My Morning Meal

I’m thinking that, even though most of us have never taken training in judo or karate or one of the other martial arts, we know what someone is referring to when they talk about a white belt, or a green belt, or a black belt. It’s understood that a white belt is a beginner . . . a green belt is somewhere in the middle of martial arts capability . . . and that you don’t mess with a black belt. I was reading something that said that, while it is common today for people to buy a new belt as they progress through the ranks, at one time they had only one belt. It started out as white and then was dyed a different color as they progressed. The same belt worn throughout their training . . . transformed from white, to yellow, to orange, to green, to blue, to brown, to black as they grew in capability. Different colors indicating different degrees. Each color dye building on the previous color. And this morning, something I read in 1Corinthians 3 got me thinking about a black belt in glory.

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2Corinthians 3:18 ESV)

If I’m reading this and applying this correctly, as believers, we all . . . ALL . . . are being transformed from one degree of glory to another. The NIV says we are “being transformed into the likeness with ever-increasing glory” . . . the NKJV and NASB say we are “being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” . . . and Peterson renders it this way in the MSG, “And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him.”

This is the work of sanctification . . . the progressive work undertaken by God to purify us . . . to make us holy . . . to conform within us the nature and image of His Son. It starts with taking hearts that are soiled with sin and making them white . . . “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool” (Isa. 1:18). The Spirit of the living God determining to take those white hearts and write upon them a letter testifying of redeeming grace (2Cor. 3:3). And as He writes, as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2Peter 3:18), our hearts take on some color.

A hue of having logged a few miles with Jesus starts to become evident. Subtle undertones are brought forth as we are refined in the fire. Just as the face of Moses shone after his encounters with the Lord, so too our countenance starts to take on a subtle glow as we spend time with Jesus and the indwelling glory of His Spirit starts to emit from our lives. But while Moses’ shine faded, the glory that is being formed within us increases in intensity . . . “from one degree of glory to another.” The “color” of our hearts being transformed . . . literally being transfigured (as was Jesus) . . . being dyed, if you will, to reflect the faithful, gracious work, of God’s Spirit in those He has redeemed for His own.

So, if according to God’s will . . . and if, by God’s grace . . . He desires to transfigure me into the image of His Son . . . to participate in the glory of the Risen King . . . why wouldn’t I sign up? Why wouldn’t I invite in His life transforming, sanctifying truth (John 17:17)? Why wouldn’t I desire to yield to the Spirit’s work of dying my heart to reflect the results of His instruction in righteousness? Why wouldn’t I “enter into training” as one who runs a race to win the prize (1Cor. 8:24)? Why wouldn’t I desire a black belt in glory?

Not that I might claim it as a result of my own effort, but solely of His amazing, sanctifying grace. Not that I might boast in self-righteousness, but give all glory to the One who has called me to be holy and has granted to me His divine power which pertains “to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature” (2Peter 1:3-4).

Bring on the color . . . let’s go for the black belt . . . the next degree of glory for His glory . . . forever and ever, amen!

While Christmas is so much a celebration of the past . . . the coming of Immanuel . . . the giving of God’s greatest gift to the world, . . . as I think about it, Easter is so much a celebration of the future. While the consideration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead reminds us again of the surety of the foundation of our faith, it also is intended to cause us to glance heavenward and to consider a time to come when we too will be raised in newness of life.

As believers, we’ve already experienced a foretaste of what awaits us. We have already undergone a spiritual resurrection . . . having been once dead in trespasses and sin but now made alive in Christ (Eph. 2:1,5) . . . having known what it is to be given a new mind . . . a new heart . . . a whole set of new senses attuned to the things of the kingdom of heaven. While we’re still the same people, since being born again, we have been made new creations in Christ . . . old things have passed away . . . behold, the new has come (2Cor. 5:17). And so, as I read the latter part of 1Corinthians 15 this morning, and consider again the resurrection of the Savior . . . and am reminded of the resurrection already experienced by the saved . . . I am also again blown away by the reminder of what is yet to come.

“As was the man of dust [Adam], so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the Man of heaven [Jesus], so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the Man of heaven.” (1Corinthians 15:48-49 ESV)

We . . . or, making it personal, I . . . shall bear the image of the Man of heaven. Sit back and chew on that a bit.

