House of Mirrors

Here's a thought: well, in the form of a question:
Do you think Isaiah ever experienced the type of woe he felt in Isaiah 6 before he came into the presence of The Almighty? Would he have described himself as a man of unclean lips the day before he saw God high and lifted up? Or even Jeremiah. Did he think of himself as a child before standing before God? Do you think he would've ever admitted to his fear of public speaking before the LORD pointed it out?
The Bible talks about so, so many Christlike reflections. That's what I pursue.

In Peter, the Bible tells us to make every effort to add to our faith. I believe that a big part of that is reflecting, taking inventory of our antiques. To actively devalue them. To make less of even the ones others make much of. To remove them from blocking a clear unobstructed view of the mirrors in God's word, especially the ones that I've clung to because they made me feel better than my neighbors with their worse antiques. That is something I can do.

I don't use yesterday's version of me as a marker, I'm seeking the fullness of Christ as my goal I think of it like a hall of mirrors.
I don't want better patience than I used to have, I want Christlike patience.
I don't want less anger than I used to have, I want Christlike peace.
I don't want a better temper that doesn't frustrate as easy, I want Christlike control.
The Bible reflects Christlike character and beckons us to look into those mirrors and be honest with ourselves. Each reflection that shows no signs of progression, needs correction.
And this commitment isn't hard, well, it's not easy either, but it's so worth it, what other choice is there really? When I give humble and honest attention to the marred reflections, it allows me to make room for Christ to move in and take up more and more space. it's not like I have valuable antiques that I have strong attachments to. My yesterday's stuff is all junk, and what Christ brings is incomparably better.

Now this is a wonderful place to encourage us with Biblical truths about the gospel and salvation. Because of our place IN Christ, when God looks into those mirrors, He only sees Christ. But we're not God, and we shouldn't let His perspective become an easy excuse as to why we don't give attention to the work that really needs to be done in us. There is no condemnation, but there is a conformation that warrants our attention in humble reflection and an expectancy that God will give His holiness, where we give Him our antiques.

Here's The Word:

James 1:22 - 25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass(mirror): For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Initially, this didn't seem to be a New Year's type of post to me, but now after looking it over, I'm thankful. A house of mirrors can seem confusing, but that's only if your goal is to get out as soon as possible. Perfection is a process and it's easy to follow the reflections to the finish. If the reflection shows that there's still work to do; Be honest, be humble, pray and throw out the antiques. As the reflections become more clear....I mean, more Christlike, move on.

In Him,
Cros

Something

I think the hardest thing about defending, or even simply presenting our faith to someone who doesn’t believe, is conveying something that seems “unconveyable”. And if your word search or autocorrect is anything like mine, you’ll see that this word has just been tagged for ‘correction’. Unconveyable is not a word, but really, what other word works better in this situation?

Fact of the matter is, I grew up in church and I heard the gospel explained on more than one occasion. I’ve heard the logical sense of the bad things I’ve done needing to be answered for. I’ve heard long and in-depth explanations of how Jesus Christ was born, lived and died, not only as an example that points to the high holiness of God, but also as a substitution to give an answer for the bad things I’ve done (because even my best sacrifice, falls short of the high holiness of God). However, even after all of that, there was still something missing,

…until something happened,

What exactly happened? I don’t believe I can explain enough to fully convince someone or bring them to the point of that internal “switch” that happened in me and many, many others who know exactly what I’m talking about. My inability to make clear and transformable sense of what happened doesn’t at all take away from the fact…that something happened.

It’s like the creation story. Where the earth had been created, but was formless and empty.

Then, something happened. I’m sure that physics was probably already in play. Gravity was doing what gravity does. Cause and effect was ready to leap into action and logic was waiting, anticipating its opportunity to carry things forward from its determined launching point.
Then God said, "Let there be light." and something happened. Illumination. Exposure. A visual indication of what was what, and where it would go from there.

Quite an impressive something !

It’s the same something that happens to the heart of believers. Our hearts begin in darkness and without the ‘form’ that it will begin to progress toward. Physics and logic are there, but alone, they can’t make the leap to illumination. Something has to happen.

The Bible talks about the things that exist while we’re in darkness and these things fool us into believing that we have enough to validate the things we see, Oh! How sadly mistaken we are.

Here’s the Word;

James 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

John 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

There's a lot going on here; earthly wisdom and many worldly ways to go after knowledge. But if you assume that all you know or that all you see is all there is....suffice it to say, you're missing something.
All too often, we come away from a bad slice of life knowing that something has to change. Its easy in those instances to end up seeking distance from bad experience rather than closeness to God. Worldly wisdom offers that. This desire and these actions may lead to a better, less problematic life but it doesn't unburden you of your sin debt and doesn't afford you the promise of something Heavenly better.
Only seeking God offers the possibility of finding Him.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Just like in Genesis 1 verse 3 when God said "Let there be light", its easy to assume that at that moment, the Sun turned on. That's not true. The Sun and Moon don't get created until verse 14. Can I convincingly explain what that first LIGHT was? Maybe not to your liking, but I know something happened and it was different from the Sun.

