(Steve Doyle, a good friend of mine offered an added comment to this story that I think is  worth considering .  He basically said that the decision of Judas to betray Jesus did not have to be the end of the line.  It's not stated anywhere in the Gospels, but what if the scenario regarding Peter's sin (his denial of Jesus) were to have been extended to Judas?   Jesus said to Peter; "Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. AND WHEN YOU HAVE TURNED BACK, strengthen your brothers!" [John 22:31-32].  In essence Jesus was saying to Peter, "I know you are going to betray me--THREE TIMES, but after you do, come back.  I'll receive you."  Judas could have been offered the same deal , but wasn't, perhaps because Jesus saw that the same level of faith in Peter was absent in Judas).  But it would have been just as easy for Jesus to in essence say to Judas; "After you have betrayed me to the authorities, Come back to me.  I will forgive and receive you, too!"  

It is not obvious, but should be noteworthy that the washing of the disciples’ feet, was in fact, overshadowed by an even more electrifying expression of the Savior’s love just moments later.  Initially Peter objected to the notion that it might be appropriate that Jesus, his Master, should wash his  feet.  During their exchange of words, Jesus set the stage for the next scene.  Peter finally relented and as Jesus washed His obstinate disciple’s feet, He offhandedly mentioned His clear awareness that one of His own would soon release Him into the hands of the authorities. Then Jesus quoted David’s prophetic Psalm; "He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me" (Psalm 41:9) and explained precisely what He meant: "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me." (John 13:21).

The disciples, in the hushed, but heated exchange that followed, were completely baffled and befuddled.  Who among them, could possibly do such a thing?  In the midst of their agitation and confusion, they all began to put the question to their Master: "Is it I -- Is it I?"  Continuing the charade, Judas audaciously joined in as he tried to save face with the disciples: "Surely not I, Rabbi?"  I love the way The Message renders Jesus’ response; "Don’t play games with me, Judas!"

The plot had been discovered.  Jesus knew.  He had known from the beginning.  He responded to the ‘beloved disciple’, John’s request: "Lord, who is it?"  "Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’" The Lord then pushed the crust of bread into the sauce and handed it to Judas.

Lacking an understanding of ancient Eastern customs, we fail to grasp the significance of what happened here.  Not only had Jesus identified for John who it was that would hand Him over to the authorities and to death, but in the same gesture, extended to Judas a completely undeserved, but gracious invitation.  It was a great honor to receive the "sop" [KJV language] from the master of the feast who, in that act, was bestowing a sense of welcome and acceptance to that guest.  In a last ditch effort, Jesus reached out to Judas with a lifeline.  In essence He was saying to Judas; "Though I am aware of your treacherous heart, and though I have ‘fingered’ you as the traitor you are, you don’t have to act on this wicked scheme of yours.  Abandon this evil intention to act the turncoat, and change your mind (repent).  I will forgive you in this whole sordid affair.  You do not have to condemn yourself in this.  I will receive you as one of my own, Judas!"

In this simple sharing of a crust of bread, Jesus was both exposing the traitor to John, and expressing His boundless love.  Jesus was pulling on the heart strings of Judas so that, if at all possible, He might be able to reclaim him as one of His own.  Certainly Judas deserved the harshest rebuke and condemnation.  He should have been thrown out in an instant and beaten to within an inch of his worthless life for entertaining such a wicked scheme for even a moment.  But in this gracious token of love, the Master had opened an avenue of escape for Judas--one that would not inevitably lead to his ignoble and tragic death.  It didn’t have to end that way!

Had Judas been caught up in the disciples’ ridiculous and silly game of; "I’ll be the greatest in Jesus’ kingdom because I’m His favorite"?  I do not know.  But if he had, receiving the ‘sop’ from Jesus could have been all of the endorsement he would ever need to abandon this futile and dangerous plot against his Master.  Add to this the fact that he had been ‘found out’--how could Judas ever hope to succeed now?

In such circumstances, a fascinating human phenomena is often played out.  When a person is caught ‘red-handed’ with his/her hand in the ‘cookie jar’, there are two possible opposite responses.  On, the one hand, this person relents, gives up and admits his duplicity.  Or, on the other . . , she becomes so galvanized in her persistent stubbornness and arrogance, that it seems impossible to abandon the ploy. Changing the mind and confessing the wrong becomes intolerable and completely out of the question. The mold has been cast and he is even more  determined than ever to plow ahead.  Come ‘hell or high water’ the obstinate choice is to carry out the plan as it is.

