Except it be Given from Heaven

There are moments in which I wonder, “If only I had. . .maybe then I would. . .” Usually I’m feeling a bit low and thinking about various choices I’ve made in the past—thinking regretfully. One of my favorites is “If I’d gone running to that alter call back in eighth grade. . .”

It was during my first year in military academy. Two of my teachers were Christians and took a bunch of us up to a weekend retreat. I remember that I volunteered to help out, and was assigned the task of cleaning the bathrooms. I don’t recall too much of the weekend, except how hard cleaning toilets is, and the Sunday morning Church service. I’d never been to one quite like it. I’d been in Church regularly since birth, but Episcopal, not Baptist. I know that I liked this service. I know that at the end, when everyone was told to bow their heads and close their eyes and raise their hands if they wanted to accept Jesus into their hearts, I responded—I’m sure I did, at least I think I did, I want to think I did. But when the pastor asked for all those who raised their hands to come forward to the alter, I hesitated. Then it was over and everyone was leaving and I just exited along with them, having not been able to make it to the alter. I felt guilty about that moment of indecision, of cowardice, of fear.

I still do—at times. I wonder how my life might have been different. It’s as if I think the physical act of approaching an alter would have made a difference in my life—making it somehow better, me better, or at least a bit easier. Perhaps I’d have become somebody famous, or rich, or powerful. Perhaps I’d have had the drive to finish college after high school, rather than wait twenty years. Perhaps I’d have accepted the position that I was offered as a management apprentice, rather than wanting to drive truck. Perhaps. . .I’d have been wise. I think that’s what I would have wanted if I’d known to ask. Wisdom. Like Solomon asked for from the LORD.

Or perhaps I’d just have avoided some mistakes, not have wandered around as much. Perhaps I’d have been more focused in ministry. I know, intellectually, that one can’t change the past. I know that my “better choice” thinking isn’t necessarily a particular best choice. In my heart I know that who I am, I am as a result of G-d’s desire to take all that I am and have ever been, the real person I am, and make it work for the good in the overall scheme of things. If I were to right one perceived mistake, it might upset something else that came later. At least I can rationalize it that way.

I really admire John the Baptist. He made it big, getting to baptize Lord Y’shuaJesus with water. And he made an important choice as “his” ministry slipped away, he let it go. He understood an important principle (John 3:27):

John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

Matthew Henry commented that “different employments are according to the direction of divine providence, different endowments according to the distribution of the divine grace. No man can take true honor to himself, Hebrews 5:4. We have as necessary and constant a dependence upon the grace of G-d in all the motions and actions of the spiritual life as we have upon the providence of G-d in all the motions and actions of the natural life.”

Perhaps success that eludes does so to spare us magnifying our own selves. “Had I just. . .’ is simply another way of taking responsibility for my own success. “If I had,” then I’d have had to fail in other ways unless I was well fortified, and able to pass on all credit to the Lord. Success is not easy. Staying humble while in the limelight of applause and flattery is daunting. I do not envy Christian musicians who, after struggling for success, gain it, only to grasp hold of the honor to themselves. Then things happen, like falling flat. Or pastors who begin to think themselves above sin, and into the depths they plummet.

Then there is the thought that things might have been easier, perhaps, for me had I just run, not walked, to the alter that weekend. Perhaps I’d have somehow been a better person, and made less mistakes. Maybe I’d have not had some of the really tough moments I’ve experienced. And yet it is during those hard time of my life that I can, now, I look back upon and see the Lord at work in me, watching over me, caring for me. Hard times are. . . just plain hard. But perhaps they are the furrowing of our spiritual garden that allow great things to grow—spiritual growth as well as physical.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Legacy

Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil. For what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun? Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity. There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.

Ecclesiastes 2:20-24

Once upon a time, either on the radio or sitting in a pew, I heard a preacher talk about Solomon and his depression. It seemed to that preacher, that was the only explanation for Solomon to write such things. It seems that many others think this is the case, too. We work hard to build a life for ourselves, to make a difference in the world. We spend our lives to build a legacy. We need others to believe this is the correct approach to life. We need everyone to be on board with this idea to ensure that the economy grows. If too many believe they don’t have to buy materials to better adorn their homes and offices and places of work, the economy won’t grow and we’ll slide into a recession and then a depression. People will be out of work.

If Solomon were around writing his thoughts today, he’d certainly be singled out for psychiatric therapy, a regular dosage of anti-depressant medication, and no doubt someone would convince him to attend some “joy” seminar somewhere. Solomon would be called a “doom-sayer” and labeled a nut. I suppose that most would believer Solomon would be getting rich on spreading his depressive thoughts about the internet.

