagree.

But for those few (even if only one other) that finds some place of relating to it, be comforted to know you are neither alone nor without…relatives there. As need be keep pressing on past all other dissuasion to a lie in the persuasion of that truth whose power is working in all, no less toward you, in you, and for you, than it was in Paul.

Indeed Paul is very, very special. Assigned to carry a full testimony, and unashamed to share it.

For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

If you are in any way convinced toward “yes, but it was for him alone in his specialness”. Then how wrong he would be found to have shared it. He was not reluctant to speak of things by mention, that he could not mention. He refrained to utter that which is/was unlawful to him in a man’s being:

How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Of those thins we need not speculate. Of things unspeakable and unspoken.

But of things he has said in his liberty in Christ, it may be well for a soul to hear.

When we are persuaded by the Spirit to that matter of unity of Spirit, even our unity in the spirit of Christ, all is that is made available to us is then in beginning to be shown of what has been made available to us. And God help us we need to be persuaded to certain matters. Just as Jesus told those following “Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.”

And we might even say that all the subsequent writings, messages, preachings and revelations laid out (some to us recorded on material page, some still on the wind of the spirit unrecorded in ink) are all in service of our knowing of what Jesus has done, and Who/what is in Him. And is even now, doing. The same yesterday, today, and yes, forever.

The above, of course, is troubling to some. One might see a provocation toward speculations. An invitation to fill in blanks of places that are off limits because “we are only to deal and handle according to only what is written down”. And yes, that is a persuasion of some or many, that if any man holds, no other man has authority to impugn. We have no dominion over any man’s faith. Let each walk according to what they have received.

And if it is of anything of note (each will see for themselves, but not without effect upon the body) that the baskets we may carry, (or wineskins we are) as full as they are or are not, are very much according to some persuasion that our persuasions are for the persuading to…and that inclusive of others. And if there be any infighting (so to speak) it is not unusually over matters considered in some way important. Most often disagreements arise from what is considered important amongst us to some particulars that “such and such” is of some paramount necessity and we dare not “move on” until such is agreed upon and established to all.

So some most assuredly say “do not go beyond what is written” (which is even itself, a thing written) for dangers of speculations and shipwreck of faith await (and that held not without some wisdom)…but, let’s face it, despite the very fundamental fact that some hold books others do not…(what “written” is the written referred to?) we have all the words (of a gazillion sermons), a multitude of commentaries and expansions upon, books being churned out by writers and publishers that are themselves, in so many ways and in so many words seeking to show or explain what the “words” mean. And, of course, these present words are also easily assigned that same place.

And it is what it is. To one “add nothing to the words of this book” or he who adds or seeks to take away will suffer certain consequence(s), and means a one thing. And to another…it means, quite another. For how many tomes have been written…explaining…what a particular “book” means? What is “adding”…what is a rendering of some insight and understanding? God knows. God knows.

And God help me if found provoking to speculations. Or a mere figuring out according to some mere working of man’s logic. But aha, (who escapes?) being a man? Yet what we have to deal with is what we have (or have been given) to deal with. Even in matters of such like “what does it really mean to add or take away?” Let alone…”but you have more (or less) books than I acknowledge”. One begins to appreciate that lest unity of the spirit be true as an established matter, and being made true to us…as already established…we are all as lost as geese. And only God knows how established…established is.

Is He sharing what He knows? If so, how? If through any…who? O! yes, when rubber meets road and matters once thought of casually now become matters for the prevention of our being casualty, suddenly it is of exquisite importance to know what, and who of that what that is held, presented such.

Paul said “I know whom I have believed…and am persuaded…”

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Is it only given Paul…to “know”? “I know whom I have believed”, even speaking (is this speculation?) of a whom of once he said/wrote “that I might know Him”.

And if one can receive it, that there is meaning in and to everything, meaning in words to be discovered, meaning in events to be discovered, meaning in all to be discovered then we may find some difference (as God alone can establish such) in the difference between speculations about…and consideration over matters. “Think on these things”. Selah.

And even so, that where they must be divided as distinct from one another…(speculation and consideration) God will show. For David prayed to God to be kept from presumptuous sins. (Do you believe the spirit moved him?)

