The Eternal Perspective

"The eternal perspective" from the books of John, 1 John, 2 John and Revelation.

In all three of these books we hear from the Apostle John of his life with the Master Redeemer. Note his words:
John 1:2 The Word was with God in the beginning; vs 14 Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory – the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.
1 John 1:1-2 This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the word of life – and the life was revealed,
1 John 2:2 he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.
Rev 1:4 Grace and peace to you from “he who is,” and who was, and who is still to come, v 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God – the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come – the All-Powerful!

Now try to put yourself onto the island of Patmos and allow yourself to be invited to sit beside John as he reflects upon these words and recalls the past when he and Jesus walked about the earth through the land of Israel, hear his reflections of the Feeding of the 5000 and other miracles and then look deep into his eyes as he looks upon the Crucified Christ and share in his grief. See grief to joy as he tells you about seeing the empty tomb, watch with him as he sees the Master ascend. From there see his eyes as he beholds a man who is in need of healing as he and Peter walked to the Temple, and now see his eyes as he recalls all of this and more and his time as a persecuted prisoner ...I John am on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.

The question before us is how was it that John outlasted all of the Apostles, the Jewish Sanhedrin's "fire", the tribulations and persecution? (and more importantly how do our brothers and sisters across the world as well as ourselves endure times of challenge/tribulation) The answer comes from his own words: vs 10 I was in the Spirit ...which reminds us of Paul's words to the Ephesian church: be filled by the Spirit. The Power of the Illuminating Teacher Holy Spirit was His lifeline to the eternal perspective: But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.

Take time today to reflect upon where you have walked and where you are now walking....allow the Spirit to bring to your mind that which is tied to the eternal perspective that you may join Joshua and the cloud of witnesses from Heb 12 to be able to say: be strong and brave! don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do and experience [editor's addition]

Is Your Slip Showing?

Ever been to a function only to have some kind lady come up and speak quietly into your ear: your slip is showing? Every gal who has experienced this felt the onrush of a scarlet face and then looking around for the nearest ladies room! Once there you tug it up, fold down the waistband, breathe a sigh of relief and ask the next gal...is it showing now?

Paul reminds the Corinthian Church that their "slip", (their conduct) was to be as his: pure and without hypocrisy; with holiness and godly sincerity. In the NET 2Cor 1:12 it reads "pure [without contamination] motives [thoughts, words or actions] and sincerity" Paul is emphasizing this in a phrase with two close synonyms. He gently reminds them that it is their conduct, worn before a world whose eyes are blinded by the evil one that must be guarded at all costs. They are a letter of Christ and may be the only letter the blinded world reads. Therefore, may your actions/words/thoughts be uncontaminated and without hypocrisy.

So is your slip showing? Listen carefully to the whispered quiet word of the Illuminating Holy Spirit - you may have to exit into the nearest restroom and do an adjustment.

Fragrance

II Corinthians has become a sweet fragrance to my soul in the last few days as I see my precious husband grieve over the loss of both parents in the space of 18 days and having read Christina Wilson's blog on memorial stones (see http://users.bible.org). My heart has been churning on ideas, thoughts and memories in a time of grief.

In going through all of the funerals, the many wonderful "things" that made up their lives, and seeing the fruits (literally flowers, squash, pumpkins) it became abundantly clear that their lives were a sweet fragrance to many that we were not aware of even though we spent time with them, interacted with them weekly, visited as often as work allowed. As we viewed family photos, dug through the many boxes in the attic, there were more than enough of those to fill a consignment shop, we became more acutely aware of their love of creating crocheted rugs for family members, saving items for a future date or for their loved ones upon their passing. The greatest gift of all has been looking through their Bibles for notes and sermons, pastor's names and ideas they had gleaned over their 73 yrs of marriage. Yes they will be missed but their legacy of a sweet fragrance lives on. This challenges me to begin thinking, what fragrance am I leaving for my loved ones should the Lord tarry His coming?

2Cor 2:14-16 God ...who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place. For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing – to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life.

Quinceañera and Nana

Next week my granddaughter will have the experience of a lifetime. Her parents are showering her with a major birthday celebration called a Quinceañera that she might have experience some of her Spanish heritage. Being a former Yankee but now transplanted Texan, I have attempted to know more about this event and why it is so very important. I found that it is her transition from childhood to womanhood. This celebration’s history began long ago to mark the coming-of-age rituals to mark a girl's independence as a woman. One of the traditions is to have her shoes changed from flats to heels, dance the first dance with her father and to be given a Bible showing the world that this is not just a birthday but rather a birthday with a spiritual emphasis.