Therefore I [the LORD] will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

Isaiah 13:13

Y’shuaJesus spoke about seeking the Kingdom of G-d. He didn’t say we were to try and build that kingdom here on Earth. That’s the Lord’s work; that isn’t ours. So what is our legacy to be, then?

This morning returning from dropping my son at school, Watching You by Rodney Atkins played on the radio. It’s about a boy who is watching his father, who wants to be like his father IN EVERY WAY. The boy says a naughty word, and his father asks where he learned that word. The boys says he’s been watching. In another verse the boy is praying to our Heavenly Father as though he were a friend. The father asks where the boy learned to pray that way. The boy replies, “I’ve been watching you.”

It’s not the riches we have to leave as an inheritance, not the great buildings we’ve built to house ourselves and our families, not the products we create or repair or construct for others, but the character we allow the Lord to create in us and pass on to others that is our legacy. Our character is built through our relationship with Y’shuaJesus. We forsake the earthly kingdom, seek the Heavenly Kingdom. We allow G-d to be the center of our lives, creating in us, as the psalmist wrote, “a clean heart.”

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Daily Living or Living Daily

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:5

There is a way in which we must daily live. The fundamentals of such living are summarized in the Ten Commandments, taught by Y’shuaJesus as given in the Gospels, taught by the Apostles, and taught in churches throughout the world. These are rules that we apply to our daily lives. I have observed that a pastor may speak to the congregation about tithing, and use the “Old Testament” references to augment a call to add greatly to the collection plate. On the other hand, I’ve not heard a pastor preach about a baby’s circumcision being performed on the eighth day after birth, though. It seems to me, there is an arbitrary nature to which scriptures to apply. It seems we are able to pick and choose which rules to follow. Now, as far as circumcision is concerned, Paul brought that before a council of Jewish Believers in Y’shuaJesus while on a trip to Jerusalem. The result: Gentile Believers became exempt to circumcision. They don’t have to follow the Law, as given by Moses, and the Jewish traditions are not theirs. In other words, there is a certain amount of pick and choose going on here.

Now for the observant Jew there are the 613 Divine commandments inscribed in the holy Torah. These are Mitzvoth. Daily living could appear as somewhat mechanical, basic, fundamental. Just understand all the commandments, and follow each one with heart’s intent. Actually, following the Mitzvoth is not so mechanical after all. It has been ruled “that unless one performs a Torah-ordained mitzvah with conscious intent, he has not fulfilled his duty and must perform it a second time with the proper intent.” So daily living must be intentional, performing Divine commands, or not performing negative commands, or restrictions. You have to do this and this, not do that or that, and if you miss doing one, you need atonement. And even if you did a particular Mitzvah, but without the proper intent, then do it again. Get Atonement! Over and Over and Over.

For both Gentile and Jewish Believers, Y’shuaJesus fulfilled the Law by becoming a one-time-is-all-that-is-needed ATONEMENT. We are now one Chosen People, Gentiles, once wild, now grafted into G-d’s cultivated olive tree along with those Jews who are now complete in Y’shuaJesus.

Now, all Believers, have a requirement, an obligation, that is perhaps more strict, more difficult to adhere to than moral codes and traditions. We are called to live daily. This is living deeper. It is more intense. There is a call to both Jewish and Gentile Believers living out daily the faith. It’s not about picking and choosing rules to follow or things to stay away from each day. It’s not about whether or not we’ve followed with intent 613 Divine ordinances. It is living each day in that particular day, with intent. It is life daily with the Spirit of G-d as our compass, directing us in our walk with Y’shuaJesus.

The Apostle Paul talked about putting on the armor of G-d. We put on this armor daily. Each day is today. Yesterday is remembered, but not dwelt upon. We put aside the “I could have. . .” and the “I should have. . .” We offer tomorrow to G-d in our prayer each day, and focus on today. We live in this one lone day, living our faith. It is living daily in the power of G-d, our Creator, our Savior.

Living Daily is being aware each and every moment of Today, as long as it is Today. Aware of G-d’s presence in the world, in our hearts, in the activities in which we partake. Which is the greatest commandment, Y’shuaJesus was asked. With intent, we live daily loving G-d and loving our neighbors in the manner we love ourselves. We are like the disciples walking the road to Amaoz. We may not recognize Y’shuaJesus as He walks alongside, but we do feel our hearts burn. We talk to Y’shuaJesus as we walk. We pray, as the Apostle Paul spoke of, in the Spirit more than anyone else. We are aware in the Spirit when a brother or sister needs prayer. We are conscientious, thoughtful, focused, yet aware always of what is around us and before us. And the Word of G-d is a lamp to show us where we stand, and a light to illuminate the path ahead. We know when to go right, when to go left. We know!

Lord, enable us to live daily with You. Amen.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .