Journey: A glimpse of the Kingdom

Journey…AKA: Holiday, Vacation, Explore, Trip, Adventure, Long drive, Road trip….

What is the emotion that is sparked when we prepare and think about going away on holiday? There seems to be a common excitement amongst all of us as we set off for a short break or a long voyage. In our mind’s eye we imagine a better experience, some excitement, rest, happiness, celebration. With emotions such as these being stirred up, it makes you think … Is that a glimpse of the Kingdom?

Whether or not we end up having a thoroughly good experience while we’re away on vacation is beyond the point. The point, or the idea that I’m getting at, is that we seem to promise ourselves a good time on vacation. “I’m going to have a great week away”, “I can’t wait to go nuts on this holiday”, “I’m looking forward to a relaxing time”. We even wish it on others even if we are not going away ourselves, “Have a great time”, “Enjoy yourself”, or “Bring me back something nice” is always a common one - suggesting that the person you are wishing well, is somehow going to another realm where “nice things” are flowing in abundance, like treasure waiting to be found and brought back.

When we project these joyous thoughts onto our near-future vacations, are we activating some sort of innate, built-in, God-given ability to ‘glimpse’ the Kingdom? Is this the part of us that God imprinted on our minds, the very notion of a place where He resides and reigns? Does there exist a level of consciousness that allows us to envisage the comfort and expectation of a better place; the promise of paradise?

Peter talks about the promise of paradise in the following scripture…

“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” - 2 Peter 3:13 NIV

It is also interesting to note that Peter mentions earlier in this chapter, that he wrote both his letters (to God’s elect) as reminders to “stimulate you to wholesome thinking”. It appears Peter was trying to activate and stir up something wholesome in us. He was looking forward it seems, projecting joyous thoughts.

Maybe he was glimpsing what he knew was his near-future vacation, a place where righteousness dwells… The Kingdom of God.

Sea of Glass

On a sea of glass

Though the Heaven’s seem to be brass.. My feet still tread on a sea of glass.. Transparent, illumined, pure, & clear- The Spirit’ revelation burning my ear.. A place of calm, a place of grace, Where no storm or trial can trip my pace- Founded on ancient words and wonders I am overtaken by the waves of wisdom.. Made to ponder on promises past, Revealed in the present, is faith at last! My heart & my soul living free, In the power of Hands, the Humble sees- Meek shall inherit the earth some day, The chosen King, digging the way, Risking on water, a thousand feet deep, Catching pierced Hands, the One who greets .. Greets with a smile, and a sweet deep stare, A look and a glance to the earth that’s rare.. Rare indeed, to the sons who sweat, In turmoil and shame, where glory frets.. And wanes and wants, and cries and tares, At the last sound of adam, the glimmers glare.. Then light breaks through, and gives hope to the day, Where I can swim, where I can play- And laugh and dance, and cry, and sing, And be one with my Savior, my God, and My King.

God Senses........

Think about the human beings five senses.  Think about how human beings were made in God's image and likeness.  According to Genesis 1:26 God said, "Let us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness.  We were created in God's very own image and likeness!  Think about that.  No, really ponder that for a bit.  The creator of Heaven and Earth, said, all that i have made is good, but there is still something missing from creation.  There was life, plants, trees, animals, and bugs. But there was not the life of God manifesting in a being the way that it would in a human being.  One who was created in the very image of its designer.  One who would bear the likeness of the Creator on earth.  God's very likeness needed an expression in this new created world.  An expression of something or someone for that matter who would be able to taste, touch, see, hear, and smell the way that the Creator was able to.  One who could enjoy the smell of fresh baked bread baking over an oven, or one who could hear the sounds of the birds singing, the ocean waves roaring, and the wind rushing through the seasons of summer.  One who could climb a mountain and see the glory and beauty of a far off sunset, behold the stars at night, and look out over a green, oak laden valley in the fresh spring air.  One who could touch and caress the beauty of a woman's body, and at the same time taste the sweet flavors of a freshly picked apple, or a big red wild juicy strawberry.  We taste, we touch, we smell, we hear, and we see.  We engage in all five of these senses countless times throughout our day.  When we sit down with a good friend for lunch.  When we head off on that hike just before the dawning of the day.  When we take off surfing on a wave and the cool ocean waters hit our face.  When we sit down for a good movie with our family.  So if we enjoy these senses and love to taste, touch, see, hear, and smell and we were made in the very image and likeness of our Creator, then why would we think that the One who made us and fashioned us would not also have these very same senses as an integral part of His very Own nature, personality, and character?  Why do we still see our Creator with His senses dulled down, boring, mute, blind, and deaf.  The scriptures are constantly revealing a God who is just the opposite.  One who is engaged in our lives, hears our prayers, cries, and thoughts.  One who see the secrets of our hearts, the quite acts of our love & devotion, and the hidden deeds of our lives.  One who tastes the agony and pain of our brokenness with his very own tongue that was smashed by angry fists, and One who smells the aroma of our worship and obedience despite our limitation of gravity, trial, temptation, time and space.  He is a Creator who identifies with His very creation in that He became like us- even though we were made like Him.  So next time you are tasting, touching, seeing, hearing, and smelling do so knowing and with the awareness that you were made in the likeness and image of your Creator and that you are manifesting & expressing His very nature, personality, and character.  Do so knowing that He created you with these five senses not to misuse and abuse them, but to enhance, express, & enter in to His likeness and image here on Earth as it is in Heaven. 

