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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}
