Where Are You From

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Pete

Some re-worked thoughts from 2012 . . .

He was full of questions. As the “Jesus problem” escalated, you sense that Pilate didn’t know what to do. It seems he was growing increasingly frantic. The mob was getting ugly and more demanding. And, bottom line, the Prisoner shouldn’t have even been here. So the governor ping-pongs back and forth between accusers and Accused with question after question. “What’s the accusation?” . . . “Are You the king of the Jews?” . . . “What have You done?” . . . “What is truth?” . . . “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” (John 18:28-40). Back and forth, forth and back.

Pilate doesn’t know what to do with this situation. Maybe if he has the Man beaten, roughs Him up a bit, and gives the crowd some blood, maybe that will settle them down. But it doesn’t. They want Him executed. They want Him hung on a cross. And they want it now! “Fine!” says Pilate (sort of), “if that’s what you want, then go do it yourself! I find no guilt in Him” (John 19:6). Whatever the crowds accusations have been to the point, no fault. No guilt. No reason to be doing to the Man Jesus what they have been doing.

But then, they level an accusation against Jesus that strikes fear into the heart of wishy-washy Pilate. And it leads Pilate to on more question. The question which, it seems to me, is the defining question when it comes to Jesus.

The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law He ought to die because He has made Himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.   (John 19:7-9 ESV)

“Where are You from?” Talk about your question for the ages.

Pilates “masterful” examination of the situation finally reveals “root cause.” The religious leaders were bent out of shape, and had incited a riotous mob, because Jesus made Himself equal with God. And if Pilate was getting frantic before with what to do with an innocent man, he was now even “more afraid.”

There had been something about this Jesus which Pilate had encountered in no one else before. Something about Him that had intrigued Pilate. Something so different about Jesus that Pilate sensed he was talking to a man unlike any man he had ever met. It was that same something which had caused Pilate’s wife to warn her husband to “have nothing to do with that righteous Man” (Matt. 27:19). And Pilate knew that what his wife said was true. He knew deep within that this was, in fact, a righteous Man.

And now he hears this, He claims to be the Son of God. What?!? Could it be true?!? Talk about your game changer!

“Where are You from?”

Not a bad question to ask. An even better question to honestly seek to answer.

But that’s where Pilate tapped out. Too much pressure from the crowd. Too much potential for a career limiting, if not life limiting, decision. So rather than deal with the question, he tries to wash his hands of the whole situation (Matt. 27:24). And he turns his back on the flogged, beaten, ridiculed Man of Galilee. And he let’s the question fall to the ground. And he shrugs his shoulders, turns to the crowd, and says, in essence, “Whatever.”

But for those who will ponder the question and pursue an answer . . . for those who will sincerely ask . . . and honestly seek . . . and earnestly knock, they will be answered with insight . . . and they will find the truth . . . and to them the door leading to eternal life will be opened.

And really, is there a better time of year than this time to ask again the question, “Where are You from?” When our focus is directed toward a manger? When we think about a baby, against whose birth we mark time? When we consider afresh a story of immaculate conception . . . of angels reportedly visiting . . . of shepherds apparently praising . . . and of wise men persistently inquiring? Is there a better time to quiet our hearts seek again the answer? Thinkin’ not!

Even for those of us who, by God’s grace, know the answer, and have have believed and received the truth, it is a question worth asking anew. Pondering afresh, in awe-filled wonder, that He is truly the Son of God sent from heaven to rescue those in bondage to sin. Responding with worship, offering again ourselves to the King who is worthy of all honor and praise. The King from heaven.

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
  when Thou camest to earth for me;
  but in Bethlehem’s home there was found no room
  for Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
  there is room in my heart for Thee.

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word
  that should set Thy people free;
  but with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
  they bore Thee to Calvary.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
  there is room in my heart for Thee.

(Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne, Timothy R. Matthews, Emily E.S. Elliot)

All because of grace . . . all for God’s glory.

 

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No Place for Him

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Pete

Our minds are hopefully increasingly getting focused on that old, old story. The story of a baby born. Not just any baby, but the Son of the Most High. Many familiar aspects to the story. An angel appears. A virgin is found with child. Shepherds have an encounter of the divine kind. Wise men follow a star.

I read about Him in Micah 5 this morning. The eternal aspect of His birth. Foretold by a prophet centuries in advance . . . coming forth from of old, from ancient days . . . One who would be ruler in Israel . . . One who would one day stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD from His holy hill . . . One who came to bring peace. And this One would be born in nondescript Bethlehem. But on the night of His birth in Bethlehem, as the old, old story reminds us, there was no place for Him.