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Yes, it is the most interesting(?) fascinating(?) consuming(?) only(?) matter of matters given to man of the what and how…and perhaps (God help a man) even why of God’s working in and through Jesus the Christ. The all of what has been done, the how it has been done that is, in all, worthy of consideration.

If we believe him, Paul surrendered all he once had and once was to the knowing of Him who “loved me and gave Himself for me”. It is an intensely personal observation and knowing Paul expresses there. Is this speculation to see how easily it might have also been written “who loved us and gave Himself for us”? For Paul surely labored toward all inclusivity (if we believe him) in so much of the writing given to him, that all in Christ are equal heirs, without division nor partiality. Yes, something intensely personal Paul was not only “allowed” to say, but given…to say.

And to some extent (perhaps even far greater than a man yet knows) all the above that follows (pt 15) in title is owed in great part to considering? speculating(?) (God knows) of that matter Paul states and was addressed in prior section:

For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

Are we allowed to consider what he says?

What was Paul speaking of in this particular context…and even of a something he had destroyed?

If, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found to be sinners, is Christ therefore the minister of sin? God forbid! For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

Dare we deny what unsettling may come to us in the revelation of our own weakness? Our necessity(s)? All the need of correcting and disabusing of prior assumptions and presumptions that lead and/or have led to consequences found unsavory to us?

We may even find this as need be (and only God knows the very need of need be) that the more we boast of the power of Christ or of His loveliness, goodness, mercy and even His reality as such; that He is as these things are…not fable, not myth, not contrivance, but of all matters truest of substance and in all consistency of such, pure throughout; there may come a consequent revelation to us. That we, of ourselves, are none of these things.

We may see our own venality, spitefulness, all love of self that builds great monuments of self pity to the few things we have suffered or endured, and from there thunder down to others that they do not know as you or I know! We may even be shocked to discover where the man of sin sits. And how he sits, how he seems so certain in his seating as to be utterly enthroned and not subject to any dethroning.

And the despair and despairing that may ensue, that may even lead to the most caustic cynicism and deepest skepticism may have a taste to us with which we are not unfamiliar. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!

It may not be (no, it surely isn’t!) a pleasant place of residence where our soul is raked and wracked upon every turn a man might make and all seems utter torment of every man’s doings. If a man speaks it is only lies, if a man is silent, it is only to cover the truth that he is a liar. And if, or when (God knows) this comes home to roost in us we may even come to rue the day and the Maker of days.

How close we may hew to the abyss, we do not know. And it is not (to us) as though we ever set out to come here, be here, or know here any of things now most seemingly plain to us. To us it never seems a place of advantage sought, nor really of any disadvantage sought…just real. And to us perhaps, despair becomes too real. We may even taste that deepest cynicism that comes of believing “I only sought after a good thing, and now look where I am!” “Even the best of pursuits ends in all misery!” Perhaps not even stopping short of “Who or what would do this…is doing this…to me?”

What (or who) is culprit in this? “Why” is this?

God forbid I try and fill in blanks beyond me. And no less, God help me if the above is blank to you, holding nothing of truth in experience or that I be found as one urging to it, or of its necessity of experience. But if you know of it, or something like it, know you are not alone. And God forbid I recommend myself as fit company.

But if you are able, hear what an apostle has written:

If, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found to be sinners, is Christ therefore the minister of sin? God forbid! For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

One cannot overstress that “If”. This is all and only for that occasion of finding “If” if it be found. There is so much hope in the power of God to keep from that abyss in the apostle’s utterance of God forbid! God forbid we come to rest upon, settle into, find only place of any reality to us that “since this is all consequent to my seeking to be justified by Christ that has led me to know the utter despair that is in all falling short (sin)…that it is Christ Himself who has ministered such sin to me”.

I am in little doubt of how many voices could be raised to condemn such folly, but for the man who has either seen or been there in any measure, he knows too well that no multitude of voices (for all men there are made shown him as liars) can raise him from it. Only one can. Only one can rescue from any thing He forbids. The man here may learn he surely cannot, of himself.

O! yes, he may rummage through all sorts and manner of things “I am a christian, this cannot be” or “I have been through such and such in the Lord, or of such time in the Lord, or endured whatever for the Lord’s sake, this simply cannot be”…and all these things turn to ash in his mind and hand. They mean nothing here, hold no hope nor ability to raise or bring about ascension from this pit. His mirey-ness is too overwhelming, his proclivity for invention made too plain, his inclination to deliver himself by fabrications…also made too clear and plain and of no avail.

He sees some or all of his own cleverness and craftiness (ability to fashion, or invent) that has allowed him some standing among men, or some exercise of it to stop their cutting mouths. But this only adds now to his bonds, how a thing once so easily resorted to for escape or comfort is now a very thing condemning him. As are all and any other reliances that were to him of sometime advantage. They are revealed as such dung with which he has wrapped himself. And now hold only all condemning stink of pride. Who can rescue? Can any? Will…any…come into this place for him? Even if just to be with him to reduce this terror of isolation…let alone raise him from it? It would be so much more than enough…to just know he is not alone. But who could or would dare, or even care to come into such a place…for any?

So it is.

Who does not know, or has not known either of themselves or others of a one who has drawn back citing their hypocrisy if continuing? The words are not unusually of this sort “I found out that to me I was just believing in fables and untruth foisted upon me, and since not really believing, to continue would make me hypocrite”. Yes, it is framed in such manner that hypocrisy is being eschewed, the more noble way of truth and honesty being taken. And from there come the many justifications, reasonings, citings of discrepancies and so called errors or paradoxes of scripture and/or practice to a general conclusion of it as all too nonsensical to be of any sense, reason, and/or benefit to any and is therefore rejected.

But only God knows what any man believes.

Yet the apostle understood a thing about this journey. How easily false conclusions are reached, wrong equations set up. Where one may say it is “this thing” causing me to be hypocrite, God may preserve another through such in His mercy with encouragements. No, it is not the faith nor Christ Himself that brings about the hypocrisy or is minister of it…but rather that it is being shown as what it is and for what it is (even where it is!) …and even quite clearly, by Christ’s purging. And here it takes an intervention for any to stand, an intervening which, if not provided (even in and by such word as “God forbid!”) the man knows by this saying in form

Unless the LORD of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, We would have become like Sodom, We would have been made like Gomorrah.

He too, would not have stood. The Lord’s strengthening so that something might remain is all and only working.

Had the Lord not preserved…had the Lord not prevented, had the Lord not given strength to all otherwise shown in collapse there, none could persevere. No, we are not in that way different than any other…but if so, then only so, and made only so, by the grace of God.

Where is boasting, then?

And whether any is beyond such recall…even in or by staunchest proclaimed resistance…only God knows. And will make known.

Yet Paul said he would not rebuild, or rather, if he did of what he once tore down…then surely he is transgressor and one found in it. And it could behoove us to investigate what of all (and how of all) Paul had torn down what was his to tear down, and even refrain from rebuilding.

What had Paul come to as bedrock and sole hope alone so that even if (as was even said in other place) that even if he himself be shown as unapproved he would not and could not deny?

Yes…Paul had very narrow vision…that opened to great vistas of visions and revelations, even made willing to count himself as lost “to it” if need be, that these matters of truth be not impugned.

How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation, and Author of it?

Inseparable. Would we know what “being one” is?

God help us.

And God forbid dissuasion.

It looks like more “off the wall” matters present. How can this be that seeking settling can so often lead to only more questions, and some quite unsettling, at that? The same Lord (if we believe Peter spoke as directed by the spirit) that tells men of lawless hands, even in participating to the fulfilling of God’s plan, yes, this same Lord who knows all, sees all, and is in all responsible for all that is in creation would then say “I never knew you” to whomever it is said. Or to be said.

But Jesus…don’t you know everyone? Is this a matter of ignorance of which Jesus is speaking? Is it? Or, just as question once went forth “Adam, where are you?” might imply some ignorance of his (Adam’s) location by the God who fashioned him? But does it? Imply God’s ignorance?

