Luke 10:21 ASV In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes: yea, Father; for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight.

If only you could control everyone with whom your child comes in contact. As soon as there is any interaction with others at school, on the playground, or at friends’ houses, there is an opportunity for them to begin seeing things from a different point of view. They may seem to be wonderful little creatures with happy faces and pure motives and actions until, magically, there is some objectionable word used or some errant behavior displayed that was never there until they were around ‘Judy’ or ‘Johnny’. Their perceptions, how they see life, and their ability to do right have everything to do with who they’re seeing. The choice of friends will have everything to do with the choice of right and wrong.

I had this friend who lived in the house right across the alley from us in Castle Rock. He was a charming young man whom I looked up to and from whom I was a given a perspective that was quite different from that which I’d been given in our home. He showed me how to emulate smoking with the smoke from matches. I went with his family to the pool hall on Main Street. (just wasn’t the type of place we would normally frequent) From him I also learned how to fail at putting out a fire in the vacant lot next to the church and how to hide while the Fire Department put the fire out. I’m sure there were additional words, attitudes, and behaviors that were shown to me as a result of the moments spent with the neighbor boy, and I’m sure there were a great many of them that would never have been learned if my Dad had been there with us. Somehow his presence always seemed to make things look much different. It still does.

So what is it about babes that qualifies them to see certain things that cannot be seen by the ‘wise and understanding’, and how is it that Jesus directed in Matthew 18:3 for us to become as little children? It would seem that acquiring wisdom and understanding were the reasons for partaking of the fruit in the garden and the only way Adam and Eve could have come up with this notion was by hanging out with the neighborhood snake. What took them from their childlike innocence and stripped them of their ability to behold God in His glory had everything to do with who they were beholding. Even though God knew what they were up to and could see their actions and the motives of their hearts, somehow their focus on the serpent and his enticing words caused them to lose sight of their Father’s face. Their ability to choose correctly was greatly altered by their newfound maturity and they completely lost sight of the higher ways of God’s heart. If somehow they could have kept His image before them their encounter with temptation would have left them no less innocent and still completely childlike.

I’m so grateful that there is a way back to the innocence, that there is a rebirth that makes the Father’s face and His presence and His ways visible to even those of us who have left physical childhood long ago. In seeking His face early, in keeping it continually before the eyes, there is an awakening of those eyes to those things that will only be seen by those who are His babes, His children. When the neighborhood faces rise with propositions of various considerations, the pure fixation on the face of the Father will preserve the purity and innocence provided in redemption and keep the eyes clear to what He desires to reveal to His children.

Ok, the ultimate reality show- To Lose A Life- where everybody, the world over, is playing and the winners are only the ones who successfully lose their life. Maybe a bit like ‘The Truman Show’, where Jim Carry’s character is born into a controlled environment in which he is watched by the world from birth and through all the significant events of his life. Although his life is livable, he never really discovers who he really is until he loses that old life. He gets in a boat to somehow depart from his old life and, to the point of perishing in a manufactured storm, is more willing to die than to continue without knowing whom he really is. Although he was living what many might consider to be an acceptable life, he couldn’t ever really win until he lost that life.

From the time we enter the world there is an environment around us that can define and confine us. Although the whole world isn’t necessarily watching on television, they are watching with every encounter, as the person we present to them is one that has been formed by the influence of family, friends and society. What they see may be suitable and livable. It also may be something that is shameful and with little reason for acceptance. Either way, there is a reality show for every living person that only allows progress to the next round of progress and fulfillment in the loss of life. The infant moves from milk-only to an unending menu of food consumption. He/she then moves from the comfort of all-four-on-the-floor to standing upright and moving with much more agility and speed. There’s the first day at school, where the comforts of home are left for an environment of intellectual and social discovery. With maturity, the home is again left along with its sense of entitlement and protection for the world of independently discovering an occupation, an abode, and relationships.