I also read about Him in Revelation 12. The cosmic side of His birth. A great red dragon in the heavenlies ready to devour the Child. But this Child who was born to “rule all the nations” is “caught up to God and to His throne.” And the dragon is defeated. He and his angels are thrown down. “And there was no longer any place for them in heaven” (12:8). And this morning I’m struck by the fact that there’s no place for the dragon, either.

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered Him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them!”   (Revelation 12:10-12a ESV)

No room for the accuser in heaven. No place for Him because he has nothing to say concerning the “brothers.” No accusation to bring against those who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and have born witness of the kingdom of the Christ.

I’m reminded that the devil has a lack of material when it comes to accusing God’s people.

He has nothing to say. Not because we have paid the price for our iniquity, but because Jesus has, once for all, at Calvary. Not because we, in ourselves, are without stain, but because His atoning blood wipes clean every stain.

No accusation left for the devil to bring. Not because of our perfection, but because of our Savior’s. Not because of any righteousness of our own making, but because we have been robed in His righteousness.

The carpet has been pulled out from underneath the feet of our enemy, the accuser. There’s no place for him.

And this, because of the Christ.  Who, on that night in Bethlehem, was born a Redeemer, though there was no place for Him either.

O come let us adore Him!

What wondrous grace. To Him be all praise and glory.

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From Fear to Fear

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Pete

Apparently there’s fear, and then there’s fear. Reading Jonah this morning, and in the opening act of this well known story it’s the fear factor that’s caught my attention.

The first thing I noticed was Jonah’s “national fear” or his “ethnic fear.”

Jonah’s shipmates are going crazy. The world is turning upside down around them . . . kind of literally. The seas have been thrown into chaos. They’ve never experienced anything like it. It is so severe that they know this is not just a natural weather pattern. And they eventually discern that somehow their tempest is related to their traveler, the guy asleep in the bottom of the boat. And so they grill Jonah, “Confess. Why this disaster? What is your work? Where do you come from? What country? What family?” (1:8 MSG). And Jonah’s response is kind of humorous.

“I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”   ~ Jonah     (Jonah 1:8-9 ESV)

Really, Jonah? You fear God? God told you to go left and you went right. God commanded you go to the great city and you headed for the wide open seas. God told you to go public and, instead, you went hermit. God said, do my will. And you tried to flee from His presence. Yet, you say, “I fear the LORD.”

So, it seems to me that, in this case, fearing God is less about an attitude of Jonah’s heart and more of an attribute attached to his religion. That the “fear” he has because of his heritage is more of a banner that he wears than it is a behavior which he exhibits.

But then I notice another example of the fear of the LORD. Not just a religious fear. But a God inspired, awe-filling, boot-shaking, action-taking fear.

Therefore they called out to the LORD, “O LORD, let us not perish for this mans life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You.” So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.   (Jonah 1:14-15 ESV)

These poor mariners are frazzled. It has not been a good day for them.

They start off being afraid because of the raging seas that have whipped up around them–unlike anything they had encountered before, causing each of them to cry out desperately to whatever god they were familiar with (1:5). Then, when they find out that Jonah is a prophet on the run, and that the tempest they’re in is the Creator’s way of pursuing His AWOL servant, they become “exceedingly afraid”– as in double afraid, as in terror-filled afraid. And then they are cornered into throwing a man of God overboard as a last ditch effort to save themselves . . . can’t image the fear they felt at that point.

So they toss Jonah overboard. And the sea’s calm. And the light goes on. And they now know the LORD, the God of heaven and earth, reigns. And their desperate fear becomes directed awe as they bow before the LORD God, the Maker of heaven and earth. And they worship. And they resolve to worship more. And their fear of the LORD isn’t just some lip-giving platitude, but plays out as a new life-altering response.

So, apparently there’s fear, and then there’s fear.

Might we, as God’s people, fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land. And that it would be more than a slogan we utter, but would be manifest in a sacrifice we would willingly offer.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.   (Romans 12:1 ESV)

All because of grace . . . all by grace . . . all for God’s glory.

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To See His Glory

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Pete

There’ll be a lot of benefits to heaven. No more tears. No mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore. For death will be done (Rev. 21:4). No more darkness. No lies, nor deception, nor suppressing of the truth. For the prince of darkness will be defeated (Rev. 20:10). No more sin. No transgressing, nor rebelling, nor going astray as we seek our own way. For only those who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, having received His righteousness, will be permitted entrance (Rev. 22:13-14). Yup, a lot of benefits to heaven, if only because of what won’t be there: No more tears; No more darkness; No more sin.

