Why, it was a common truth. You know, something quite obviously without question. Although the scientific journals confirmed it to be true, it was one of those things so incontestable that even the simplest person should be able to accept its validity. To even voice another possibility was to put oneself in danger of ridicule and derision. You could tell by just looking that the world was flat, and because of this reality you had better not allow yourself to venture too far towards wherever the edge might be. Because of the earth’s state you had better not even think about acting in a way that might refute this undeniable truth.
There were those in the land, however, who found the acceptance of this ‘axiom’ to be quite uncomfortable and impossible. Their passion for discovering truth had moved beyond the limitations of ‘common’ knowledge to embrace the possibilities of the truth that might bring with it an incredible amount of freedom and expansion. The more they allowed themselves to embrace what was so unpopular, the more they began to discover that what had been thought to be self-evident by the masses was not truth at all, but simply a confining falsehood. To break from the restraints imposed by this misperception, there would have to be a break from the associations that nurtured its fallacy. Instead of allowing their movements to be limited by the ‘common’ knowledge, there would have to be action attached to the newly discovered reality no matter how risky it might seem to be. Until this concept moved beyond the realm of thought to the realm of action, there would yet be service to the lie of the earth’s flatness, and the riches and beauty just waiting beyond what had thought to be the edge would remain untouched and unseen.
Though we have risen, though we’ve attained, and though there has been movement beyond the dangers of the ‘brink’, there are still ways and truths that are higher than what might have been established as self-evident. While it may appear that the ways of God and the walk of love are ‘flat’ and confining, in reality they bring with them a whole new world of beauty, riches, and pleasures forevermore. For true liberty to be known, however, there will have to be an adjustment of the associations that nurture the truth and challenge the falsehoods. Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and the only way to really know the truth is to know Him. Beyond exposure to the truth in Christ, however, there has to be a voyage made that challenges the borders established in the lie. Until there is adventure associated with His truth, there is no faith in it and no possibility of experiencing not only the promise of pleasure on the other side, but also the continual fulfillment of faith’s movements towards it. To remain on these shores might appear to be safe and the most comfortable, but a departure towards the perfect realm of love will be release from pleasures that restrain and destroy for pleasures that thrill and fulfill.

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 8:31-32 (KJV)

It’s a bit of a wonder to me why someone would spend an extreme amount of money for a vehicle made to perform at speeds that are way above the legal limit. What good would there be in knowing what it is capable of while you’re just cruising down the road at the posted rate of speed, never really utilizing the car’s incredible power and performance? Though it might look most impressive in power and beauty, until the full range of speed is experienced and the handling is put to the test, it might as well be a low end gutless car that’s just getting you from one place to the next. For its potential to be something more than an imagination or a warm fuzzy source of pride, that machine will need to be taken where there are no restrictions, where it can be driven to its limits and beyond. Until then it is just a waste of technology, craftsmanship and money.

An incredible price has been paid for the Lamborghini (Maserati, Corvette, Lexus, whatever your dream car) that’s parked in our hearts. While it will get us down to the grocery store and across town to the mall, there is power in this gift that far exceeds our greatest imagination. In order really experience this power, though, we’re going to have to get beyond the restrictions, legalism, self-consciousness, and religion that would keep us functioning on the level of a puddle jumper. Once we get out there to the free and open road, there will also be a need for some bravery, a willingness to open it up and discover just how thrilling the ride can be when the power is applied to its full potential.

While our God is able and more than willing to do ‘exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think’, He’s not going to take off without us. The power that’s rumbling on the inside even now is just waiting for our foot on the accelerator. Actually, it will be the Word we are willing and obedient to boldly speak that will get us out of the garage and the side streets and out onto the open Autobahn. May this day be a day of daring departure from the ho-hum to the high performance demonstration of the Holy Spirit as He is designed and purposed to perform. No longer held back by our thoughts or hesitant prayers, He will do incredible things in and through us as He moves with beautiful heavenly precision.