"By just being with Me"

Just to be in God's company.  Even if He doesn't say a word.  If all you do is just sit at His feet and be with Him, that alone brings wonders untold.  More is spoken with the glance of an eye or the gesture of a hand.  The big smile on His face speaks more than a thousand words could destroy.  Is this what Jesus meant, when He gently rebuked Martha as she was scurrying around the room?  And said to Mary, there is just One Thing that matters and one thing that will never be taken from you.  To be with Me.  As simple as can be.  I can hear the Lord saying, "By just being with me, battles are won.  Victories conceived.  By just being with Me.  By just being with Me, mountains are moved, and cast into the sea.  By just being with Me.  By just being with Me.  Sickness is healed, diseases dissolved, blind men can see.  By Just being with Me.  By just being with Me.  Your mourning turns into dancing, your tears to joy.  By just being with Me.  By just being with Me.  Fear is removed, shame and guilt cleansed free.  By just being with Me.  By just being with Me.  Your weakness made strong, your poverty turns to wealth.  By just being with Me.  By just being with Me.  Your darkness becomes light, your secrets revealed.  By just being with Me.  By just being with Me.  Your vision enlarged, your purpose set right.  By just being with Me.  By just being with Me.  Your conscience made clear, your ears tuned to a new frequency.  By just being with Me.  By just being with Me.  And all this I do and more, without a word to speak, by just being with Me, by just being with Me.

The King or the Crowd?

But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.” 2 Samuel 15:21

The Backdrop:
Israel is beginning to unravel politically as David's son Absalom instigates a rebellion against his father's kingdom and throne.  Earlier in this narrative you see Absalom drawing a following unto himself and promoting himself to the place of king, judge, and leader to the people of Israel.  Look at this-   It says of Absalom, in verse 6-
"So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel."  The crowds begin to follow Absalom and cheer and shout and declare their allegiance to this self appointed king.  I can hear the words of the Emperor of Rome in the movie the Gladiator, "the crowds are fickle brother."  The crowds were also there when Jesus was put on trial, beaten to a bloody pulp, mocked, and falsely accused.  The same crowds that just a few days before were shouting His praises in the streets of Jerusalem, Hosanna in the Highest!  You see the crowd will always be there, and the crowd will always go after the popular opinion, the new trend, or what looks celebrity.  But then there is someone like Ittai.  Someone who has the heart to follow the King and ignore the crowd.  Even David is telling him to turn around and throw in with the crowd, but Ittai says, no, "even in death or life I am going to follow my King!"    The meaning of Ittai is "the Lord is with me."  This is so prophetic, because those who know the Lord is with them, are completely secure in themselves and thus, have no need to run with the crowd to seek their identity or security in the Kingdom.  They know that the Lord is with them, and that because the Lord is with them, their allegiance and loyalty are centered on the right authority, because their lives are lived from a place of love and devotion to the right King.  The authority that the Lord Himself has ordained and put in place.  In this case, it was not Absalom that the Lord had established on the throne of Israel as King, but David- a man after God's own heart.  Not a man after the heart of the people.  

The crowds always go after outward appearance, the celebrity status, and the person who always has the coolest hair due.  Check out Absalom's MO-

Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. ²⁶ And when he cut the hair of his head—at the end of every year he cut it because it was heavy on him—when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king’s standard. 

The Punch Line:
Absalom looked the part.  He even appeared to have what we would call dreadlocks, but I doubt he was rastafari! :)  He had a deep sense of justice, and appeared to have the right heart, but he did not have the heart of Ittai.  I love Ittai because he is one of those unknown characters in the bible that you don't know on a first name basis, and probably forget about because you have a hard time even pronouncing his name to begin with.  But he is mentioned.  And I believe he is mentioned in the story because the God of the scriptures wanted to honor this loyal, devoted, faithful man.  He wanted to show the contrast between the heart of an Absalom, and the heart of an Ittai.  The heart of one who loves the cheer of the crowds or loves the command of the King.  The crowd or the king?  