Once we've received something different, we become something different and the Bible tells us at length all that comes with the switch from darkness to light and God removes our heart of stone, replacing it with a heart of flesh. It's sobering and phenomenal. Inspiring but leaves you totally undone. It's the kind of thing that may frighten us into thinking that we're going to lose ourselves, having the things we like about ourselves stripped away. But its something way better than that. Enlightened authors over the years have said it more eloquently than I can, but when you've gotten a hold of who God is, in Christ, you get to be the you He always intended and its better than you could ever imagine. It's something else!

God's Word would not have you sold short, having bought into a counterfeit, and there are more than a few available. It tells you to check your "something". Test it. Make sure that you have the right thing, not just anything. That special something that can transform you from the inside out in an almost 'unconveyable' way.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you...

The Bible says that He stands at the door and knocks(Rev 3:20). I take this to believe that His love is of the seeking sort. He woos and He pursues but He doesn't override our will. Explaining the gospel is difficult because we so easily find what we believe is 'sufficient' in other things. Physics, logic, and earthly wisdom.

Colossians 1:28, calls believers to preach and warn and present people to Christ. He perfects us by His Spirit. He takes us from nothing, to something. And thing is, the difference is noticeable. I can't explain it but I encourage you, check your heart. Check your history. See if The Spirit is there. See if you have something more than a strong reaction to a bad experience. More than just a desire and effort to be 'good'(or just less bad). If not, then He's still knocking, and He's got something for you.

In Him,
Cros

Presence

IT’S the Most Wonderful Time of the year,
Not simply ‘bout “Christmas”
But, because God came near.

With rushing and buying and trying
to find presents.
We’re losing the truth and missing the essence.

Not in what you buy, nor in what you sell.
‘Cause it’s not about money,
Though you hardly can tell.

This world is relentless, and can
leave you unsure
God sent His Beloved to all, rich and poor.

God’s love looked upon us
A true gift indeed.
Not much about want, He met our deepest need.

By design, we do better
In a comfortable embrace
When His dwelling is with us. When we seek His face.

He’s given us presence, and that’s where we win.
He sent Peace to this earth,
In His Good Will toward men.

So reflect on The Christ child,
At this time we call Christmas.
Emmanuel is not FOR, but its God being WITH us.

Not fanciful presents, but eternal presence.
Keep a sober view,
that we’re sojourning peasants.

Waiting to enter His presence, Our voices we lift.
Til the fullness of time
Brings the ultimate gift.

Go ahead be generous,
Have your Christmas tree lit.
But don’t ever forget, Him being here, is the gift!


Here's The Word:

Exodus 33:14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

Psalm 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Psalm 140:13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Zephaniah 1:7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.


In Him,
Cros

Dark Roads

Does this image look familiar to you? Long drives across unfamiliar territory, hoping and waiting to reach your destination or for the comforting arrival of sunlight to help relieve your uneasiness.
So there I was, all alone on a dark and desolate road, winding my way from the Jacksonville airport to Valdosta, Georgia to surprise my cousins who’d gathered together for the Christmas holidays.

The radio stations that were available were engulfed in static or either just not in my line of listening pleasure. Then I came across one station that was a bit clearer than the others, it was a religious station and just able to make out what I was hearing, I heard “The Christmas story according to Jesus”. I was intrigued. And after about 30 minutes of wonderful, scriptural teaching…I was changed.

It’s easy to get used to daylight. The active hustle and bustle of life in the sun where your expectations of normalcy can feel like “This is how it’s supposed to be.” This also means that we don’t do as well when it’s dark and quiet. When God is silent, an uneasiness starts invading deep down inside. It starts off as a quiet less-detectable panic that works its way up to full-blown petrified . This is not how it’s supposed to be is it? Am I being punished? Did I take a wrong turn? Not necessarily.

You can be exactly in the midst of God’s will for your life while entering dark stretches of silence.

Just look at the Apostles. A few of them were simple fishermen and would’ve probably remained content enough to continue as such but once Christ called them to “follow”, they saw miracles wonderful to tell, and they also experienced imprisonment, beatings and real fear which may have felt dark and confusing.

Even when you consider Christ Himself, those wonderful, Christmas cards that illuminate the magnificence of Advent, also are a precursor to darkness that none of us will ever experience. Yet, “who for the joy that was set before him “ (Hebrews 12:2) went through the darkness, knowing that His end would be eternal and unimaginably glorious light . That truth is ours as well.

Here’s The Word:

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Isaiah 59:9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

Darkness can be scary. It would be easier if we could just be a little confused or a little unsure, but it’s hardly ever that easy.
It usually comes with a barrage of mental torments of unsavory possibilities. However, a mark of Christian maturity is expressed in the strong faith that doesn’t waver in darkness. We have Truth, and that truth is enough light to always lead the way through dark roads.

In Him,
Cros