Jesus had handed Judas the ‘sop’, an expression of gracious acceptance, but in the next breath, He in essence told him to ‘quit pussy-footing around, decide what you are going to do, and do it!’ He said; "What you must do, do.  Do it and get it over with." (And that  is exactly what Judas did!)  "As soon as Judas took the bread, satan entered into him . . . . He went out and it was night" (John 13:27- 30 [MSG]).

Judas had allowed the darkness of hell to penetrate his very being in trading Jesus’ life to the Jewish chief priests for the paltry price of a slave.  Judas was not redeemed, and through his act of betrayal, he became one of the most despicable characters of Scripture and history.

The statement of Hebrews 6:4-6, though not directly referencing Judas himself, describes those believers who become very much like him and who experience the same level of condemnation:

"For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened--those who have  experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 　who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame"  [NLT].

Was Judas the master of his own destiny or was he only a victim of an immutable divine decree from God Himself?  Judas either did not repent because he couldn’t--God made it an impossibility.  Or . . . Judas did not give up his evil scheme because he wouldn’t.  If he had chosen to renounce and abandon the evil intent of his heart, God would surely have received and embraced Judas. There are significant numbers of people who come down on either side of the issue.

If the intent of giving the ‘sop’ accomplished no other purpose than to ‘finger’ Judas’ treachery, then I find its use by Jesus to be not only out of character for Him, but ludicrous as well.  Had Jesus known it was impossible for Judas to repent, why did He use this gesture of hope and acceptance as a means of mocking him in his hopelessly condemned condition?

It is of interest to me to note that Judas changed his mind (‘repent’ is the word some translations adopt)  when he ". . . saw that Jesus was condemned."  He went to the chief priests and elders, and attempted to undo the damage by returning the ‘blood money’.  Failing in that, he threw the silver coins into the temple and left.  However, unlike Peter, who had denied his relationship to Jesus three times as predicted, Judas refused to return to Him.  Instead, he went out to a precipice, placed a noose about his neck and jumped (see Matthew 27:1-10).

Question: Had Judas in that moment been able to find it in his heart to humble himself (which was  totally repugnant to him), and return to Jesus (instead of doing himself in), would he have been received/welcomed by Jesus?  Really-- Can there be any doubt?

There will be key moments for each of us when we are at the precipice, and we are confronted with the challenge of making pivotal decisions for ourselves that will lead to life--or death.  And Jesus hands us the ‘sop’.  We may somehow perceive it as a symbol--a fitting  token used to 'finger' us as rebellious sinners like Judas so that our hearts burn with deep guilt before Him.  But in all reality, He intends it as a sign of His acceptance, hope for us and welcome--a source of great comfort and encouragement.  What will we do with the 'sop'?  In that moment it is our choice . . . to be a Peter, who embraced redemption and a  life of hope and promise, or, to be a Judas who chose and suffered the consequences of the ignominy of self-condemnation.

~ L.A.Williams

The Lord is Near– He’s Here!!

I’ve always been a little jittery about explaining what Paul meant when he said to the Philippian Christians; “The Lord is near” (Phil.4:5b).   I’ve always assumed he was speaking of the 2^nd coming of Christ, and how in the world does one explain that after 2000 years, Paul, the Apostle is still  right in saying Jesus’ 2^nd coming is still near?  I’ve always tended to skip over that phrase if I could.  But not anymore, not after our last Summer Study Series on the book of Philippians!!  I was bold enough (stupid?) to actually ask the question: “So, what was Paul saying here when he said ‘The Lord is near?’”

I mean, I don’t think it was 3 seconds and Jonathan was on it like a ‘chicken on a June bug’ (his answer has changed my whole perspective of the entire last chapter of Philippians).  Jonathan trounced on it: “Paul meant that the Lord is near at hand- He is here!”  YES!! -That’s it!  That little phrase has transformed   for me what Paul is attempting to tell the two arguing women (and the other Philippian Christians) in 4:2 and following!

