When Will I See Him?

He has lit the home fires of my shining city on the hill of night.
Yet still I long, for the sight, of my Beloved's steadfast light.

He has taught me of endurance as I tread under the black miles.
Yet still I long, for the sight, of my Beloved's tender smiles.

I have braved the often lonely vigil of His calling to compassion.
But I long to look into His eyes as I thank Him for what HE'S done.

In my journey over troubled waters I've paid consequences for each choice.
Still I long to hear Him tell me I've done well, in His soothing voice.

Here, my heart is renewed in brokenness when I see each needy face.
Yet I long to forget my sorrow in the comfort of His embrace.

As I administer authority for those He came to save,
I desire to rejoice forever in consideration of what He gave.

Because He's asked me, I will learn, the wisdom and cost of hope.
Unveiled to see, with my naked eyes, my Love of limitless scope.

No matter what my task, I will not be complete.
Till all my longings are fulfilled when I sit contented at His feet.

Post Script

You are closer to belief than you know. If you are aware of the weight of your sin, then you also know that it needs to be forgiven. It would be arrogance to assume otherwise. Please do not hold tightly to sin, thinking it must be who you are. Do not be content to settle for the miserable comforts of this world.

Do not let satan convince you that you would be surrendering your intellectual integrity by putting faith in God instead of something less worthy (see prior blog entitled "The Problem With Faith", posted Feb. 15, 2009). This is not about checking your brain at the door. It is about not ignoring facts. When I mention the ambiguity of the evidence, I do not mean that it is not conclusive for those with the eyes and will to see clearly (Not talking ourselves out of where plain logic would lead because we did not get the answer we wanted). Those who want God to work in plain sight do not realize that if He did, then He must needs judge us immediately for our lack of obedience (and He will shortly initiate that sort of method). Instead, He gives us the freedom of choice between abandoning ourselves to love, or saving our "love" for ourselves. (Remember, we cannot save ourselves.) He chooses to woo us with the proofs of His love. The proofs I speak of are His awesome creation, the testimonies of believers, and the eyewitness accounts of His miracles and ressurection (the Bible, which also predicted His life and told us who He is). So, as the Bible says, "Anyone who seeks to know God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." If we feel compelled by His love, we will be saying "I want that" and respond with submission to Him. After we are obedient, then is when He will provide us with "many convincing proofs", as the Bible says it. (I will share some of my own experiences to any who ask.)

I feel I must also clarify the statement that I made that God "will take care of us and take away our problems." True, that, but an oversimplification. While christians live on this earth, He cares for us in the midst of our problems. As a matter of fact, Jesus said, "a servant is no better than his master. The world has hated me, it will also hate you." He also said we are to be "exceedingly glad" when we suffer persectuion for His name's sake, because "great is your reward in Heaven." He has uses for the christians's troubles and pains in this life, just as the suffering and death of Jesus accomplished His plan.

Believe? What is Belief?

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This well known verse is the quintessential encapsulation of the gospel, the good news. It expresses the enduring truth of God's nature and gift to humanity.

In our jaded society, His love is more applicable than ever, but we have lost sight of some of the significance of what God is saying He expects from us here. We see this verse and think, yes, God is the one who is there to take care of us and remove all of our problems. Of course He will, but His truth goes much deeper than that. In a first century society of many gods, the one chosen to serve was the master, the controller of fate. The one who received the loyalty also had the authority of life and death over the follower.

The Lord clearly expects us to change our allegiance. He wants us to turn our backs (repent) on following anything but Him. For those who choose to, it is clear that God has done everything else necessary to keep our souls safe in Him. We are totally inadequate to effect our own salvation. So when we believe, we change who and what we pursue and follow after, and trust in Him to do what needs to be done.

A modern definition would say that we are convinced of the truth of what we believe in. However, the Lord has left just enough ambiguity in the most apparent of the facts so that we must make believing Him an act of our will. We must choose to follow Him. (Satan had all the facts yet chose to disobey.) Also our actions result from what we believe. As an example, if a check was found with a large value and written out to "whosoever wills", any following actions in relation to said check would be indicative of whether we thought the check was any good and there were enough "funds" to cover it. (A poverty stricken person would be much more likely to try out the truth of the promissory note. So the greater sinner is much closer to being saved because he needs it more.)

What was accomplished on the cross was that God, as Jesus, swallowed up death and corruption and absorbed it back into Himself, on behalf of those who wish to follow Him. He carried the load that we could not carry so that we could be reconciled to Him. Where else can we find someone willing to die for us? Who else is powerful enough to be sufficient to cancel the effects of sin and the grave? For salvation, we must let ourselves realize just exactly who He is and what He has done!

This Victory is His!

Through the darkness that flows and surrounds me,
constrained by powerlessness, nevertheless, I can see,
The overwhelming waves of Your endless compassion,
Their sound moves to the beat of the heart of the Son.
Without words to express the exaltation of worshiping You,
Struck dumb by the wonder, I raise heart and hands too.
So where is the fear that dares challenge faith now?
The enemy that flees when by Your praises cowed?
Naught can contain the tsunami of Your power,
When the faith of Your children, in Your presence, does flower!
Your people are singing as heaven's gates rejoice,
won through the fire and flood of sacrifice, by choice.
The music of gladness and gratitude swells!
It's the story of Your mercy and faithfullness, that it tells!
Exposed are the lies told by violence and fear,
that evil is stronger than our weakness and tears.
Through trials and suffering Your kingdom is won.
Your people, through humbleness exalted, along with, and because of, the Son.

Impact!

What have we found in Christ? If we have found life and victory in the midst of our pain, others will see. If any have been driven beyond their own strength, and found enough mercy to share, it will affect all. A life obsessed with longing for Him, will be transformed, and by extension, will change the lives of others. By living a life in pursuit of Him, we have empowered others to follow the same calling. If we carry Him with us always, then we will always have a precious gift that gives to others, the glow of His glory which He so generously imparts to us.

Those who are found in Christ no longer belong to themselves, but have found a new master. A new love directs their hearts and actions. The influence will be obvious. We can make a difference with our lives as ambassadors of the Living Cornerstone. Is this a mission you would like to undertake? There is nothing else that we do, or are, that can matter as much as this one thing.

Freedom's Child

When I think of you, why do I feel such pain? When the image I'm seeing of you, is your dancing eyes laughing at the rain? Is that joy, expressed in exuberance, as if you haven't got a care? As you throw off heavy chains of obedience, hurtling them to empty air? Are your calm, tranquil eyes symptomatic of your innocence? Or are they simply contemplative of the rightness of your defense? You've realized what seems authoritative-is really only supposition, The will of hurtful law enforced-a merely human imposition. Your heart's unleashed, your mind flies free, to explore the universe, Glorying in power and beauty, before destruction catches up with you, and exerts it's curse. I wish that somehow, some way, I could keep you in that moment, Before the agony of consequences hits you, and all your joy is spent. Alas! These are but memories, for we each must have our choice, To submit to God's greater plan or follow our own solo (progressively more nonsensical) voice. Perhaps now you can understand, this enigma that is freedom, Of which principals, of grace, love, and power, are only some. I hope you've seen in your own life that love is not forced by laws. Only a free heart can choose to give, the same love that is it's cause. The onerous burdens of responsibility are freely taken up by love, Shoulders the servanthood, of the same God, love desires to be part of. I'm sure you've heard the saying that freedom isn't free. Someone has to (and did) make the sacrifice for you and me. He paid the price so we could rise from the ashes of our shame, To find renewed integrity in the freedom that is His name. He conquered death and humiliation so we could follow that path too. Our righteousness then by faith in Him, and not by what we do.