Thinking about what I just wrote recently. Regarding, what the legendary Shawn Michaels calls ‘Heartbreak and Triumph’ (that’s the name of his autobiography, far as I know)… But, well, in my case, considering my current perspective, it’s mostly heartbreak.
Writing through it all, I suppose I was low-key demanding for a show of force. Unlike Job who thought he knew better and wanted to end it all, I thought I knew better and I wanted it all – according to MY demands, according to MY terms.
And the humble, yet infinitely greater Creator of the universe did not react – No, He responded. In His eternal wisdom, and more importantly, in His everlasting love towards us, I did not get a show of force. No, by way of His Word, I was given a show of glory. A show of sovereignty. A show of grace.
A show of grace, and a show of amazing grace… A blessed assurance.
I did not get a demonstration. I was thinking, what signs were present in the New Testament? The Jews asked for a sign, and Jesus responded – No greater sign will be given to them than that of the prophet Jonah. Or something to that effect.
But Peter had the vision of the meat not to eat, and had the interpretation and the lesson. Paul – then the Christian-hunter Saul – had his encounter with the glorified Jesus on His way to Damascus. John had his visions in Patmos. And while they had details revealed specific to them, what was in common with these three were that they all needed to be shared to the rest of the body of Christ – because it all pointed to Christ.
We just recently discussed that, didn’t we? In our previous post we laid out that any dream, any vision that comes from the Holy Spirit eventually points to Jesus Christ and His finished work. Surely, my ‘Job’ experience was the same way – it reminded me of Christ’s sovereignty, Christ’s glory and grace present in all that’s happened, all the heartbreak and triumph.
“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies because the Spirit is the truth.
For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life”1 John 5:5–12
While we are reminded by the Holy Spirit of our Savior, the Good Shepherd, the testimony of God is within is – therefore, in partnership with the Spirit within, we shine Christ’s light – meaning, in our own lives, we point to Christ for all to see. The goodness of God is demonstrated in all aspects of our life, in all that’s happening around us and within us, that (1) God is ultimately glorified, and (2) all of it points to the grace of God seen through His Son, Jesus Christ. Our lives are testimonies of God – we are His living testimonies, and while we make our mistakes, it’s ultimately our Father who is faithful to make all of it work for the good of those who love Him – it all works together for the good of the Body of Christ.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.1 Corinthians 9:24-27
What am I to do? What is next? Self-control. Discipline. Distancing myself as much as I can from all that used to amuse me, focusing on the new. Preparing for the new while at the same time atoning for the old (not that any atoning is needed – well, let’s go with redeeming).
That’s what’s been going on with me lately. Sure, I’ve been stumbling. Oftentimes said stumbling has its own fascinations and daydreaming prior… but within the same day, the new demands that I am brought back to shape, by way of new systems to make up for the old chaos. New approaches to celebrating salvation, reconciliation and redemption, over futile wondering, even simulating what might have been.
You’ve seen how I’ve been writing more. But I’ve also been weighing myself down more, burdening myself with working out, sweating out the obsolete. I’ve also been walking, allowing thoughts to freely enter, but more importantly, to freely leave. I’m not saying it’s an ideal system, but it’s what we have for now – and if it all points to Christ, then it’s what we’re going to have for extended periods of time.
Ah, what am I saying. I’m just glad that the Lord is with me, and I am with our Father – Through Christ, we are ALWAYS with out Father – at all times, no matter what nonsense I pull out of my brain, and what remains to be shared. Let it all work together for the good of the Body of Christ.
In the presence of signs and wonders, in the overwhelming weight of the past or the burdens of the present…
In the silence, in the anxiety, in the temporary calm, and in the times of clarity…
Through all, let all work together for the good of the Body of Christ,
and through all, may our Father be glorified to the utmost. Amen.
129 Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
131 I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name.
133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts.
135 Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.
Psalm 119:129-136
After taking a quick break away from the keyboard, I just thought – with all that’s uncertain, you can also chalk up our health and our time as things that we may lose in an instant. Sure, we know – we just established that our Father is faithful to make all things work for the good of those who love Him, but it’s actually with this in mind that we cause ourselves to work for the good of the body of Christ, beyond ourselves.
What does all that mean? Make the most of the present. Make the most of your time, here and now, by thinking of the benefit of others, and relieving them of the most stress in case of the worst. Preparation goes hand in hand with productivity. Make the most of your mental and physical capacity, while you have it…
…and what best way to be as efficient and effective at all times? Well, we as creation would do best to consult our Creator… and it just so happens that our God has His Word. His testimonies are wonderful indeed, and we in the body of Christ naturally gravitate to the Word, as it is Life: We cling to the Word of Life, we keep the Living Word.
We long for the Word, just as we long for others to hear the Word – for as it gives Life, it sustains us with Life; We no longer look at the godless world in condemnation or indignation; God forbid that we consider the Word as a reason for us to be arrogant! God forbid that we forget how we once were – how the rest of the world is – without Light, Love and Life! No, by the Word, and by the Life we find in the Word we see all that our senses perceive, in compassion, and in intentional love and grace.
We glory in the fact and truth that Christ has not allowed iniquity to have dominion over us. He has redeemed us from man’s oppression, and by His finished work we are assured of our Father’s face shining upon us at all times. We who were once lost now have our steps established and kept steady by the power of the Holy Spirit, who is gracious to us, projecting God’s goodness in and through us at all times.
All in all, we make the most of our time whenever we are in the Word; and, praise God, because time is redeemed – By our hand, but ultimately through the faithfulness of our Father – Through Christ, the Living Word, and the Word of Life! Every moment is prayer, praise and thanksgiving, whether we take part in it or not.
We say God is good, all the time – but I say God makes all the time good.
To Him be all the glory, forever and ever.
Thank you for bearing with me yet again. I have to admit, I’m being selfish here, by letting all of this out, if only to clear my mind, and to rearrange my thoughts. To get my heart and mind straight. I pray it is the same with you, dear reader – May our Father continue to transform us by the renewing of our mind.
Until the next post, I pray that the Lord continue to bless you, greatly, abundantly.
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