Paul was saying: “Look, you two women (Euodia and Syntyche) need to settle your differences (v.2).  The Lord is near at hand helping you in this whole matter (v.5b).  Now with this in mind, please do the following for me:” (vs.4-9)

“Rejoice, and again I say, rejoice!” —-Why? The Lord is near– He’s Here!!

(If one knows the Lord’s hand is already at work in a difficult relational problem, how difficult can it be to rejoice in the Lord?)

“Be gentle!”  —-Why? The Lord is near– He’s Here!!

(If one is aware of the Lord’s intimate involvement, will he/she tend to avoid stupid, crass & insensitive remarks & actions toward the other?)

“Do not be anxious!” –Don’t worry —–Why? The Lord is near- He’s Here!!

(Again, can confidence that the Lord is working in such a situation, bring rest to one’s heart?)

“Pray, Petition, Give Thanks, Request!”  —Why? The Lord is near-He’s Here!!

(Can awareness of the Lord’s presence, encourage one to ask for wisdom and help in the midst of  that difficulty?)

“Think…what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable & excellent!”  —–Why? The Lord is near-He’s Here!!

(Knowing the Lord’s intimate involvement in a hardship permits a positive/productive focus on issues of importance instead of replaying all the nasty details of that relational difficulty.)

“Follow my instructions & example!”  ——Why? The Lord is near–He’s Here!!

(Did the Philippians see the wisdom & power of God emerging from the difficulties playing out in Paul’s life as he lived the instructions he was giving them? Surely doing what Paul did would have similar results!)

The anticipated results?  “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances…” (Philippians 4:10-13).  No matter what the difficulty or conflict, contentment comes when one is absolutely convinced the Lord is near at hand–He’s here!  There is no need for frantic or harried superhuman maneuvering, manipulation or heavy handed pressure to insure a desired outcome (which probably won’t occur anyway).  Instead there is rest, peace and the assurance that “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (4:19).

How may the attitude; The Lord is near–He’s Here!  effect how you live in the midst of the relational problems that you surely are experiencing in your home or neighborhood or place of work or a friendship?

          LAW

[My daughter (oldest) asked the following question;  "Is this what some would call 'practicing the presence of God'?"  Precisely!!]

       Last week-end, I came across a book by Phillip Yancey.  I have read several of his books (The Jesus I Never Knew, What’s So Amazing About Grace?, Where is God When it Hurts? and Disappointment With God) and I like very much the way he thinks and writes.  I have learned and profited from his often unique perspectives, and recommend his books, but I don’t think I can place his writings among the five or six that have made a huge difference in my life.  

       And so when I saw Yancey’s book, Prayer-Does it Make Any Difference?  on the bookshelf, I was confident that I could benefit from what I was going to read from him about prayer.  At the same time the thought did cross my mind that this book probably would not be a big ‘game-changer’ for me--or at least, I wasn’t expecting it to be.  Yancey was not going to have all the answers to every dilemma I face in regard to prayer and my very hap hazard, inconsistent and exasperating approaches to it.  I don’t know--I could be wrong.  I have not come close to finishing it--in fact, I’m not even one hundred pages in yet.  I, however have already found some material in Mr. Yancey’s book that is insightful and will probably be quite useful.  

       Interestingly, Phillip Yancey began the fifth chapter of his book on prayer in the following manner: "The main purpose of prayer is not to make life easier, nor to gain magical powers, but to know God."  He then included an extensive quote from Tim Stafford, a former colleague of his.

       That quote reminded me of a circumstance my last half year at Ohio Valley College.  Actually the school year had just begun with the new freshman class recently oriented and ready for a new chapter in their young lives.  It is only pure speculation on my part, but I suspect that Hinkle and Laurna’s attraction to each other as freshmen that year was a relatively new experience for the both of them.  Apparently neither had had much experience in the realm of dating prior to coming to OVC.  Laurna as I recall haled from Columbus and Hinkle (I cannot recall his first name) was a commuter from the Parkersburg area.  Anyway, they both became extremely interested in each other and they spent as much of their free time together as they possibly could in the library, entrance lobby of the Ad building and the cafeteria.  It became their habitual practice to sit for what seemed to be hours on end across a table from each other in silence, as they gazed into each other’s eyes.  Very little else was going on!   Perhaps a wistful sigh would emanate from one or the other from time to time, but nothing else!  No reading, no study, no conversation with an occasional affectionate glance toward the other; only hardcore constant eye contact was the norm.  And people noticed!  The rest of us students just could not ignore this behavior.  It just seemed bizarre.  And people talked, referring to them as ‘Hinkey-doo and Laurna-doon’.  Certainly kindness was not the obvious hallmark of the snide remarks coming from the other students who were observing what seemed to be their really strange behavior.