My son recently participated in a football league run by an ex-pro football player. Many teams make up the league, which covers a very large part of Austin and the surrounding area, but the team Hunter got to play on was actually coached for a while by the owner. Though he has a great deal of accomplishments and renown, he is very friendly, and on a few occasions I got to talk with him at some length about his experiences in life as an athlete and businessman. He expressed a great deal of appreciation for the opportunity that was his, but also everything that had been a part of making a success from that opportunity with regard to hard work, diligence, attitude, and perseverance. You could definitely tell that there was a high level of satisfaction and fulfillment with his self-perception as a result of his achievements. What was particularly impressive, though, was the degree to which this self –confidence motivated him in doing much more that just hanging up pictures and feeling proud of his past. He was taking all he had learned about developing himself and using it to provide opportunity to hundreds of other young men. The transformation he had experienced through his own diligence is something he is now committed to seeing take place in those he would mentor. His life will continue to have purpose and fulfillment because of the degree to which his own life has been changed.

I love this passage from Psalms that so wonderfully projects the cleaned, righteous, fellowshipping, joyful, and free image that David so greatly desired for himself. For most of his childhood this was probably what he saw when he looked inside, someone who’s heart was in faithful pursuit of His God. Though a diversion marred this image for a season, there was an understanding in David that a return to that unblemished state was yet possible. It’s interesting, though, that the motivation for experiencing his own cleansing included in large part the desire to open his own mouth and impart to others the great opportunity he had experienced. For those, it seems, who experience the greatness for which they were created, there is a desire to share it, to become a ‘makeover agent’ themselves.

There is an incredible impartation of life from a father to a son or daughter, and beyond the mere act of conception, an ongoing transfer of this life will complete the role of fatherhood.

What an amazing privilege, honor, and responsibility it is for a man to enable another living being to enter into the world. To live here on earth is to be empowered to influence and affect this environment and atmosphere with unique God-crafted gifts and talents. A father not only makes possible the introduction of this life into the earth, but, through a lifetime has great potential in contributing to the fulfillment of his child’s designed purpose. It was the entrance into the world as a man that enabled Jesus to ‘execute judgment’, and while it would seem that coming to earth for Him was a significantly lowered state, it was actually the position required for redemption’s fulfillment. Though born the Son of God, the discovery of who He was and His ultimate purpose came from time spent with His Father. His entrance into the world as a son of man put Him in a qualifying position, but it was the fathering He received through a lifetime that brought fulfillment to that position’s purpose.

This role of fatherhood, while being severely challenged by our culture today, is one to be increasingly honored of those who have made the commitment of their life to giving of themselves way beyond a single moment in time. To be greatly honored also are those who have taken on this role, adopting those in need of the fathering that will enable them in their life’s purpose. Each precious heart that has successfully survived many challenges to live and breath on this earth is meant to discover the purpose for which they were created. How great is the father’s part and bringing this to pass and how greatly we honor today those who are giving of the life in them to enable and equip the lives they are fathering.

There is this incredible favor just waiting and wanting to be given from a mother who loves and cares for her child. While her love may compel her to continue in acts of love, the greatest values she has to bestow are gained not when circumstances demand attention be given to her, but when there is an active search made for the things that will please her. What is found by this selfless search is an empowering favor that will not be affected by any of the otherwise dominating circumstances of life. Just knowing the touch of a mother may be a thing of significance, but being touched by her overflow of grace and favor is something that will transform and redirect a life that’s in need of positive change. This flow from her very heart can in fact be much more valuable than any other earthly thing that can be experienced or possessed. From her grace there is an ability gained to be confident and self assured in advancing to a fulfilled purpose.

While there is such incredible value to be gained from the finding of a mother’s grace, there is oftentimes still less than a majority of children that will be grateful and appreciative enough for the treasure in her to seek it out and really dig for it. Other diversions and distractions in friends, trends and familiarity can dim the vision for the value in her and disable any attempts to be found in her grace’s possession.

The benefit that far outweighs all the rest in this discovery of a mother’s grace is the ability to just be with her and communicate to her in a loving atmosphere. There is really nothing better than this, and if there is incredible truth in this relationship with a mother, so is there a correlation to the much greater and more powerful discovery of God’s favor. While it is ever resident within a God who is full of mercy, only those who desire and insist on knowing Him will take the time and effort to leave other pursuits for the discovery of His wonderful and amazing grace. Today there is an opportunity to be found in that precious place that is ours at His side.