There is for everyone a discovery waiting for the one who will resolutely set sail for that place completely beyond the shores of this life’s contrived culture. While there is a wonderful introduction to the Lord of that new realm, to really make it to the revelation of who we are in Him, it will require braving a life-threatening storm with an attitude of, “I’ll let that old man die in order to really find out who I am in Him”. Every time that old life is lost, however, there is a victory won in the reality show of ‘To Lose A Life’, and Christ’s life is presented to the world in a vessel that has become available to Him. Where He is seen there is then an opportunity for another one to realize that this life on earth isn’t all there is. There’s something of great significance waiting beyond this old life. In Him, the old passes a way and all things are new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Col 3:1-4 (ASV)

I met a man yesterday in a neighborhood close to a very large church we’ve enjoyed attending from time to time. I was impressed by the man’s personality as he warmly welcomed me to his home and treated me with what appeared to be sincere appreciation and consideration. While I did some work for him, I was wondering if he might attend the nearby church as he seemed to display a joy and appreciation for life that would well represent a child of God. When I did later ask him about this, though, he immediately revealed to me that he had some major challenges to his ‘faith’. As a child he had been a part of a religious organization who’s leader had, by abusing some of the other children, completely disrupted his ability to believe in anything that man had represented. He asked very passionately, “How could this be allowed to happen?”

Though there has been an experience with God, a transformation made, and maybe even a position of ‘leadership’ attained, there still remains this variable of ‘how’ as my new friend expressed it, and ‘if’ as Paul presented in the second and third chapters of Colossians. How can someone be anything other than holy and without blame if there is indeed a God and they would represent Him, and if one has been risen with Christ, then shouldn’t there be corresponding actions? To be born again, it would seem, is not just a single choice that forever changes all subsequent actions and behaviors, but it is rather the first of a lifetime of choices that will either reflect the face and image of Christ or some other identity that is far below the place where He’s seated at the right hand of God.

Where something is ‘sought’ there is a demonstration of passion and desire, and from what Paul has indicated this is something that can be set. There is an opportunity given to each of us to either allow our hearts to be taken by things that are above in Christ or things that are below and by this ‘setting’ there is an ability and capacity gained to actually act the part rather than just errantly bear the name. The initial belief in Christ that is followed by a confession of Him as Lord is a wonderful experience of rebirth, but to actually ‘be’ in Christ is an ongoing choice that will be directly demonstrated in Godly actions. Anything that’s already been attained spiritually or mentally will be rendered meaningless in every subsequent moment where another lower thing is sought, resulting in an action that raises the questions of ‘how?’ and ‘if?’. The reality of what it means to be in Christ will never be altered by those who would claim to be there and act differently, and yet the testimony and ability to walk in its power, authority and freedom will only be well represented in the lifestyle of the one who has set their mind and affections on higher things and allowed their behavior to be transformed by this fixation.

Every moment in worship has its reward in life and every setting of passions and desires will be directly reflected in a life that demonstrates what it really means to be in Christ- doesn’t really matter who you are or what you’ve already done- it’s a choice of the moment.

25 For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Col 3:25 (ASV)

They had come with priceless instruments badly in need of repair that could only be entrusted to the hands of the old master luthier, the one who had, throughout his long life, set himself apart from all others in his ability to create and repair the finest of musical instruments. His name alone carried a reputation of the one who could take a few pieces of rough cut wood and with unmatched skill produce the most beautiful and best sounding tool for musical production. For the damaged or broken instrument that had sadly developed cracks or buzzes he was also known for bringing it to a condition that was even better than when it was new. They came with great expectation of meeting the old man and placing their prized possessions in his loving hands or commissioning a new creation from him.

Upon arriving at the door of his little shop, however, they were met with great disappointment. Rather than the image of the old man behind the counter, there stood a young boy not yet fully grown. The master had been called away for an extended far away visit and would not be able to actually touch their instruments with his own hands. He had, however, left his grandson in his stead to carry on his business. A hand written notice hung on the wall behind the counter signed by the maestro himself indicating his full trust in the young man that stood before them. He asked that they trust their treasures in his hands just as if it were the master himself. How could they do this, though? It was impossible to believe that the experience and skill of the master that had been proven through a lifetime could begin to be emulated in such a young man.