        In this regard, Phillip Yancey’s friend in part, said the following; "Silent gazing into a friend’s eyes may seem purer, and certainly more romantic, than mere talk.  But conversation, not silence, builds relationships.  Though I will never minimize the effect of beautiful eyes, I expect to talk to the people I care about--and to hear them talk back.  We do not build relationships on a sentence or two spoken every few years.  Conversation between real friends is a constant stream."  I don’t honestly know what became of ‘Hinkey-doo and Laurna-doon’s’ peculiar romance.  Who knows?! They may have gotten married, had lots of kids and continue to live together in marital bliss and contentment as they grow old together.   I obviously don’t have a clue! 

       Certainly, I suspect that most people understand that prayer involves praise (a willingness to acknowledge God’s sovereignty over us and His place as our Creator and Provider of all essential creature needs--we need Him in our lives).  Prayer also entails thanksgiving for God’s willingness to provide the needs we have for life.  The giving of thanks breeds/engenders a genuine appreciation for God’s intimate involvement in our lives and His willingness to provide the needs we cannot provide for ourselves.  In addition, prayer also includes request/entreaty--our God desires that we make requests of Him, even though He is very much aware of us and all those needs. 

       Tim Stafford, Yancey’s associate continued . . .:

"Some people say that we should pray not because God needs it, but because we (emphasis mine, e.m.) need it.  When we praise Him, we remind ourselves of what is fundamentally important.  When we thank Him, we humbly remember our utter dependence on His care.  When we pray for people, we are encouraged[/reminded] to then go out and do something to  help them.  From this perspective prayer is a self-help exercise.   No doubt prayer does these and other good things for me, but if they are the principle reasons for praying, my ‘personal relationship’ is in trouble.  Prayer that is only a useful exercise[/device] is not a conversation.  It is more like writing a diary, which is also good for you, but it is entirely private and one-sided."     

       For some reason, deliberately adopting prayer as primarily a means of engaging conversation/ communication with our God for the express purpose of enhancing and deepening that relationship has somehow escaped me.  I’ve used it for praise, thanksgiving and entreaty; the asking for things and actions by God for me and others.  But for deepening my relationship with Him?  Not really.  And I don’t understand how this thought or concept could have escaped my notice.  Through the years I have carried on conversations with God, often confessing my inability to understand Him and His ways; to admit my inabilities/failings and my outright arrogance, stubbornness, cruelty, fickleness and stupidity.  And in that time, my relationship with my God has surely developed and matured.  But to consciously and intentionally  understand and pursue this reality has, til very recently, probably not been my highest priority.

       Meditation is most certainly a Biblical concept and I suppose the practice of meditation is no doubt what I have described above.  Meditation is a form of prayer--a communing with God and I think this has often been a part of my daily repertoire.  And yet, though I have not consciously  embraced this form as a legitimate means of strengthening my relationship with God, prayer and meditation must become much more than the giving of thanks, praise and a time of entreaty and request.  It needs to become the conscious effort of engaging with my God in conversation and meditation for the purpose of examining my own heart and coming to a better understanding of His!

                               "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

                                                 be acceptable in your sight,

                                                                O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

                                                                                   Psalm 19:14 [ESV]

     Doubtless, my scant understanding and experience should and will  disqualify me in this woefully feeble undertaking.  So, why  am I so compelled to dare  speak of His Majesty--the Majesty of our Master Lord God?  Certainly, I am as completely dependent on what the writers of Scripture have revealed, as ALL others who have traveled this very path before me.  

      Had Yahweh not made Himself known to us through His Scriptures, what little we might know about Him would have to be gleaned by what we could discover in the world around us!  Wonderfully, He has not left Himself without a witness: "He has shown kindness by giving . . . rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; He provides . . . . plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." (Acts 14:17).  Even "the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands . . , their words aren’t heard, their voices aren’t recorded . . . [however] . . . their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere!" [emphasis mine-e.m.]  (Psalm 19:1-4 [NIV/MSG]). 

