The Visible God

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. ----- Colossians 1:15 - 20

Oh, this is powerful Scripture. How easy it is to read these verses and move past them because they are introductory.  How easy to plow through, looking for the "meat" of the letter. This IS the meat! Before creation, Jesus is. Before God crafted a single cell of mankind, Jesus is. And Jesus with God in creation.

Before God's perfect human creation could rebel and fall away, God had a plan to bring us back to Him. Can I even take that in? This is how awesome our Creator is. How can there be a person in this world who could not believe that He exists?

Is it because that person has not seen Jesus?

The first verse of this passage clearly tells us that Jesus is God, Spirit made visible to mankind. We don't know God because He is invisible, we can't see Him.  In our simple-mindedness, we only know what we can see.  And God, our compassionate Creator, knows this. So He sent Jesus. All that God is--mercy, compassion, love, kindness, gentleness, peace, goodness...all that God is...it is all packaged into the man Jesus...all for the purpose of showing God to the people...so that they will believe.

He is first in all creation, and Jesus is the firstborn of the dead.  He died the human death, but God restored His life and called Him back to His place above creation. Jesus died, but He lives. And He remains on earth...invisibly.

So who can see Him today?  Is it any wonder people don't believe...frail people who must see to believe?

Jesus has given us--those who do believe--He has given us His Spirit...so that we can be filled with the fullness of God. So that all that God is can dwell within us. So that we can be Jesus--God--made visible.  So that the world can know Jesus.

Oh, Jesus, I pray that on this day especially that you would make yourself visible through me. Help me get out of your way; if there is one who needs to see you today, Jesus, please help me put myself down so that you can shine through. Oh, that the invisible God would be seen in the visible Jesus...Jesus the light shining through me.

A True "Magic" Kingdom

3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

    He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

     and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

----- Isaiah 11:3 - 5

The Kingdom of God is here. Jesus introduced it over 2000 years ago. It will fully come, it will be fully established, when He returns. But I have to accept that the Kingdom IS here and now. As a disciple of Christ, I am a citizen of the Kingdom. And I am sensing more and more: that's not a ticket for entry into a never-ending Disney-created place of fun and magic. I received admission the moment I accepted Christ. That "ticket" was stamped for immediate entry; at that moment I walked through the turnstile.

The Kingdom of God is here and now. That means that the King reigns today.  That means that the godly King is judging in righteousness and faithfulness...not when He returns, but now. And judging in righteousness is all about making things right.

• Poverty is not right; no one deserves to live in poverty. People may be impoverished due to the circumstances of their lives. Some may judge that they get what they deserve...they haven't taken advantage of the opportunities given to them. But the godly King says the real injustice is that sin entered the world and put people in impoverished circumstances. He will make right the injustice of poverty.
• Oppression is not right; no one deserves to live only to be used by another. People may be oppressed because they cannot fight back. They have no voice, no power, no one standing alongside them. Some may judge that they've gotten what they deserve...they were ignorant or weak, so of course they were taken advantage of. But the godly King says the real injustice is that sin entered the world and put people in circumstances that allowed others to take advantage and use them. This King will make right the injustice of oppression
• Racism is not right; no human deserves to be cast aside, discarded, or discounted because of race. People may be looked down on because of the color of their skin, the shape of their eyes, or the culture in which they were raised. Some may judge that they were born to a lower status. But the godly King says that the real injustice is that sin entered the world and people feel the need to place themselves above others. The King will make right the injustice of racism.
• Prostitution, addictions, abuse, murder, cheating, stealing, adultery, abortion, war, materialism...these things are not right. And homosexuality. These things were never a part of God's creation. They entered our world through sin. They settled and eroded the care and nurture God entrusted to us. It may be judged that some of these cause no harm--they are "victimless," choices that adults of reason should be allowed to make. It may be judged that some of these are justifiable, not crimes at all. It may be judged that some are to be handled by the state, that man's governing ability can decide what is just and unjust.  But only the godly King can judge...and He has been anointed to judge in righteousness...to make things right.  Sin can be forgiven.  And in the King's order of righteousness, it is forgiven...and then forgotten. Only the godly King can rule with that kind of justice. Only a godly King can lead His people to forgive as He has forgiven them.  

This is the true "Magic" Kingdom. It is the Kingdom of God, and it is here and now. The King leads in righteousness and faithfulness...today. He leads His people...me. So I have to ask, am I waiting around for Jesus to return so that He will make things right? Or am I living as a citizen of the Kingdom here and now...today...seeking to work with Him today to make right the injustices around me? Am I simply a spectator to this business of making right? Am I watching from the sidelines, looking to Him to do it all? Or am I allowing Him--the King who leads in righteousness and faithfulness--to lead me to join Him as a player.

Lord Jesus, make me a player--a first-string player. Help me judge not with eyes nor ears, but judge through your righteousness. Lead me, my King, to the work of your kingdom. Amen.

The Thing I Fear

Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”  The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the a thick darkness where God was.  ----- Exodus 20:18 - 21 

Fear. In many circles today, it is a word to issue when one disagrees with another. Rather than accepting the point of disagreement, response becomes an accusation: Fear! It seems that disagreement does not mean a difference of opinions; it means fear--specifically a fear of change.

Of course, there is some truth to the charge...change is frightening. It means a disruption to the usual.  Change means adapting to the unusual.  And it is the unusual, the out-of-the-norm that we fear.

Take, for an example, a visit from an angel. That's out of the ordinary.  And throughout Scripture, such visits illicit fear. Mary and Zachariah each experienced fear in the presence of Gabriel.  This is because angel appearances are unconventional, out-of-the-ordinary....unusual.

The verses from Exodus 20 paint a fearful picture: thunder, lightening, smoking mountain, and a trumpet sound.  Thunder and lightening are common enough (well, common enough to our experiences; were they unusual to people who had lived in Egypt?), but  to see a mountain on fire and hear the blare of a trumpet...all these things happening at once...it must have been a terrifying scene.

For the Hebrew slaves, having experienced the miracles of the ten plagues, the possibility that this Mighty God would speak to them was unusual...frightening. It could only mean their certain death.  I smile...how silly...the God who desires relationship with his people would not strike them dead in conversation. Though this fear was a healthy sign--such reverence would keep the people from sinning--conversation with God was not to be feared.

Then why do I fear it?  Why is prayer so difficult for me? Why when I sit down w/devotions or sermon prep, why when I feel the nudge to quiet myself and begin w/prayer...why is it so difficult to actually do it? It's not the fear of death the Hebrews had. My fear does not show that degree of reverence; in fact, I think it shows a more casual attitude toward Almighty God. My fear is a self-centered fear: a fear of failure...I won't do it right...I won't please God w/my prayers...therefore, I won't get what I want. I lack obedience because I know God on the New Covenant level. I know the forgiveness, the grace. Yet, when I take advantage of that grace and decide that God will forgive me if I willfully choose disobedience over His nudge to pray...then I lack the reverence, the fear, that will keep me from sinning. I will disregard (grieve) the Holy Spirit who keeps those nudges coming...to keep me from sinning.

Oh, Lord, please do not put out the light of your Holy Spirit. I thank you for every call He gives, whenever I feel like going off on my own:  nudges to pick up the phone and make a call, nudges to stick w/my writing and not give in to distractions, and especially nudges to sit quietly and enjoy your presence, dear God. Thank you for shining light on my darkness, on the self-centeredness, that fills me with foolish fears.  All praise and glory, all reverence belongs to you Father God Almighty. Amens