Imagine

Crunch of ice; foggy breath;
dreary sky; grass of death.


As I walk across the yard it's hard to imagine that a few months from now the grass, plants and trees will be overgrown. The air will be thick with heat and humidity. Flowers will be in full bloom, dotting the landscape with bold and bright colors.The same world; a different world.

Winter. Summer.

Mourning cry; meal of tears;
clenching gut; house of mirrors.

As I walk through life from day to day, it's hard to imagine that the absence of breath is eternity. For those in Christ, there will be no tears. No sadness. No death, pain or sorrow. All will be Christ. Light. Life. Beauty. The same world; a different world. A better world. A new world.

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”  (Revelation 21:1-8)

Jesus, Bullies and Me

Our American schools have an incredible anti-bullying campaign running these days. In preschool, children hold out a flat hand and set the other on it vertically to say, "Stop." At older levels they're taught to say, "I don't like what you're doing and I want you to stop." Recently I encountered an adult bully. That's a little trickier, isn't it? (Pssst. It's not you--unless we already had this discussion.)

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Jesus dealt with bullies: Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, teachers of the law. They were determined to have their own way, regardless of right, wrong, better or best. At the heart of their behavior was influence.They wanted to feel and look important, but Jesus kept getting in the way.

When they sought to seize [Jesus], they feared the people....  (Matt. 21:46)
And they were seeking to seize [Jesus], and yet they feared the people.... (Mark 12:12)
Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6:14)
And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all. (Luke 6:19)
And [Jesus] also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt.... (Luke 18:9)
The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people.... (Luke 18:11)
The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on [Jesus] that very hour, and they feared the people.... (Luke 20:19)

In the end, it was envy and jealousy that drove them to have Jesus crucified, For "for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God." (John 12:43).

Isn't that why we give in to bullies? We want the approval of men, too. We don't want to make waves or deal with conflict, so we give in and move on. But what if we loved God more? What if we loved Him so much that we loved bullies more than ourselves? In that case, I would not only refuse to give in, I would speak and live truth. "Stop. You're hurting yourself and you're hurting others. I love you too much to let you continue. Did you hear what you just said? Do you see what you're doing?"

That kind of love holds the mirror of God's Word where they can see it. Jesus said it like this:
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 22:33-27)

That's not politically correct or warm and fuzzy. It's honest. In his (justified) anger, Jesus did not sin, He loved. He forgivingly chastised and rebuked. By His words and actions, He led them to the cross. He showed them their sin and gave them (one more) opportunity to confess and repent. That should be our greatest desire for those who sin against us--eternal life, eternal forgiveness, eternal blessing.

I can be angry, especially when someone hurts and misleads others. I can speak against their wrong, but in the end, I must love them, be ready to forgive, and willing to lead them to Jesus.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:14-21)

It's Not the Doing

Recently I've been challenged with how much of life is being, not doing. Who I am--when the difficult times come, when frustration mounts and plans are shattered--who I am cannot be controlled or contained. I am who I am. The difficulty doesn't create anger, fear, doubt, bitterness and resentment; it reveals what's already there, in my heart. I can only hide revulsion for so long. It's bound to explode under pressure. I may ignore fear and cover it with false confidence, but it will sink deep teeth into my heart when situations race out of control.

What I say and do in the unexpected moments of life is nothing more than what (or who) I am. If I am humiliated by my response, that is the least of my worries. What others think of my outbursts or tendency to run and hide matters very little--because the root issue is my sin. It's the heart that seeks its own way, that demands independence and makes self-righteous claims. Such a heart offends the Great God of the Universe. How often do we get caught up in pleasing others and wanting our way (all at the same time), failing to consider how we--how I've--spit in the face of my Savior.  In that moment I am no different than those who walked past Him that fateful crucifixion day. I am more concerned with my agenda, saving face in public, my accomplishing my goals than offending the God who took on humanity, lived a humble life and died that I might know Him and live.

The snake on the pole--Jesus--the "Look and live!"--has been cast aside. Disregarded. In self-deception and a desire to "do," I have failed to "be." Until the inner me surrenders and is voluntarily overcome with Christ, who would live in and through me, I will fail without hope. I will cry without relief. I will wrestle without victory.

So this has become my mantra, "Not I, but Christ." When I fail and fall and sin--not I, but Christ. I am forgiven. I am redeemed, I am re-purposed. I can confess and move forward in faith. When I experience victory and blessing--not I, but Christ. He is the blessing-Giver, He is the Rewarder, the Provider. In every situation, in every relationship, in every conviction or success, in loss or gain--not I, but Christ. Why? Because it is not in the doing. It's in the Be-ing.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20)