Perspective After Death

The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus. (John 12:9-11)

Things in my life seem to be transitioning over the past few months. And although I don't know what the future looks like exactly, I sense more and more that trouble is looming ahead for me because of the things I have been learning and sharing with those around me. The more truth that I learn about God and about the revelation of God through the life and teachings of Jesus, the more out of sync I find myself with those whom I once shared harmony with in confused beliefs about God.

I keep seeing more clearly how mistaken ideas about religion have kept me from really knowing God and from being able to worship Him in both spirit and truth. I now find myself repeatedly confronted with decisions as to whether I will continue to believe things I have been taught all of my life about religion or whether I will embrace fresh revelations of truth that are more consistent with the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. And as I keep embracing increased light as the Spirit reveals it to me from His Word and from others who are likewise discovering truth, the Spirit confirms these revelations in various ways. At the same time I sense growing resistance from those who once supported me and with whom I shared more traditional views about reality and religion.

It truly is our perception of reality, not just about religion but about how God really relates to sinners that defines how we react to circumstances. As my internal perceptions of God continue to be transformed through the renewing of my own mind I find that my feelings and my interpretations of events and God's messages in written form are becoming very different than ever before. I also see that my view of reality is becoming more and more of a minority view, that very few people are really willing to embrace the real truth about God for fear of what their church will think of them or how their friends and family will treat them.

I feel the same growing pressures myself as I share these exciting, liberating truths that I have been learning and experiencing with those around me. A few are becoming fascinated, intrigued and are starting to explore these things for themselves. But sadly many, even those who are well respected and who have been given positions of trust and leadership over the spiritual direction of others too often react to these new things with fear and suspicion. Rather than choosing to investigate these things through prayer and careful examination of the evidence from the Word of God they often use Scripture simply to reinforce their own dogmas and traditions. They rely on the long established technique of proof-texting which is itself sometimes heavily dependent on using only one version of the Bible to arrive at rather shaky conclusions.

As I read again this passage about Jesus and Lazarus this morning I wondered what might have been going on in the mind of Lazarus as he began to hear about the threats against his life because of his close association with Jesus. I find it rather confusing to even have a clue as to how the mind of a person might operate if they had already died once and been buried for several days to the point of their body beginning to rot away. Then they had been raised to full, vibrant life again and viewed reality and all their relationships through totally different context than any of us have ever experienced. How can I wrap my mind around what that might feel like?

The contrast between the unmistakable joy in the last chapter surrounding the resurrection of Lazarus and the dark forebodings created by the hatred of the religious leaders in this passage is unavoidably clear. Yet how does a person feel who has already died once and who is now being threatened with death again at the hands of others? Does fear have the same power over such a person as it does with us or do they have a unique perspective of reality through their connection and experience with Jesus that insulates them against the petty threats of those who refuse to embrace the truth about God and who see them as the problem rather than themselves? Maybe there are wonderful advantages to having died and being resurrected to give one a completely different frame of reference.

As I opened a devotional book this morning with some of these thoughts of impending trouble ahead circulating through my mind, I found words directed at me from the Spirit confirming that I need to more intentionally embrace these truths in my own life. I must not waver from the direction God has been directing me toward out of fear of those who feel threatened by my testimony about a God who loves us in contrast to the fearful, arbitrary, intimidating God that they believe in. As I read I listened and asked God to impress these instructions and affirmations deep into my heart and mind so that they can provide strength and courage for me when I do face more open opposition to my testimony for Him.

Possibly one of the most important things I have been learning lately is God's attitude of always respecting each person's freedom. God insists that each person needs to be fully convinced in their own heart and mind about what is true without any coercion or threats of punishment on His part if they fail to view things His way. While He gives abundant warnings as to the consequences of choosing other versions of reality or religion, those consequences are in no way to be viewed as arbitrary punishments imposed by an angry God in retaliation for not believing in Him. Rather they are the natural consequences of living out of harmony with the underlying principles of true reality as created by God. Only in harmony with Him can be found true safety and life.

I am becoming increasingly amazed at the grace of God and the perfect harmony of His principles and how merciful He is in holding back so many consequences already that should be destroying our lives. He is seeking in every way possible to get us to know the truth about Him and allow Him to heal our perverted minds and hearts. The dark views of God that pervade the whole world including most people in my own church are full of misconceptions about Him that we have inherited from others and some of these ideas have even been woven into every translation of His Word over the years. Yet we are not left without true witnesses of the real truth about God for it still glows through the pages of Scripture, from nature and particularly from the life of Jesus Christ when it is properly understood and appreciated.

I will close with the message that God gave me this morning as I meditate on the implications of how taking this to heart will influence my future and my destiny.

We need now to arise and shine, for our light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us. We have no time to talk of self, no time to become like the sensitive plant, that cannot be touched without shrinking. In Jesus Christ is our sufficiency. Will we talk faith? Will we talk of the glorious hope, of the full and abundant righteousness of Jesus Christ, provided for every soul? . . .

The whole heavenly universe is interested, and the love of God is exercised in behalf of His faithful, commandment-keeping people. It is God in whom we must trust. . . . God has the world in His hand. We have God on our side. All heaven is waiting and longing for our cooperation. The Lord is supreme. Why then should we fear? The Lord is almighty; why should we tremble? In the past God has delivered His people, and He will be our helper if we will arise in His strength and go forward.

The Bible and the Bible only is to be our refuge. God is in His Word. {TMK 342}