Wrapped up John 17 this morning (verse 20 through 26). And, while the primary focus of the first part of Jesus’ prayer has been on His disciples, this part is specifically about me and all those who will believe in Jesus through their word (17:20). And what’s captured my thoughts this morning is another benefit to heaven– I’m thinking the primary benefit of heaven. And it won’t be found in the things we won’t find there but in what we will see there.

“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that You have given Me because you loved Me before the foundation of the world.”   ~ Jesus     (John 17:24 ESV)

To see His glory. That’s what Jesus wants. For His people to be with Him where He is, to see His glory.

Today I have some inkling of that glory. Known through creation, having been given eyes to see through regeneration. Seen in His Word through the Spirit who illuminates the Scripture. Experienced through the mystery of abiding in Him. All of it, and probably more that isn’t coming to mind right now, revealing something of the glory of the blessed Son of God, though now “in a mirror dimly” (1Cor. 13:12).

But then face to face. Entering into the fullness of experiencing all that Jesus is. Observing with sustained attention the One who is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature.” Eyes fixed solely on the One who now “upholds the universe by the word of His power.” Worshiping alone the One who has made “purification for sins.” Bowing down before the One who is “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3). The One who even now waits until that day when those the Father has given Him might be with Him . . . to see His glory.

Faith giving way to sight. The things of earth give way to the reality of heaven.

On that day when the Son’s prayer is answered in full and we are with Him. Where He is. That we might see the glory. “The glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

For whatever else heaven will be, that will be heaven . . . To see His glory.

All because of grace.  And all for His glory.

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In the World . . . Not of the World

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Pete

It’s one of the catch-phrases we Christians use, “Remember, we’re in the world, but not of the world.” Actually, I’m reminded this morning that it’s a lot more than just a catch-phrase. But sometimes I think we forget that, and so it gets put on the shelf with those other phrases we call “Christian-ese.” If it is Christian-ese . . . then Jesus leverages a lot of Christian-ese as He prepares to depart to Father and thinks about the implications of leaving His disciples behind.

“I have manifested Your name to the people whom You gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. . . . And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. . . . I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”  ~ Jesus

(John 17:6, 11, 14-16 ESV)

Not gonna lie, I like the idea of being prayed for. Though I’ve always felt I could be more of a prayer warrior for others, I have sure appreciated knowing that others are providing “air cover” on my behalf. And, while I know that, specifically, Jesus is praying for His disciples here, I’m thinking it has application for all those the Father has given the Son–and that includes me.

So I’m reading John 17 this morning and noodling on what Jesus has to say to the Father about me . . . and about my relationship to the world.

I was given to the Son “out of the world.” But I am still “in the world.” And Jesus isn’t asking the Father that I be physically removed from the world as He soon will be. Instead, He twice states the truth of who I am, that I am “not of the world” and intercedes to the Father on my behalf that He keep me from the “evil one” and the increasingly darkening economy of the evil one’s domain.

Hence, Jesus uses, rather Jesus defines what we sometimes write-off as Christian-ese. But the truth of the matter, according to the Word of truth, is that we are in the world, but not of the world.

To live as if we are “of the world” is hypocrisy because it’s not who we are. To live like the world and for the world is to essentially wear a mask and hide the reality that we are ambassadors of another place and another space.

We are children of God, not citizens of earth. We are those who have born again to be a holy nation, those who have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of the Beloved Son (Col.1:13). Those who have been called out of darkness and into His marvelous light (1Peter 2:9). To live any other way would be “faking it” before the world.

We don’t work our way out of the world, we have been taken out of the world and given to the Son by the Father. Thus, as new creations in Christ, while we are in this world, we are not of the world. It just isn’t who we are.

Good reminder this morning. And nice to be reminded that Someone is praying for me . . . and that His Father is keeping me . . . by His Spirit who lives in me.

To Him be all glory for such amazing grace!

Amen?

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Doing Eternal Life Right Now

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Pete

Some re-worked thoughts from 2010 . . .

There’s at least a couple of ways that you learn stuff from Scriptures. One way is to kind of “glean” truths. For example, I was reading in Revelation 7 this morning about those who are saved out of the tribulation and what they do in heaven, and from that I can make some observations and draw some conclusions about what heaven must be like.