There are two times in the work day that are most significant for anyone working outside- dawn and dusk. The early morning has an incredible freshness and anticipation as the sun is just getting ready to rise on the Eastern horizon. Like the rebooted computer, there is a fresh start with a new day and renewed energy and vision. Work that has been withheld due to the darkness can begin or resume as the sun’s first rays begin to shine on the work area. As that same sun comes to the end of it’s journey at day’s end, however, there is a certain uncompromised finality to any work that had been enabled by its illumination. While there are lighted areas where labor may continue beyond the sun’s setting, the majority of construction and outdoor maintenance work takes place in the light of day, when it is most safe, efficient and functional to work effectively.

There is ‘God’ work that is just waiting for the light of the Son to shine so that His illumination may enable the work that can only be accomplished in His presence. It’s an incredibly defining moment when a condition that has been endured for some time comes into the light of day and the Redeemer who has committed Himself to our total and complete salvation and wholeness is given access to our workspace. While analysis could go on as to why this work has remained undone up to this point, the work of the day will only be inhibited if the power of the former darkness is allowed to shadow the Son’s present light. To attempt discovery of fault and who might be to blame for the condition in the first place is to only remain in the realm of uncertainty where the true answer and solution is concealed in the night. While there may be some validity to the source, the Solution is so much more powerful and affective if He will only be magnified above the reason(s) for the malady and allowed to administer His brightness.

The greatest victories come from the greatest challenges and without a significant opponent, there is no glory to the conqueror. There is a reason, then, that can be given for the existence of any hardship, trial or sickness – it is merely another opportunity for the undefeated Victor to be glorified. As this is made clear in the radiance of His presence, then He becomes the focus of the conversation and to give Him glory can be the reason for any condition, although other reasons may have also contributed.

Within each of us on a moment by moment basis is an opportunity for the works of God to be manifested and for His glory to rise above any other. Where Jesus is shining and His glory is illuminating all areas of our hearts, it is day time, the time for the work of the Father to continue towards completion. His brightness is for restoration and righteousness rather than for condemnation, and His will be an atmosphere of heavenly production in the building up of the kingdom in us. For every opposition that comes our way in our bodies, relationships, occupations, finances, etc. there is a very specific reason that can be given – that the works of God may be manifest in us. As long as His light is revealed and unconcealed there can be great expectation of His manifested work.

2 Peter 1:19 KJV
(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:

Ephesians 2:10 KJV
(10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

For the one who has truly come into a life of worship, there will be an opportunity at every juncture to sacrifice natural tendencies of self-indulgence for a return to complete dependence upon the only source of life. Whether after victory or defeat, there will, in a relationship with God, always be a chance to let Him mean more to you than any emotion, possession, obsession or treasure in life. Rather than moving forward in simple reaction to whatever has taken place, there can be removal of the power of any circumstance by letting praise dominate and burn it up on an altar of worship. Where desire is strong to expound upon an experience and focus on one’s self, vision can be lifted to the greatness that has no limitation in us. Praise of Him can remove the power of where we’ve been and what we’ve experienced.

This was one of Moses’ most significant understandings– that there was never a point at which his own importance or lack thereof rose above the necessity of sacrifice. He was continually seeking out an opportunity to build an altar before the Lord, a place where He could allow things that were precious and of earthly worth to be consumed in the presence of the Lord.  As He continued through otherwise overwhelming challenges to incredible victories, every milestone, every turn in the road gave reason for renewed acknowledgment of and dependence on the ultimate source of life. This, in fact, was the stated purpose of the Israelite’s exodus, to sacrifice to their God.

As this recent milestone of the year’s passing presents us with a new year and new set of challenges, there is a wonderful opportunity for a sacrifice to be presented and inquiry made to God, our Conquering Deliverer. As His praise is lifted on an altar of worship, His purpose and His plan will be given priority over any other situation or circumstance. Rather than being consumed with those things of earthly significance, they themselves will be consumed as an offering before the only worthy One.

