Working It In

"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." -James (James 4:7)

This is just an interesting thought (a suspicion) that comes from a few experiences, a recent one in particular:

I can image the enemy as a risky individual, tempting his own fate, trying to pluck possessions from the grasps of humans. Imagine you have an investment in something; something you've put most of your resources in for the last 55 years of your life. You've built a nest egg. You've committed yourself. Imagine the property you've been investing in for the last 55 years of your life - where all your money has gone into - was actually owned by someone else. You've started down this financial path years ago, hoping that the heirs of the property would not reclaim this invaluable plot of land. You've been hoping that the rightful claimers would continue to be unaware of their wealth. Here's the crux: what would you be like, you crafty scoundrel, when coercing the heirs? When you, on occasion, would meet face-to-face. You only stand on a lie, your claim is invalid, so you will push hard, but not too hard. Too hard, and your ground will crumble beneath you, and they may actually become more convinced, more confident of the value of that which is theirs. You must distract, not go too direct.

This thought came when I just remembered that I had had this crazy intense struggling within myself last week. There was this thought, this destructive thought, that seemed really attractive to me for a few minutes to nourish/to think on, but decided to stiff-arm it and suffocate the flame. At the time, it was so intense and attractive, I thought it was going to be something I'd have to work at for a while. I thought, "Oh, no, here we go now. Here comes a wave of this thing to battle for a bit." But I just remembered: I'm done with it. It didn't last but for minutes. I snuffed it right out.

Thinking about this, I get the feeling that the enemy is tempting his own fate when he tempts us sometimes: like trying to pull quills from a person's writhing arm. If your not careful, you may actually push them further in as opposed to get them out. These things work themselves in with barbs that go against the grain. Have you ever tried to get out a wood sliver and ended up pushing it deeper? I think the enemy get confounded, like a guy futzing with a door hinge and pinches his fingers. The last thing he wants is a more trusting and dependent relationship between humans and God, but that's often what results from human men and women choosing to concede to Jesus's defense of themselves rather than them defending themselves.

It's On...

"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." -Jesus (John 3:36)

The Greek word translated here as "abides" (the transliterated word "meno") can be understood as meaning: to remain; to not depart; to continue to be present; to continue to be.

"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil." -Jesus (John 3:18-19)

It seems here that on "Judgment Day" it will not be so much an action or judgment that God will do that will result in final separation from Himself, as it will be a final acquittal that will occur to remove that wrath which would have otherwise remained. It's not as much that we have to be careful when walking around to not catch a cold (wearing masks and gloves and taking injections), as it is that we've already got the bug and need a dose of meds.

We don't need to wait for it to come: it's on.

When did things get like this?

A Good Deal

Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!" Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." -Jesus (Matthew 9:2-7)

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” –Jesus (Luke 12:32)

“However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” –Jesus (Luke 10:20)

It seems like God doesn’t assume it should impress us if we heal the sick or cast out demons. I can imagine the perplexed look on Jesus’s face when I’d be getting all excited about the amazing Jesus-type stuff I’ve accomplished, “Not like that’s not wonderful,” I could see in His face, “but that’s all toppings.” It’s like a starved man coming back from a desperate journey across a parched plain: how narrowly he escaped death, and at the sight of the nourishing banquet placed before him, his mind is reeling at the prospect of getting to use silverware once again. It’s all well and good, but brother, you nearly died! How exactly the food gets from plate to mouth is shadowed by the reality of any nourishment at all!

I think Jesus takes our names being written in the Book of Life as a good deal for the nearly dead.

A Strange Suffering

You are aware of unseen beings, and you know their realm is within what you call spiritual. Some of these beings you know to oppose you and others you love, you call these being who oppose you enemies. You have the authority over them, the ability to command them.

Who are you? No, not what's your name, this isn't intended as a jeopardy question. Imagine with me that this was YOUR reality. If you added that facet to your present existence, that YOU, who you are right now, was able to see and command beings who opposed you and those you love, how would you respond to them?

Of what sort are you? What would your tone be with them? How quickly would you act? How impassioned would you get? What would you command of them? Would you allow them to speak? to address you? to ask of you? Would you listen?

I have observed a peculiar response from God to His enemies within scripture. Within the book of Job, God dialogs with Satan and agrees to allow Satan to have his way with God's servant Job. As recorded within the Gospels, Jesus is addressed by legions of demons possessing a man, who ask of Him to be cast into a herd of pigs, and Jesus says, "Go."

What heart must you have, if all authority has been given to you, and you endure your enemy's request? Who are you, Father?