The other way to learn stuff, of course, is to be told straight up. No need to infer or deduce. It’s just laid out there like a simple equation, A=B. Some might call it “low hanging fruit.” But, when it comes to the things of God, low hanging fruit can take you to high and lofty places and set your soul to soaring.  Like how I’m doing eternal life right now!

“And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” ~ Jesus (John 17:3 ESV)

How’s that for a simple and straight forward definition?

“I’ll take hard to grasp truths for 800, Alex.”

“Ok, the answer is, ‘To know the Father, the only true God, and the Jesus Christ whom He has sent.’ “

“What is, ‘Eternal life?'”

“Yes! You nailed it!”

Not to be trite. And not to oversimplify. After all, what it means to “know God” is a volume of teaching in and of itself. But the point is, the essence of eternal life is to enter into a relational understanding of the God of creation through His Son. Knowing God is doing eternal life.

Jesus removed the barrier to knowing God through His work on the cross. The penalty of sin having been paid, the power of sin having been broken, the way has been open for man to commune with God just as was intended from the beginning.

Communion with God, that’s eternal life. To interact with Him. To grasp, in some measure, His thoughts. To become familiar, to some degree, with the things that please Him and displease Him. To hear His voice through His word by His Spirit. To know that He hears our voice through prayer. All this is what makes eternal life, eternal life.

Eternal life isn’t something that starts when I get to heaven. If, through faith in the finished work of the cross I am now abiding in Christ, knowing the Father through the Son, then I’m doing eternal life right now!

Will things be clearer in that day when I’m “face to face?” For sure. But have I been given everything I need to participate in the divine nature and know the deep things of God now? Absolutely! Check out 2Peter 1:3-4 and 1Corinthians 2:16.

I’m just wasting time if I’m waiting for a future day to start experiencing eternal life. I’m missing some quality one-on-One time if I’m not pursuing a deeper relationship with God now.

Every morning, as I get ready for the day, it’s an opportunity to renew a desire to “do eternal life.” To determine, by His enabling, to know Him more. To pause to remember His abiding presence. To converse with Him throughout the day through the Spirit which speaks into heaven’s portal on my behalf. To recognize those moments when I’m enjoying fellowship with Him “in the cool of the day.”

Eternal life. Doing it right now.

By His grace . . . for His glory . . .

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If Only He Knew

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Pete

Job’s done talking. For 29 chapters he has debated his friends and had a one-way conversation with heaven. And he’s dominated the air time. If I counted correctly, for 20 of those 29 chapters it has been Job who has had the podium. Beyond his tremendous loss and his physical suffering, he is emotionally a mess. He is at a loss. He demands an audience with the Most High so that he might correct Him concerning heaven’s idea of justness. And he is frustrated because all he gets from the Divine is silence.

Now part of the deal is what Job is unaware of concerning his story. I’ve read chapters one and two, of God’s confidence in Job, and the non-contest He has allowed Satan to engage in. “If You let me trash and touch Job, I bet he’ll curse You to Your face,” says the accuser. “Go for it,” says the Almighty, “I know he won’t.” But Job doesn’t know this. He can’t even imagine that what’s going on with him is really not even about him.

And so, as he tries to rationalize the cause and effect of his circumstance, he gets increasingly bold, almost to the point of arrogance, as he demands heaven respond to his complaint. And something I read this morning, as Job wraps up his case, causes me to say to myself, “If only he knew!”

“Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my Adversary! Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown; I would give Him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach Him.”    (Job 31:35-37 ESV)

Job has just finished a detailed defense of his righteousness. Listing possible transgression by possible transgression, Job checks the box and finds himself innocent. Item by item, he says, “No fault.” And he wants to present the list to someone. He signs it and challenges the Almighty to respond with some findings other than his own. He refers to the God who created Him as his adversary and challenges Him, “Whatever You think You have on me, bring it! I’ll carry it as a non-burden. In fact, it will be so good I will wear it as a crown of boasting. Let me give you an account of all my ways, I’ll come off as royalty before You.”

And, rather than condemning Job for his arrogance, I think, “If only he knew.”

No matter how legitimately “good” Job’s works were, they pale in the presence of the God who Himself defines good. Regardless of how righteous Job might actually have been relative to the moral standard about him, against the shining light of the Almighty’s holiness, every spot and stain associated with such righteousness is exposed. If only Job knew.