Joshua 7:21
(21)  When I saw among the spoil a goodly robe of Shinar, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, I coveted them and took them. And behold, they are hidden in the earth in the middle of my tent, and the silver under it.

You would think that just coming from the wilderness where everyone but the ones who feared God were made to die, there would be a significant restraint when presented with an opportunity to cross Him. Sure the stuff looked a bit enticing, but my goodness, wouldn’t there be a little concern for the wrath of the One who had caused earthquakes and the sea’s waters to swallow up His opposition? Could anything begin to be hidden from the One who had banished Adam and Eve for what they thought had gone unseen? Without His blessing there could be no battles won and without His power there would be no progress into the land of promise. It had been all Him who had caused Jericho’s walls to crumble before their shout, but the same holiness that was determining the fate of this Godless city was no less holy around His own. From the awe and splendor of an incredible God of judgment and mercy, the gaze had shifted to items of such little significance in comparison. The heart, also, had found another fixation rather than the One who would not only give them great abundance, but do so in a way that wouldn’t compromise their own peace and safety.

How obvious is the fallacy of this errant man who was the cause for many lost lives in a devastating defeat? How severe was his judgment and punishment, and how greatly did he hinder the very progress and success of his nation – just to own, unearned, some temporal, earthly item? It’s easy to see in this story how Achan brought shame and destruction upon his whole family because of a desire that diverted and disabled fear of God. It’s easy to look down on him, and yet, how great is his example for the life of any that would occupy the land of promise in Christ?  While we live in the era of grace that is sufficient for all our sins, our fellowship and dependence is still upon a God who is uncompromising in His holiness. To have an encounter with Him is to have an encounter with perfection, and although He is faithful to forgive and forget, there is still a consequence for a gaze that strays from the face of One so beautiful in holiness as our God to look upon some temporal earthly acquisition or experience. Those things may be part of His provision, but to possess what hasn’t been given or earned will always lead to self- destruction and the compromise of a nation.

There is so much to possess and such great adventure in the occupation of the land of promise in Christ. Walls will crumble and enemy’s stumble and fall before the One through whom we triumph. True progress towards His purpose, however, will not include diversions from the holiness He requires. While He is faithful and just to forgive, there will never be a place in a tent somewhere that conceals a worldly treasure He is unaware of and unaffected by. Every thought, every action, every motive and every passion of our heart is continually impacting our ability to either attempt occupation on our own or march forward in the power of the Holy One and His invincible Spirit. Stuff will always be lying around, inviting enjoyment apart from Him and His requirement of holiness. With a prize of such greater value to be apprehended in Christ, though, we can become fixated on our Mountain Mover and Ocean Divider to the exclusion of all that would prohibit His glory in our life.

While the natural human question regarding any kind of disadvantage or hardship is ‘who did something wrong to cause this?’ Jesus reaction is quite different- ‘how can this misfortune become a display of God’s goodness?’ His way is definitely far above our way and so much more uplifting, encouraging and comforting. Rather than looking to condemn, He is continually looking to restore to complete wholeness by His love.

Surely the man and his parents both were not without fault. Jesus, after all, was the only sinless man. If sin could have caused the blindness, surely there was plenty to go around. So, how could it be said by Jesus that sin wasn’t responsible for this? How could He completely sidestep the responsibility of those involved for the ‘obvious’ judgment on display in this man’s body? Maybe it has everything to do with what qualified Him to be the sacrificial Lamb for all of mankind. While we may smell the masses and be turned off by their stench, while the attitudes and failures of the rebellious may garner rejection and incarceration, and while the disabled and dysfunctional may repel, Jesus sees the whole of all mankind’s failures, sickness and dismemberment as a glory opportunity. For the very situations to which we would attach blame and separation, He extends a saving hand and a loving embrace. Rather than condemnation He offers salvation. What a revolutionary concept and what a powerful approach for the One actually possessing the power to implement it? True restoration and complete salvation must get past the blame and the fault or there can never be enough personal righteousness or holiness to merit heaven’s goodness. Jesus didn’t see the blindness as caused by or disqualified by sin, but He rather saw it as just another way for His Father’s works to be displayed.