God forbid! It simply cannot be. But if not that then, an expression of ignorance…what? We must consider! For far greater consequence comes if thinking of our God as incomplete in all knowing must come as a place too treacherous to tread. It is not even so much a fear of “going there” but that the manifest nonsense of it is simply too great. If in any way, shape, or form, it comes to us we are serving or in intercourse with an “who” who is incomplete in all knowing (as there are gods many and lords many), may we have the boldness to demand to speak to their Boss. Yes, the true God forbid we seek demi-gods! Or respond to them in, or of, their ignorance.

And even here we find a key. A key formed of some appearance of rebuke, or at least reproval, but God forbid we ignore it.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

We are appointed to no less than our Christ’s knowledge of God, experience of Him, understanding of Him…even though the devils themselves have some “information” (as wrong as it is!) about him, not least of which is that He is One. We have not begun to touch or be touched by depths if we draw back and seek to secure our standing upon no more than the devils do. God forbid.

It was said a few sections back that true relationship is established in some mutuality, some sharing in and of true life that is neither fantasy nor fabrication. This the devils do not, and cannot do. Even as the stalker who may be living out some hidden fantasy of a shared life till facing the object of his lusts could hear “Man, I don;t even know who you are, nor care to, what are you doing on my porch?”” and thus be reproved for his folly (which he may find too much to bear) by a reality suddenly thrust upon him. Yes, even so.

So when Jesus says “I never knew you” it is not an expression of ignorance. It may not even be an expression of malice, but mere statement of fact, of truth. “You are not one who is made open to me by the Father”. But nevertheless this also has implications for us if we declare some mutuality of both knowing the Lord and the Lord knowing us. We dare not seek to draw back from the knowing and sharing all of such weakness, frailty, and yes, even matters we might call sin as they are made known to us. Even as necessary, if still found in us. The Lord has withheld nothing of His own weakness from us even if to such time we may have been ignorant of them. We may have slept through his trial(s) in the garden, slept through the hearing of His loud cries and tears (at that time not to our awakening) But once these are made plain, once we are awakened to them, who will deny? Will we say “I don’t know of any of the weakness of the Christ, nor care to. I don’t know why He said (nor care to)

“Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

O! But God forbid we deny this victor’s cry “It is finished”. But also and God forbid we deny that road taken to it.

Even as Paul once said “I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling”.

Yes our love of strength and power is not something we are not unfamiliar with, the natural man has no problem with any affection toward them. But a sharing (mutuality) in relationship if only, “gee, but I really love your power”, really isn’t (nor can be) mutual at all for us, for what power do we have to share? It is all and only the grace of God manifest through Christ that He became weak for us, who are weakest of all God’s creation…and that by such grace even such mutuality might be made truly known to us, in us, and even…for us. Can this be understood? Is it?

O! but the weak link in creation is not the tree, nor the bird, nor the fish, nor the lion…all these run true to their presently assigned nature…even waiting (even as all creation groans) for a something made weakest of all to manifest alignment to its true nature as sons of God in the earth.

Yes, we like very much to share our strengths, in our own eyes and not unusually in the eyes of others, for they cause us to appear as a something. But this understanding of life, what and how it is, even to us and in us is now quite different. And if we are chosen to “know the Lord as He is” there can be no drawing back from our letting Him know us, as we are. Now of course this sounds ridiculous, for there can be no “keeping” the Lord from the knowledge of anything, even our own selves…yet…only to the measure we are made, even caused to know Him in His weakness, will we ever truly know anything of our own, and from that place both truly know and appreciate how great a salvation is this salvation made to us and in us.

Yes, the whole have no need of a physician.

And so (is it paradoxically?) this question might be asked? What will you have? A treasuring of your own wholeness or an unquenchable desire only fulfilled in the knowing of the Christ of God?

You might even be made exceedingly glad by a God who is relentless in all matters of truth, despite you (or our) own seeming preference of viewing one’s self. For if our joy is all and only in what appears to us of us…even wholeness as it may seem to us, He holds the greater gift, always. And He will to His own end unashamedly show His generosity of Spirit toward His own…even in all their own wrong choosing. Even if it be delighting in what they believe is their own…wholeness.

There’s something, and someone else to see that eclipses that in toto, as rising sun causes darkness to flee before it, showing all its weakness and inability to overcome it.

Or daunt it.

And all of creation groans in travail…do you? Groan inwardly? In some weakness?

Be not ashamed.