Recently I had a week with my precious family and had time with my granddaughter. One of the wonderful gifts she gave me was her willingness to obey, her willingness to please her grandfather. He had noted her bedroom needed a tad bit of cleaning and encouraged her to do so. She did in fact please him with her obedience to that task and that made her Grandpa proud and pleased.

But, back to the event at hand. So how do we fit into all of this? My husband, Christina's grandfather, has an important role in that he is the one that will present her with the spiritual side with a gift of a Bible, a prayer and a word of spiritual wisdom.

For me, I have been gathering my prayer cards together and have collated the verses I have been choosing at the beginning of each school year since Christina began first grade. My focus was to pray for her to develop her character according to biblical standards. I am “pleased as punch” to say that many of my prayers for her have already been answered. But, that does not mean I am at the stopping point. She is just 15 and there are many more years ahead.

Here is one of my prayer examples from Prov 30:24-28

There are four things on earth that are small, but they are exceedingly wise:
(the character trait that year was on wisdom)
Ants are creatures with little strength, but they prepare their food in the summer;
(character trait of diligence to work in anticipation of future needs, thus to not wait to accomplish chores, school work)
Rock badgers are creatures with little power, but they make their homes in the crags;
(character trait of discernment- a crag is a steep, rugged rock, projecting out of a huge rock, thus one must choose wisely in just the right place of safety)
Locusts have no king, but they all go forward by ranks;
(here the character trait of teamwork – and symbolizing strength as one follows Christ in all duties)
The Spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces
( in the NET this word is lizard yet the spider was the one chosen as I was also curiously studying and reading the book of Esther. The spider gives us a picture of an insect who is skillful and crafts her web with beauty and intricate details. Thus the character trait is one of skill and beauty.)

As I prepare for this marvelous and exciting event in my granddaughter’s life, I pray that I might take to heart that I am but one of her spiritual advisors and may God give me grace to pray wisely for her. I will be presenting these verses to her in a journal just for her.

Perhaps you might take this challenge for your grandchildren.

G.A.P.Eternal Perspective

G.A.P. (God’s Abiding Principle) which comes from this verse: Is 55: 8-9 “Indeed, my plans are not like your plans…and my plans are superior to your plans.” Thus: have an eternal perspective.

The disciples give us a glimpse of how they did not have that yet idea firmly entrenched in their minds. Looking at our own lives, we as well, do not have an eternal perspective in terms of those who are “suffering”. As we read the story of the blind man whom Jesus healed in John 9, we find ourselves being shocked by the question of the disciples. How could they be so insensitive? But, if we are honest with ourselves, how often do we ask the same? They asked: “Rabbi, who committed the sin that caused him to be born blind, this man or his parents?” In other words, why has this been allowed to happen? Jesus answered them that there was no sin. The word here is “oute” and has the idea NO, EMPHATICALLY, there is not a question of sin at all. In fact, if you had an eternal perspective you would know that God’s plans were executed perfectly for one reason---so the acts of God may be revealed, through what happens to him. As I re-read this story I find how much like the disciples I am. (I am speaking to my own heart here) I have to stop and ponder what Jesus is really saying because often, I, like the disciples, have that mindset or I am too “busy”, meaning I am talking rather than listening, asking the proverbial question: why God? How often do my questions take center stage instead of looking for what God is going to do? Do I really believe Rom 8:28 or am I merely quoting a verse out of memory? How often are my eyes focused on the here and now and not on the eternal? James said faith without works is dead. He also asks: You say you have faith? Where is the work of the eternal perspective? Good question to ponder.

As I do the prayer log each week I remind myself of this enduring spiritual principle because of the depth of pain some are experiencing. It is to me an enigma for which I have no answer but I am also reminded that my work of faith is to pray that God’s plans, which are superior to mine, would be perfectly executed for an eternal reward. I pray that you too will join me in this season of quietness and prayer for those who are living out God’s plan, who are revealing His work so that the world would take notice but more importantly, He get the glory.

How Cool is this?

Hey there it is now Day 21 in our quest to be in the Word daily. What is God teaching you? Where are you reading and meditating? What is God teaching you? Here’s what God taught me today from Hebrews 10.
First: Jesus is the PERFECT sacrifice and God prepared it that way. “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me. Heb 10:5. Did you catch that idea? God prepared a body for Him…that means it was determined and executed.He chose His only begotten Son for this one and only perfect sacrifice and it had to be done with a body.

Secondly, If you understand that concept you are just one step away from being a child of God. As a child of God the author of Hebrews then gives us some very basic and practical applicable life changing steps to take!

1. Be confident brothers and sisters…you can enter God’s holy sanctuary
2. Draw near in your confidence, God is no longer far away or on a high mountain in fire and threatenings but is as near as the breath you take. But note it is that we must draw near with a sincere heart…none of this wavering well maybe so maybe not…you must be sincere about this. So how sincere are you today about your faith? Are you confident?
3. Hold unwaveringly to the hope you have within you…he who wavers is lost and is like the sea as it ebbs and flows back and forth. So don’t expect to receive anything from the Lord as you waver between yes and no. You must be unwavering, that is steadfast and immovable as Paul said in 1 Cor 15:58!
4. Then after you have come boldly before the throne of God, don’t just stay there! Jesus said “go, make disciples, baptize them, teach them” Sooooo friend, are you going?
5. Lastly in your going out into the “holy huddle” are you thinking? Is this on your mind? How can I spur someone else on to love others and to do good deeds thus working out their salvation.

Whoo hoo friend…how cool is that? Come near, get your heart recharged in the tent of meeting’s throne room! Be steadfast in your faith! Be steadfast in your in your hope! Go to believers and encourage, Go and find those who are lost and win them to the Lord!

Day 17: Mice, Men and Plans

Principle: God is Sovereign and Ruler over all, His dominion is both heaven and earth, He is planner and executor and yet He allows man to choose his way.

In the challenging novel written by John Steinbeck “Of Mice and Men” the characters make plans but they often go astray. They find themselves in places and circumstances that tragically end in death for the one softhearted individual in this cast of characters. A famous line from the book is “the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray” which was captured from Robert Burns poem “To a Mouse”. Frequently the phrase has been used often by people when they see their dreams go awry.

Steinbeck leaves the audience to ponder this thought but never gives a reason as to why and leaves us in the dark as to the other side of this coin. In contrast, authors of both the OT and the NT do reveal the other side of Steinbeck’s coin which gives us a hope and an answer to every man who asks (1 Pet 3:15 always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess)
1. God is Sovereign and in control (Is 14: 24, 27 “Be sure of this:
Just as I have intended, so it will be;the Lord...has a plan,and who can possibly frustrate it?
just as I have planned, it will happen.)
2. Man plans but God is the executor (Prov 16:9 KJV A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.)
3. God uses all of man’s plans to bring about His perfect sequence (Rom 8:28 we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,)

Man plans but God brings about His intended purpose proving that He is the Sovereign of the Universe. The clearest example of this from scripture is found in Genesis where we read about the evil plans of Jacob’s sons to remove Joseph from their presence. You can almost hear the sons quoting Steinbeck/Burn’s statement as they stood before Joseph as a dignitary in Egypt. Gen 42:21 “Surely we’re being punished because of our brother, because we saw how distressed he was when he cried to us for mercy, but we refused to listen. That is why this distress has come on us!”; translated into today's pc lingo: “oh just dandy; our plans have gone amuck and look where we are now...we are in a heap of trouble" The brothers were unknowingly unaware that this was God’s intended purpose was to bring about the deliverance of His people in a time of famine. God orchestrated each movement in Joseph’s life to bring about His intended end.

The challenge before us is to see that even though we may plan, God is the one who lovingly and carefully brings about His intended purpose so that He alone gets the glory. Jeremiah wisely wrote: Jer 9:24 If people want to boast, they should boast about this: They should boast that they understand and know me. They should boast that they know and understand that I, the Lord, act out of faithfulness, fairness, and justice in the earth”

Prayer: Father, El Elyon, may we today stop and pause to worship you as the sovereign possessor of heaven and earth. May we know without a shadow of doubt that today has been planned in eternity past for such a time as this. May we trust you as the author and finisher of our faith and to see your purposes before our eyes so that we may boast in this: I know You, I understand that you are faithful, you are fair, you are just and all things bring about your good to those who love you.
Application: Keep track of today’s events and praise God as He executes His plan for your good.