      "The basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is!  By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of His divine being.  So nobody has a good excuse . . . [even though many have] traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in His hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand" (Romans 1:19-20, 23 [MSG]).

      A god that cannot be seen or conveniently understood is too easily dismissed as a phantom or figment of one's over active imagination. The idea of conceptualizing the invisibly eternal God of Scripture is nigh impossible. Wrapping our minds around a god who lives, breathes and permeates all that is in the Universe is so beyond our ability or capacity to grasp in a serious way.  However, quite often in our attempts to dismiss such an all-encompassing and awe inspiring God, we unintentionally(?) replace Him--learning to value and foolishly honor the extremely limited gods of our own making:

      As impossible , incomprehensible and past finding out as it seems He is, we may feel He is there  just beyond our grasp, and yet so very close at hand!  This may have been what Elihu, one of Job's friends, was struggling to say: "Certainly, God is so great that he is beyond our understanding.  The number of his years cannot be counted" (Job 36:26 [GD'S WD]).  Perhaps this was the same dilemma the philosophers at the Areopagus in Athens were up against.  In passing through their city, the Apostle Paul took note of a shrine dedicated to 'The Unknown God' and addressed these people with the following words; "What . . . you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything . . . that they should seek [Him], and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us [e. m.], for in him 'we live and move and have our being'" (Acts 17:22-28 [ESV]).

     How do we begin to understand or fathom the God who is described as the One who “inhabits eternity” (Isaiah 57:15 [ESV])? The author of Psalms said of Him; “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God (Psalm 90:2 [ESV]). Finite minds are more than hard pressed to unravel the boundless mysteries of the vast expanses beyond, and completely confounded in their ability to adequately explain the “Ancient of Days”.

    And yet . . .  wondrously there has existed within the human heart the urgent need to find something/somebody(?)  beyond its own limitations and mortality.  Does this in part account for its constant and utter restlessness and urge to risk great loss for the purpose of finding,  discovering and encountering possible realities beyond itself? The insatiable and curious need to look into the unknown--to explore and perhaps uncover something completely new, unheard of or even dangerous--to 'push the envelope' of human safety just so 'we can know' seems always to be a part of who we are as human beings. 

    I suspect this was the very thought Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes was trying to convey when he wrote;  ". . . God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart (e.m.), but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end" [though try as they may]  (Ecclesiastes 3:11 [NLT]).  God has placed a part of Himself in the heart of each of us so that in its deep discontentment, we are incessantly   compelled (or propelled) to search for a deeper meaning beyond ourselves. Someone has described this seemingly profound urge as a 'God-sized hole' in everyone of us that somehow must  and will be filled.  Surely someone will say this is a rather shallow and simplistic effort in addressing such an enormous and complex issue (and so it may be).  However, this very idea that we should seek Him, and perhaps feel our own way toward Him and find Him, though He is not far, but actually within everyone of us (cf. Acts 17:28) is precisely  what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he spoke with the Athenians.

   The prophets of old who knew Him best were completely bewildered and confounded by Yahweh God in His ways and the messages that He had often spoken through them. They, themselves had revealed the Most High God's elaborate plans He intended and, in fact, eventually accomplished. But they, along with the angels of heaven, though looking deeply into these things, had completely failed to unravel or begin to comprehend His master plan for hundreds and hundreds of years. 

    They did not understand Him. His ways were completely above and beyond their own.  Should it be so amazing then, that even the highly schooled of the people of Israel--the doctors, lawyers and scholars among them, who daily studied and searched the Scriptures, should completely misunderstand who God was and what He wanted for all of humanity?  They had searched—no, scoured  the Scriptures continually, and still could not discover the unfathomable ways and purposes of the eternal God.

    The creation was not enough. A book, even a sacred  book was woefully inadequate. There were/are things to be learned about Yahweh God that we could never have known without these sources, but they are not enough, and never will be. The WORD who was with God from the beginning and is  God, ". . . became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory. It was the glory that the Father shares with his only Son, a glory full of kindness and truth (John 1:1, 14 [GD'S WD]). Thus the earnest and deep longing expressed by Phillip is the same cry of the human heart of all ages; "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." (John 14:8 [NIV]).