So, what is so wonderful about this truth for us, as we head out into our day with whatever ails us and whatever faults for which we are undeniably guilty, is that there will never be enough disqualifying failure on our part to disable God’s powerful restoration love. Sin will definitely have its toll on the life of the one willfully given to it, but with every natural consequence there will also be a God opportunity for a glory display, and God, instead of looking to condemn, is looking to bless and save to the uttermost all that would otherwise be undeserving. No matter how much our own guilt and sense of loss may be restricting our self acceptance, there is an opportunity for us to shift our gaze to the way God sees our situation. Rather than just accepting circumstances as something we may deserve and as the cost for some sin or shortcoming, we can begin to see them as incredible ‘God-working’ opportunities. The only real restriction upon our reception of His goodness will ever be that self erected barrier of condemnation that keeps us from rising at His command and accepting His joy empowering embrace of love. He’s standing right now on the other side of that barrier waiting for us to join Him there.

John 3:17-18
(17)  God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.
(18)  Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

Possibly one of the most difficult challenges of ‘the walk’ is the whole who-to-hang-out-with thing. There can be a tendency, which this passage from 2Corinthians would seem to support, to avoid anyone who doesn’t believe exactly like you as if they are somehow on a lower or unacceptable level. Separating oneself from the world is such a necessary part of joining up with the heavenly kingdom, and to do so requires severing any ties to those former or potential pals who are in it.
Then, though, you look at what Jesus did and how He instructed. He chose fishermen and tax collectors as his closest companions and hung out with publicans and sinners. Then He told the disciples that He would make them fishers of men, which would imply getting close to the fish and maybe even in the water. So what was different about His approach to relationships that made it possible for Him to be in the world and yet not of it? He seemed to have this passion for those that he came to save that compelled Him to go be with them rather than just hang out in the temple with all the ‘holy’ dudes. Jesus was able to be friends with those who didn’t appear to reflect a holy lifestyle, and He didn’t appear to have a distaste for anyone other than those who were errantly proclaiming to be religious. He didn’t exactly remove Himself from any association that might taint His reputation.

There was something about Jesus’ relationships, though, that distinguished them from others that might attempt the same. When He entered into fellowship with anyone it wasn’t a partnership with who they were or what they were about. It wasn’t an unequal yoke where they were the ones influencing Him. You didn’t ever see Jesus compromising His own holiness to be ‘accepted’ or liked. He never chose to impress anyone by becoming like them, but it was in fact the opposite- they were changed by knowing Him. Those who were transformed the most by Jesus were not the temple goers, but rather the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel’. (Mat. 15:24) For His light to shine the brightest it needed to go to the darkness.

While Jesus was ‘taking it to the streets’, however, He maintained another relationship that was never compromised in the least- His relationship with His Father. There was never a yoke or a commitment to a worldly association that could ever come close to the priority of His Father’s nearness, counsel and fellowship. Wherever He went to be with those who were living an unholy life, He took His Father with Him, and going there itself was actually the Father’s idea, as Jesus disclosed that He didn’t do anything without first seeing His Father do it. When He arrived, it wasn’t to have a little ‘mutual bonding’ where He could somehow come to understand them by being one of them; He arrived to be the light of the gospel of His Father’s goodness. He arrived not to condemn, but to show the way for them to turn towards salvation and wholeness. To know Jesus wasn’t to influence Him, but it was to be influenced by Him and His Father. To know Jesus was to know His Father. If there were to be any yoking, it would be the laying down of the heavy worldly yoke for the easy one that Jesus offered.

How will they hear unless someone communicates to them, and how will this take place unless someone is actually with them, you know, getting in the water? The difference might be who is going for who’s bait. The separation must always be from the world and it’s darkness, but there still must be a contact of influence, where we with our ever present Father are being guided into uncompromising relationships of gospel imparting opportunity, where light is dispelling darkness and never being consumed by it in the least. Going into the world is a directive, while separation is an essential necessity. They can merge in a life that is given to full time worship, where any dominating influence is that of the Father.

Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;