Ever wonder, when you were a kid, what you were going to look like when you got older? Well how about giving a thought or two to what we shall be like when we come into the kingdom. Paul says that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God . . . that which is perishable can’t move into that which is imperishable. And so, we shall all be changed (15:50-51). We will be raised imperishable . . . we will be raised in glory . . . we will be raised in power . . . we will be raised with a spiritual body (15:42-44) . . . we will be raised to bear the image of the Man of heaven! Go figure!

This morning I also read of the transfiguration in Mark’s gospel. After ascending a high mountain with Peter, James, and John, Jesus is transformed before their eyes. “His clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them,” records Mark (Mark 9:3). Matthew adds that His face shone like the sun (Matt. 17:2). If I am going to bear the image of the Man of heaven, am I going to glow too? Could be!

Think about it . . . not only will we behold Him when we come into His kingdom . . . we shall be like Him! That work has already begun on the inside. The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit shaping us into the image of God’s beloved Son . . . but there is a physical work yet to be done when the dead will be raised imperishable and we shall be changed (1Cor. 15:52). My mortal body must put on immortality . . . and when this happens, “then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ ” (15:53-55).

Yes, Easter is so much about a victory in the past . . . the greatest of all victories . . . when Jesus conquered sin and death. But it is also about a victory to be anticipated . . . “thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (15:57). In a very real sense, the best is yet to come.

And so, it occurs to me that I can miss some of the mystery and magnificence of the Easter celebration if I only think in historical terms. Yes, He is risen . . . He is risen indeed! Praise God! Hallelujah! But the empty tomb points to a future day . . . a day when those in Him will rise . . . to be sure, we will rise indeed! And we shall bear His image . . . for His pleasure . . . for His glory . . . forever and ever. Amen?

I don’t know if it was that they considered themselves realists or what . . . but why would someone who was saved into an “evangelical church” spread the idea that there is no resurrection from the dead? What’s to be gained by such a “non doctrine?” But that’s exactly what was happening in the Corinth church. Established by the gospel preaching of Paul . . . built on the foundation of the teaching of Apollos, “an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24), there were some in the Corinth body of believers who were developing an opinion that this is it . . . 70 years or so under the sun, and then you’re done. I don’t know what seeded such a thought . . . but the apostle Paul was not prepared to let it take root . . . the implications were too great . . . the potential damage too devastating to let such an idea gain momentum . . .

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. . . . For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. . . . If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1Corinthian 15:13-19 ESV)

The argument’s pretty simple. The cause and effect . . . or, as the case may be, non-cause and therefore non-effect, isn’t hard to connect. If there’s no resurrection from the dead, then Christ has gone the way of the dust of the earth . . . and if Christ is not raised, then gospel preaching is vanity . . . there’s nothing to believe in . . . the faith is devoid of any truth, or power, or life changing effect . . . sins stain still abides within the soul and forever corrupts the creation . . . and hope? . . . what hope?

“But,” says Paul, “in fact Christ has been raised from the dead the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (15:20) Yes, “In fact!”

Fact . . . Christ died for our sins just as it was written in the Scriptures. Fact . . . Jesus was buried in a rich man’s tomb with a large stone rolled in front of it and a guard placed around it. Fact . . . the tomb was empty on the third day, Jesus had been raised from the dead . . . in accordance with the Scriptures. The ladies who went to the tomb that glorious morning saw it empty . . . the disciples saw it empty . . . the guard knew it was empty. Fact . . . Jesus appeared . . . to Cephas . . . and to the twelve disciples . . . and to a crowd of 500 . . . to James . . . to all the apostles. Not appeared as in “they felt His presence” . . . but appeared as in “put your finger here, and see my hands, and put out your hand and place it in my side” (John 20:27). Appeared as in “let’s do breakfast together” . . . Jesus frying up some fish at the seaside, inviting the disciples to eat with Him (John 21:4-14) . . . appeared as in “let’s walk and talk along this road to Emmaus, and then break bread that you might know me and believe” (Luke 24:13-35).

Those are the facts . . . the facts of life . . . the facts of forever life . . . Christ is risen!