Though what they saw appeared to be just a immature and inexperienced young man, what could not been seen was all the old man had put into him. From the time he could just begin playing with toys, there was a hammer in his hand as he helped Poppy in his shop. Every trick, every method, every application of the tools to the wood had been seen thousands of times and he himself had done all of them himself on instruments that had already been ‘touched’ by the master. Many left right away, not willing to leave their treasures in the hands of the young man, but for those who trusted the words of the master there was a discovery that, while in a different body, the master, with all of his skill and ability, indeed was in his grandson. All of the work that would come from the young man’s hands would directly represent and validate the work and the word of the master himself. The name placed on the work would remain the same and would in fact grow in fame as it became magnified through the grandson.

For those who have spent time in the shop with the Master, for those who have seen Him work, listened to His voice, and applied their own hands to what they’ve seen, there is a residence of the Master within. His works will come out and it will be His name and His reputation that is magnified and propagated. Though outward appearances may indicate otherwise, He has hand-written a note stating very clearly the investment that’s been made in his offspring and the confidence He has in their ability to do His works and even greater. As those works are produced, belief will be the result in the Master Himself as His life and His ability are transmitted through the hands of those who have lived in His presence and learned to emulate His love and work of creation and restoration.

John 5:19-20 KJV  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.  (20)  For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

Now here’s a name I can pronounce rather safely- I think. Not only did this altar have a nice, short, easy-to-remember name, but there was also a very unique and significant purpose for its existence. While sacrifices would be made upon it, the real reason for its construction as a ‘great altar to see to’ (verse 10) was to witness between them and their brother tribes on the other side of the Jordan, that their God was the same God and their true worship was the same as that presented in the central tabernacle. Rather than allowing the geographic separation to create an independence and rebellion from their people and their God, they purposed to erect an altar that would continually remind and witness to the fact that they were a part of something much greater and more significant than the portion of land they were given as an inheritance. How precious was this affirmation of loyalty and commitment to a cause much bigger than any they could have had on their own? How much of a relief and encouragement it must have been to the leadership of Israel to discover that their fears of a turning away were unfounded. Though God was the God of each tribe itself, there was a need for dependence and unity among all of the tribes for their ultimate strength and purpose to be realized.

There is most certainly the need for an altar in each home where a decision has been made to follow the Lord. Upon this altar should be lifted sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving from hearts that have been offered completely to the God of our worship. There is, though, a greater purpose for this altar. Rather than forming an independence and separation from the body of Christ and a commitment to the worship that takes place in the congregation, this altar should be given the same purpose as the altar called ‘Ed’. It should be a witness to something that is of much greater importance than any personal isolation could ever be. While there may be a proximity issue or time restraints that make it necessary from time to time to miss a gathering in the ‘tabernacle’, any worship that is offered at the altar in the portion of the promised land we’ve been given to occupy, should be a witness between that family and the larger ‘family’ of God. Instead of turning away from the source of strength that is the design and heart of the God we worship, there should be a continual reminder in every occurrence of worship that there is a dependence and requirement of only that which the greater body provides. While Jesus has become a very personal and individual Redeemer and Lord, His heart and His prayer are for unity and the strength that can only be found where another part is supplying any lack in you, while your part is supplying the lack in another. Though independence and separation may seem to be freedom and the ability to escape the constraints of organizational worship, there is something very dangerous in this isolation that can turn the purpose of this potentially great altar into a rebellion against God’s own direction and purpose. The children of Israel actually thought this is what was taking place initially with the children of Gad and Reuben and determined to go to war to prevent it from happening.

May there not be missed in the precious moments of worship that should occupy our every day, the opportunity to witness that our altar is a continually dependent extension of something much more significant in the collective body of Christ. Beginning with the local congregation where corporate sacrifices of praise and worship are lifted, there will be much strength gained and much strength given as there is a continual looking to the Author and the Finisher of our faith and His body. May our personal altar be called ‘Ed’ and given a much greater purpose of witnessing- should be pretty easy to remember.