Prayer: 
Lord, form in me a heart like Ittai's.  A heart that will not go after the fickle crowds, but that will follow my King.  I declare to you my King Yeshua, as Ittai declared to King David "whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.” 

Giants defy, God defends-

Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.  The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

The Lord chooses imperfect you, to do the perfect.

" The Lord chooses imperfect me, to do the perfect." 

This phrase hit my spirit this morning as I was digging through Romans chapter 8.  This chapter is filled with famous verses like, "There is therefore now no condemnation to the those who are in Christ Jesus."  One of my favorite and I believe personally transforming truths found in the cannon of scriptura. Adoption, by Abba Father, Sonship, setting our minds on the things of the Spirit, and not on the filth of the flesh.  Creation groaning, God's people groaning.The Spirit's intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Man, that's a lot of groaning.  But groaning is not grumbling.  Remember that!  And then knowing that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  Culminating in the powerful reality that nothing can separate us from this Abba's Father God's love.  So much revelation, wisdom, and truth packed into just one chapter.  As I mull over this sacred text, I hear again, "the Lord chooses imperfect me, to do the perfect"  And then I think of what the word "Perfect" invokes in me.  And it inevitably stirs up the sense of being imperfect.  A place or state of being that is impossible to attain.  Just hearing the word makes me feel imperfect.  Performance, striving to an impossible standard that once I get even close to, I will fail to grasp or fully know.  I start thinking of all of my flaws, weakness and shortcomings.  Or, the instant need to justify myself every time I touch on the imperfect in me with, "Yea Yea, well, I'm not perfect!"  How many times have I had to tell my wife that she didn't marry Mr. Perfect.  Like she needed me to remind her. 

But then something shifts in me, as I hear this word in light of the Holy Spirit's illumination and love, and do a little further mining into what this word "Perfect" really means.  Because you see, to God the word "Perfect" is very different altogether. This is good, listen to the way that biblical scholar Dennis Bratcher breaks down the real meaning of the word Perfect as it pertains to use in the scripture.

 The Hebrew word (tam or tamim) does not carry the meaning of "without flaw" as does the term "perfect" in English.  It normally means complete or mature or healthy (for example, Lev 22:21). That meaning of mature dominates most use of the equivalent Greek term in the New Testament (telos). Something, or someone, can be complete or mature yet not be "without flaw." In fact, it is much easier to be mature and still have flaws, than it is to be without error or without flaw. Many people are mature, but few if any are "without flaw." A six year old can be mature, and still have a lot of growing to do, just like a person can be "holy" and have a lot to learn about spiritual maturity.
It takes me back to Adam, the first man to ever walk the earth, made in the very image and likeness of God.  And because of that pure DNA running through his veins he actually was a perfect being or as we read above, he was a complete, healthy, and mature being.  Of course we know though that something really bad happened that changed perfection to imperfection. Adam listened to his wife!  No, just kidding.  I just wanted to see if you were still tracking with me. 

Fast forward a few thousand years and you hear Jesus saying, " Be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect."  AHHHHHHHH!  Jesus, how do I do perfect!"  How can I be held to the same standard that God Himself holds Himself to?  How could the Apostle Paul say, "I am the chief of sinners!"  After writing Romans 8?  Do you want to know?  It's because Jesus showed up in Paul's weakness, or imperfections- And perfected His own power in the very places where Paul still had to mature, grow in health, and come into completion.  He knew that The Perfect One, who had a begun a good work in his life, would complete it, or bring it to perfection, full maturity, and health.   Paul knew that God would do the Perfect in His life, because Christ in me the hope of glory was at work.  The perfection of Beauty, the Sinless, Flawless One was doing a perfect work in his imperfect life!  This wasn't just a receive Jesus into your heart and everything will be okay, and you will never have to resist temptation ever again, or you will always be strong, or some name it and claim it type of message.  This was a "God who is the most Perfect Person in the Universe, the most complete, mature, healthy person in the world, is doing something perfect in your life message!  That Christ in you, who is Perfect, is perfecting that which concerns you.  Perfecting His power in your imperfections.  The Perfect one is not intimidated by your imperfections, but rather sees your imperfections as an opportunity to make you a complete, healthy, mature individual.  So next time you see or notice your imperfections, or have to remind your wife that she did not marry Mr. Perfect, take a deep breathe, and simply say, Come Lord Jesus!  Let your perfection's reflection be revealed in me.  Let your perfect love which casts out fear, fill me, and cause me to love perfectly.  Say to yourself, imperfection.. The Perfect One is here, and the Perfect One will complete me, mature me, and make me healthy.  "He is the Rock, His work is perfect."  And I am His workmanship in Christ Jesus, so do your perfect in me Lord!  The End- Or just the Beginning.. :)