    And that is exactly what God did--He became Emmanuel ("God with us"). The Everlasting God of the heavens stepped out of the unlimited glories of eternity's realm and into the arms of Mary, His mother.  Within the sphere of time, He moved into the extreme limitations of the world's 'neighborhood' so that the Father might at last truly come to be known in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. The author of Hebrews made this astounding declaration; "God's Son has all the brightness of God's own glory and is like him in every way (e.m.).  By his own mighty word he holds the universe together"   (Hebrew 1:3 [CEV]).

    If Jesus shows us the Father (and He does), do you realize that it is just as reasonable to conclude that the disciples of Jesus show us--US?  Even a cursory examination of the Gospels bears this truth out.  They were like us in every way and we are like them in those very same ways. The same arrogance, selfishness, stupidity, insensitivity, jealousy, rivalry, weakness, fear and failure that so often afflicted and assailed them, are the realities we too must face. Their humanity is our humanity, pure and simple.  And yet--(though Jesus refused to 'pull any punches' in giving them what they needed), there was a kindness, gentleness--even compassion and acceptance that pervaded His interactions with some very unsavory and guilty people who look a lot  like ourselves!

    Nevertheless, the questions come; What is God's attitude toward you?  What do you think He thinks of you, and how do you suppose He is dealing with you in your life? The sad, discouraging or even tragic circumstances of your life could cause you to conclude in the very least, that God is ignoring you or perhaps, that He has completely rejected you! But you might very well be surprised.  How can you know—how can anyone know? Well, since Jesus is like His Father in every way, and His disciples show us—US, then it should follow that a close examination of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) in viewing how Jesus treated His disciples and other people may give us a pretty good idea of God's attitude toward US, right? 

    And so what is it?  Don't just look to the stars or the books or the people who look like they might know God or claim to know Him (some of the worst caricatures of who God is and what His attitude toward us is, may come from the 'religious professionals' or the religious fanatics, who honestly 'don't have a clue!').  They know all about Him, but still do not know Him. Saturate yourself--with the daily interactions of the Jesus in the Gospels.  Get to know Him!   Seek Him and you will be found by Him--Seek His face and experience His redemption and healing! (I Chronicles 28:9 & II Chronicles 7:14).

     There are many things that we do not understand about this world and the death that we all must face as a part of this life.  There are two things, however, that are certain.  First, Jesus Christ clearly shows us the God who loves us so profoundly that He has left His home and stepped out of eternity into time, which must certainly have seemed like a death to Him.  And second, those who die in the Lord are supremely blessed, when they finally step out of time,  into the arms of their Everlasting Father, the Ancient of Days! (Revelation 14:13).

L.A.Williams

        What caught my attention in particular as he stated this irrevocable fact, was the remarkable 'spin' Mark placed on this hardly unique, but rarely if ever heard or considered facet of the stated principle.  The Scriptures are a clear witness to it, but I think we hardly ever hear the emphasis or specific application as clearly as it was presented by Mark.  

        Just as sure as the sun rises in the East and sets in the West (and we know that it does, even on those overcast days (when the sun never shows), we will always  reap the harvest of what we have sown.  It never fails--even in the midst of the most severe drought--if there is any crop at all, the harvest always reflects the seed that is sown--always.  You can count on it!  We all know this--it is never  in doubt!  

        Mark spoke of an entertainer friend of his who loved to cook after shows in her tour bus, and loving to eat her cooking, he spent many hours listening to her stories.  One evening, she told him about the time she as a child had helped her grandmother plant seeds in the garden.  As they took the individual seeds and gently pushed them into the rich soil, her wise old  ‘Momma’ said, "You know honey, we plant a garden patch every single day in the lives of other people.  We need to plant the seeds of kindness, gentleness, compassion, mercy, longsuffering and faith into the life and heart of every person we meet.  They will grow just as sure, you know, as these little seeds we are putting in this little garden patch here.  And in time, just as sure, the seeds planted in the hearts of those people will bear fruit the same as these seeds here!"