If only he knew that his righteousness were but stained cloths before a perfect and holy God. If only he knew that, should God require him to carry the burden of his sin, his shoulders could not bear the load and, far from wearing it as crown of pride, he would seek to hide it in shame.

If only he knew that God is not his adversary, but his advocate–loving Job to such a degree that God would Himself address the stain problem . . . that He would Himself bear the burden for Job’s iniquity . . . that He would Himself provide for Job a crown . . . that He would Himself declare Job to be a prince in His kingdom . . . that He would Himself provide His own signature attesting to Job’s righteousness, a signature written in red.

If only he knew.

About God’s grace . . . for God’s glory.

 

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A Silence in Heaven

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Pete

I imagine a great silence when the question is asked. A heavenly pregnant pause. I’m thinking the lightning stops flashing and the thunder stops pealing. That the “holy, holy, holy” angel choir stops singing as the question reverberates to the edges of paradise. I wonder if there isn’t a collective holding of the breath as the implications of the ask, and the anticipation of the answer, are waited upon.

Then I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”   (Revelation 5:1-2 ESV)

There it is in the hands of the Almighty–the end of the story. Within the scroll, secured by divine seals, is the end of the ages ready to be revealed. The final chapters in God’s redemptive determination. The bringing of justice . . . the recompensing for faithfulness . . . the establishing of the new eternal economy . . . all there within the scroll. All ready to be revealed. But what is needed is someone worthy to open the scroll. What awaits the final revealing is one who has the divine credentials demanded to commandeer the final chapters. And so the ask goes out, “Who is worthy?”

And I’m wondering, if it really isn’t a rhetorical question. Did the angel who cried out the question not know the answer? I’m thinking he did. Certainly one of the elders around the throne was in the know. So, I’m thinking the question was for John’s benefit. And what drama is played out before the revelator.

Who is worthy? Silence. Anyone in heaven? No! Pause again. Anyone on earth? Can’t find anyone. More silence. Anyone under the earth? Don’t think so. Silence so thick you can feel it.

Not man, nor angel, nor elder around the throne dares step forward. No created thing is found worthy to take the scroll from the hand of Him who sits on the earth. The silence is deafening.

And then a lone sound breaks the silence. Loud wailing. John, the visitor from earth, the one in exile for the faith, the one in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, weeps loudly because no one is found worthy to bring about the consummation of hope.

A heaven-wide pause button has been pressed. There’s silence around the throne as everyone and everything holds their breath. And a lone man weeps loudly. Who is worthy?

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals.”    (Revelation 5:5 ESV)

Weep no more! That’s what breaks the silence. Three words. Weep no more.

For THERE IS One worthy to direct the final acts of history. THERE IS One, known from eternity past, who can conduct the final movement of God’s grand opus. Weep no more.

He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He is the conqueror. He is the Lamb of God who was slain and, by His blood, has ransomed people for God. From every tribe, language, people and nation He has rescued souls, having made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth! And He is worthy!

And the silence is broken. Weeping is replaced by rejoicing. If it were a graduation, this is the point where the graduations caps would be tossed in the air. If it were a talent show, the point where the winner is announced and tons of confetti falls from the ceiling. But this is something more. And so the silence is broken as heaven erupts in thunderous worship before the throne.

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

(Revelation 5:11-13 ESV)

It might feel like there’s a silence in heaven. But the time of His revealing is coming . . .  perhaps very soon.

Weep no more. For the Lamb is worthy. And the Father is to be praised.

Amen and Amen!

 

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5 Minutes in Heaven

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Pete

I don’t know what it takes to legitimately define a new literary genre, but there’s a type of book that has recently been gaining quite the following. “Heaven tourism” is being used to describe those books that deal with a people who claim to have visited heaven, only to return to earth. I really haven’t been too interested in checking any of them out. Maybe I’m just a skeptic. Or maybe it’s because I’ve been into “heaven tourism” for years. In fact, this morning, I just spent five minutes in heaven. And the after glow is amazing!

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne.    (Revelation 4:1-2 ESV)

Five minutes in heaven. Actually, it only takes a little over a minute to read through Revelation 4 (I timed it). But I read it over a few times this morning. And then, trusting I too was “in the Spirit”, I hovered over the passage for a bit afterwards. So maybe a bit more than five minutes. But have I got a story to tell.

I don’t know what the other books say, but my few minutes in heaven this morning says that when someone arrives the first thing they see is a throne. Once they have walked through that open door, then behold! . . . a throne stood in heaven.