Hebrews 10:24-25 KJV  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (25)  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Phil 2:5-7 (ASV)

While some of us seem to be blessed with greater ability in various ways, there is a way of thinking about ourselves that is necessary, no matter the gifting, talent+, or virtue that might set us apart from the crowd. In fact, the more we might be considered to be ‘special’, the greater the need for this mindset. The larger the capacity, the greater will be the job of emptying so that what needs to be brought in by the Spirit will have room for placement. Where one’s mind is quite full of self, no matter how legitimate the reasoning, there will be little opportunity for any input that, while seemingly insignificant, has the capability of completely upending the entire basis for what is presently stored there. One word and one thought from the heart of God will bring more productivity and usefulness than a mind jam-packed with information obtained from worldly input.

Jesus said in Matthew 18:3 that it’s not even possible to enter into the kingdom of God and the wealth of true understanding that abides there until there is a complete giving up of whatever is already considered to be great for the simplicity, humility and meekness of a child.  Though a lifetime be spent growing in the ‘maturity’ of knowledge and wisdom, for any given moment, in the presence of the Master, all of that accumulated resource is of no value and possibly a true hindrance. Until it is emptied and removed as an occupying force, there will be no reception of the Wisdom that only comes from above.  Where it is thought that arrival has already taken place, there can be no progress made along the path that grows brighter and brighter in the presence of the Lord.

There is a mind to be had that is like that of Jesus, the One with the most to be emptied of. Becoming free of all those things once thought so great in ourselves, that actually inhibit reception of this mind, will make way for a filling up from the resource of Christ’s thoughts and His purposes. It will actually be a great experience with promise of peace and confidence- the shedding of all that we were for who we are and will be in Him.

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Matt 10:39-40 (KJV)

Just to let you know, you’re going to have 3 forms of identification when you go to the DMV for your driver’s license. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had more repeat trips to that wonderful place and have taken my place at the end of the line once again because of not having everything I needed when I got there. It happened a couple times when we were taking Haylie, having to make a trip all the way to her school for attendance verification, only to find upon return that something else wasn’t in order. The reason this came to mind even now was because of the ‘three forms of id’ routine that came to bite our newly arrived friend from New York. I told him to be sure and get there really early to avoid a long line, which he did, only to return a short time later in need of that third form. Needless to say the line had grown much longer upon his return and allowed him to enjoy the much extended wait for his number to light up in the box. Why the big deal over multiple forms, why not just let one be enough? Well, perhaps with each additional verification of who you are there is less of a possibility for there to be a misrepresentation of who you really are. Also, for certain requirements there will need to be a specific form, like the driver’s license or passport. In order for there to be passage or participation, the exact id will be the key that opens up any possibility.

While three seems to be a bit much, especially when you’re having a difficult time locating them, there is a form of identification that we’ve been given in Christ that is specific to every passage and every circumstance of life. Good things have been deposited into who we’ve been made to be in Him, but until those forms of ID are presented, their existence is ineffective. There may need to be a trip back to the house and a search made in all corners of the drawers until they are found, because there will be no compromise in the requirement and true identity will have to be verified. With so many other identities attempting to make their imprint upon our minds and upon our hearts, it will only be those descriptions and those signatures found in the Word that will be able to accurately portray just who we really are. They may need to be searched out and made to displace those documents of who we used to be, but every return trip will be more than worth it for the liberty, freedom and righteousness that is enabled by the license obtained to live, move and have our very being in Christ. The key is in the id.

When our oldest son was young he had a form of epilepsy that caused him to have nocturnal seizures. I can remember the first time he had a grand mall seizure we were completely shaken not really knowing what was going on and not understanding the extent of his condition. We took him immediately to the emergency room where they took way too long to treat what we thought should have been a first priority. They pretty much just referred us to a specialist the next day where we discovered there was very little to be concerned about as the experience would only be at night and he would outgrow the condition by his teens. They determined this by a scan they did of his brain waves they were able to read from a wide sheet of paper on which they were recorded. There were apparently several different layers of brain activity represented by different waves that crossed the paper. We learned that throughout the brain there is a continuous flow of wave activity that is directly affected by outside influence and in turn directly affects every aspect of the experience of life.