       The passage of Scripture Mark was illustrating with his friend’s story was, Galatians 6:7-8;

"Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!--harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds!  But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.  So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good.  At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit.  Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all . . . . "

       I have had occasion to quote this entire passage of Scripture often in times past during the course of my teaching and preaching.  I have heard others do the very same.  And almost invariably, the first part of the passage--the warning part of sowing to one’s destruction (the word, "corruption" in the KJV speaks to the loss of life and the inevitable decay that accompanies it) seemed to be the primary focus of its application and teaching.  The obsession with self and its life destroying effects were often emphasized--we reap the very same bitterness, pettiness and cynicism that we sow.  This was invariably driven home each time it was taught.  On the other hand, the idea that sowing good deeds  were somehow connected to reaping a harvest of long lasting, even eternal consequences, seemed to usually be offered in a vague, off handed or off-to-the-side manner. And I failed to pick up on that in a deliberately conscious and focused manner.

       The Scriptures, however, in  Galatians chapter 5 and 6 make this clear and distinct connection.  Sowing with the full intention of pleasing the Spirit, means keeping in step with Him as we give Him permission to constantly be involved in our lives with attitudes and activities that express a sense of grace, warmth, compassion, understanding, consideration and kindness toward the people around us.  Intentionally living our lives in such a way with determination and due diligence invariably result in a rich harvest of the very same, ushering us into a permanent state of life before God (see Galatians 5:22-25).  In the next chapter, Paul calls this reaping eternal life from the Spirit.

       Because we can see with our very own eyes the effects of planting, we know (with favorable conditions) what will follow.  Perhaps, as little children in a class room experiment or at home, we have seen tiny seeds we have planted, sprout and turn into small plants that could have or perhaps did  eventually produce pods or some other fruit. The outcome is certain--we have proven it to ourselves!

       And yet . . . somehow we question the outcome when it comes to the less visible realities that every one of us is immersed in.  We sow to the flesh--that is, live selfishly for ourselves, ignoring the obvious needs of others and hope we can avoid the inevitable consequences of degradation, despair and the destructive results of a death inducing end which will come.  It is inevitable!

       By the same token, we doubt the far reaching and long lasting effects of a life constantly lived seeking to keep in step with God’s Holy Spirit--a life that desires very much to consistently please God.  Because the effects of this kind of planting is not immediate or obviously apparent, it necessitates a bit more than a dogged determination to see this process through.  It involves an abiding trust in taking a chance that our God knows exactly what He’s talking about when He urges us to sow to the Spirit honoring Him and blessing ourselves in the process.

        As I pen these words, the thought comes to mind of Mark Lowry’s powerfully profound  message, and somehow what I write here seems so much less compelling than his--what he said was so concise, forthright and rang so clear and true on that occasion.  It was a wonderfully true message and I believe what I have written here is just as true, blending well with what he had to say.  Perhaps part of it is due to the absence of the adrenaline rush of that moment among a boisterous enthusiastic crowd who loved everything Mark Lowry was saying and doing that evening.  Anyway, I suspect our Lord in understanding that bursts of adrenaline will not sustain us over the long haul as we struggle to fathom this deeply rich spiritual truth, compelled Paul to reassure the Galatians: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).

       One truth that can never be escaped--we will always be sowing something  and eventually will reap exactly  what we have sown!                                                                                                                                                      ~LAW~

his abbreviated suffering on the cross was not due to a lack of strength. Rather, in spite of the repeated beatings the Galilean had received, to the total amazement of Longinus the Centurion, his energy level surged moment by moment. It soon became obvious that this man was not dying as a victim at all. He alone dictated his destiny. His voice became more and more robust until at last, his shout reverberated through the surrounding hills: “It is completed! I have finished the task! Father, receive me to yourself!“ 

He then bowed his head and breathed his last. In that instant the earth shuddered beneath the Centurion’s feet, as if seized by vast spasms of sorrow and grief. After three hours of a thick darkness that had enshrouded them at noontide, they were again bathed in brilliant warmth as if the extinguished sun had suddenly been reignited.

For a long moment Longinus, the Centurion was rendered speechless . . . .”

(read the entire short story at the following links:)

http://mr-turniphead.xanga.com/686622940/the-subtle-miracle-of-jesus-death-prti/

http://mr-turniphead.xanga.com/686884443/the-subtle-miracle-of-jesus-death-prtii/

~L.A.Williams~