It would seem to be the centerpiece of that eternal realm above our realm. It is surrounded by light. But the Light of Him who sits on the throne is not overshadowed by the light that surrounds the throne. So it’s not the throne, but the One who sits on the throne, who is the focal point of heaven. I guess I’d be skeptical of any “tourist” who didn’t declare the prominence of the throne, and the One who sits on it, as the major take away from their trip.

Kind of hard to miss. From Him who sits on the throne come flashes of lightning and peals of thunder. Around the throne are twenty-four elders clothed in white garments and wearing golden crowns. Before the throne are the seven Spirits of God. Above the throne are four six-winged angelic creatures that repeatedly proclaim the rhythm of heaven as “day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” And, though I won’t get there until tomorrow’s reading, in the midst of it all there is a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain (5:6).

That’s what my five minutes in heaven tells me. Oh, and one other thing, there is no going there and not doing some facedown time before Him who alone is worthy of worship.

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who is seated on the throne, Who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who is seated on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

“Worthy are You, our Lord and God,
   to receive glory and honor and power,
   for You created all things,
  and by Your will they existed and were created.”

(Revelation 4:9-11 ESV)

If you visited heaven, I don’t know how much you could see in 30, or 60, or 90 minutes when, I’m guessing, it’s going to take awhile to just take in the throne and all that surrounds the throne and Him who sits on the throne and the Lamb who stands in the midst of the throne. And then, once you’ve taken that in, you’re on your face in worship.

Five minutes in heaven, and I’m ready for the day.

Because of grace . . . for His glory.

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The Friendship of God

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Pete

O’ for the good old days! That’s all Job wanted. Not just any “old days” but the “good” old days. You know, those days when the kids flocked to him, the young people deferred to him, and the older people stood and revered him. Those days when princes and nobles quieted themselves so they could hear what Job had to say. The days when those in need appealed to him, and the unrighteous feared him. Those days when he was the one meeting needs, being eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.Those days when he was the “big kahuna.” Days when he spoke and people listened. Days when he commanded and others obeyed. How he longed for those days when he was friends with God.

And Job again took up his discourse, and said: “Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, when His lamp shone upon my head, and by His light I walked through darkness, as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent . . . ”   (Job 29:1-4 ESV)

Job 29 is fascinating. Who can’t connect with it? Who can’t relate to wanting better times when current times are kind of stormy. Who hasn’t looked back and thought, “If I could only go there again?” But what really has me thinking is how those memories of the past can be a sort of torture if we equate them with God’s favor.

If good times, as Job seems to be thinking, are the measure of God “watching over us” or the indicator of the strength of the “friendship of God,” then when times are bad it’s easy to feel forgotten and forsaken. Memories of better times, instead of reminding us of God’s goodness, instead end up sparking endless mind games. “What did I do to deserve this? What did I do wrong?” Or, as in Job’s case, “I haven’t done anything to deserve this, therefore God’s sense of justness must be out of whack somehow.”

But what if the storms, the trials, the testings are all part of friendship with God? I read this in Revelation this morning:

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline . . . (Revelation 3:19a ESV)

Jesus, the Head of the Church, the One who walks among the lampstands of the local churches says not only to the lukewarm church, but to all churches, if I love you I’ll call you to account, to prod and correct and guide you so that you’ll live at your best (MSG). So that you’ll live at your best, for the glory of my Name. And in the reproof there is the invitation, “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20). Communion offered. Intimate fellowship available. All through reproof. All in times of testing and training.

Job would be reproved. Job would be trained. Job apparently never would know the why of what happened to him. But he would know the voice of God. And would experience again the tangible favor of God. But Job was NEVER NOT A FRIEND of God.

Sometimes friendships can be painful, but a “friend loves at all times” (Prov. 17:7) and “faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Prov. 27:6).

Not faulting anyone for longing for the better times. But to equate God’s favor with the mountain tops and question His friendship in the valleys is to reduce God to a barometer of our behavior . . . a scale for measuring our righteousness . . . a response to our good works. But what if God, in His divine purposes for His glory alone, loves us so much He allows the tough times so that we might know His friendship to greater depths? If we really believe that then we could really say,

“The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”  ~ Job     (Job 1:21 ESV)

The good old days are today. Regardless of currently going down around us, they are known not by circumstance but as we abide in His great love and in His overflowing grace.

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”  ~ Jesus    (John 15:15 ESV)

Friends of the Father . . . through the Son . . . as testified to our souls by the Spirit. Doesn’t get much better than that!

All because of grace . . . All for His glory.

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