There is something very powerful about this passage from Joshua in which the words from the heart of God are made to occupy the mouth, the mind and the heart. More than just a religious incantation, there is a direct effect upon the activity of the brain, where the sounds of heaven are made to directly affect the frequency of the brain’s waves, causing it to become ‘glory-effected’. As this transformation takes place– the sound waves of the mouth affecting and realigning the brain waves– the mind can begin to agree and cooperate with the wisdom and understanding of God. These ‘waves of glory’ will bring peace, rest, health, security, hope, etc. to a life where the sounds of defeat and despair once dominated. The way to a faith-filled life is as near as the mouth and all that’s required is to fill it with glory sounds– God’s will expressed in His Word.

Romans 10:8 KJV  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Psalms 89:15 KJV  Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.

I don’t personally endorse the practice of makeovers, but it’s apparent that God is definitely in the makeover business. He likes taking an image that is very much in need of improvement, and applying exactly what is necessary to not only restore, but bring a whole new realm of beauty and productivity.
Maybe you’ve seen the show where they take someone who is very unattractive and by cutting here, tucking there, removing this and replacing that, they totally reform the person’s image, enabling him/her to explore new realms of social respect, admiration, and acceptance. Where once they had been avoided and ignored, they are now not only noticed, but also sought out. Straightened and replaced teeth, flattened stomachs, and adjusted facial features contribute to someone who is almost completely unrecognizable for who they had once been. So frustrated with what they had been given or the person they had become, they are willing to submit completely to the regimen, diet, and knife of someone who gives them a promise of improved life they will enjoy and be proud of.

While it really is amazing what can be done to someone’s physical appearance, every change that can be made to the human body is but a temporal improvement. On the other hand, for all those who are willing to give up who they’ve seen themselves to be for the promise of life in Christ, there is an opportunity to experience a transformation that will be effective way beyond our time here on this earth. This makeover, though, will require complete acceptance and participation on the part of the recipient. Things will have to be removed, adjusted and reformed according to the design of the Master, and the tools He uses have already been provided in His Word. By looking at those unseen promises He’s given us instead of the debilitating and restrictive temporal elements that are so apparent to the natural eye, we get to step beyond the limitations of this world and into the realm of eternal acceptance provided by our heavenly makeover in Christ.

I think it’s rather interesting that once Samuel did get to him, David was also described as an attractive young man. So it doesn’t necessarily mean there will be an unattractive outward appearance just because the heart looks good to God. In fact, the more comely the countenance of the heart, there will be a direct affect upon the outward appearance.

There is, though, an impression of our appearance that directly affects our qualifications in the kingdom, and while it would be easily and correctly assumed that God’s impression of that appearance is most important, there is someone else who is also essential in the casting of this inward look– each one of us. Before it will ever be possible to stand in the office of the anointing God has placed on our lives, there will have to be an adjustment of just how we look at ourselves. Though we might not feel too confident in the way God is looking at us, much assurance can be received that He is actually thinking and seeing incredible beauty and potential greatness in the creation He has formed and those to whom He is continuing to apply His masterly touch. In fact, if it were only fully known just how highly He looks upon us and how greatly He admires what He sees, there would be a large expansion of boldness and self-confidence in approaching His throne where grace is found.

A proud look is assuredly one that God detests completely (Proverbs 16:16-17), but any advance into the secret place will still require an inward glance that produces a sense of assurance, and this assurance will need to be developed and nurtured by the very words God has used to describe His impression of us. For every aspect of our life that is in need of a makeover, there is a place of promise in Christ that will transform our less than presentable image to that of His. In our driven quest for the fulfilled life of unwavering worship there will be no progress beyond our ability to acquire ‘the look’, where we confidently see ourselves as our Father does, totally complete and wonderfully attractive in Christ.