Christ is risen and so the gospel is not vanity, but is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe. Christ is risen and so our faith is not futile, but is grounded in truth and power and is bearing fruit that will last literally forever. Christ is risen and so I am no longer a slave to sin . . . the price has been paid by the blood of Christ and the bondage of sin and death destroyed by the power of His resurrected life. Christ is risen and so my hope extends so far beyond this life and this world.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! And because He lives, so shall I. And that’s a fact!

To God be the glory!

Paul reminds me again this morning that the church isn’t a building . . . it isn’t a program . . . it isn’t even just a group of people . . . but that the church is intended to be a dynamic. That, when the church is being the church, stuff is happening below the surface of the fellowship and the singing and the preaching of God’s word. And when this dynamic is at its unhindered best, it conveys the presence and glory of God . . . and people know that “God is really among you!”

I’m reading 1Corinthians 14 this morning. And, in this part of his letter, Paul is putting into perspective the relative value of speaking in tongues versus prophesying. Both are spiritual gifts, but, Paul says, “Desire especially that you may prophesy.” Regardless of where someone lands on the role (or lack thereof) of tongues in the church today, Paul is so clear here — prophesying is better!! And we’re not talking about “predicting the future” . . . what we’re taking about is speaking forth, from divine inspiration, the counsel and mind of God. And that’s what I have in front me — something they didn’t have at Paul’s time — I have the divinely inspired word of God sitting on my desk . . . and to the degree that I can proclaim it’s divine truths, I am prophesying . . . speaking forth the mind of God. And to the degree that the church places a premium and priority on declaring the counsel of God by preaching the word of God in the power of the Spirit of God, Paul says, “That is so ‘way better’ than speaking in a tongue which people don’t understand.”

Ok . . . so that’s the context. And what happens when a body of believers come together and the word of God is proclaimed . . . from the pulpit . . . and through lives lived in obedience to it’s life-changing words? Outsiders know . . . they just know, . . . that something is going on that is deeper than simply a Sunday morning service. They know that “God is really among you.”

“If, therefore, the whole church comes together . . . and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. (1Corinthians 14:23-25 ESV)

Read that again . . . what a dynamic!! The church is together being the church . . . the word of God is faithfully being proclaimed . . . an unbeliever comes in . . . he or she takes it all in . . . the people . . . the practices . . . the powerful word of God . . . and they are convicted of their need for our Savior . . . the reality of the environment they are in combined with the word proclaimed has exposed the sin that possesses them . . and they go facedown . . . and they worship God . . . and they conclude that, “He is here!! . . . God is truly among you!” Oh, that’s the church for me!!!

When the church is really being the church then God is truly among us. When it is real fellowship . . . when it is a real pursuit of the things of God . . . when it is a real “pilgrim’s convention” . . . when the word is really preached . . . then He is really there. God’s desire is that, as His people, we are being formed into a building which is being joined together and rising to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him we are being built together to become a dwelling where God lives by His Spirit. (Eph. 2:21-22) That’s what we should desire Sunday mornings to reflect . . . that this is a dwelling pace of God . . . a place where people know that God is “really among you.”

And when God is “really among you”, then the kingdom dynamics are at work. People are being drawn to Christ . . . believers are being built up in the faith . . . healing is happening . . . encouragement is being received . . . and, every so often, people fall on their faces (at least on the inside) . . . and worship. And they know . . . they just know . . . the Spirit of God interacting with their spirit . . . that God is really among you. Come, Lord Jesus, into our midst . . . and be known . . . and be worshiped . . . for God’s glory . . amen!

If you have a couple of more minutes . . . check this out (click here)  . . . and enjoy . .

It’s been a long time since I have had 20/20 vision without the aid of eyeglasses. Without my glasses things get pretty fuzzy pretty fast . . . don’t have to look very far before I can’t see very much. So, for now, I have these spectacles set upon my nose to help me see beyond my nose. But even with them, sometimes things are fuzzy . . . I have to tilt my head up and down in order to look through the right part of my lenses in order to improve the focus. Not complaining . . . with these glasses I see pretty well . . . my failing eyes have all the help they need to see almost perfectly. But as I read the “love chapter” this morning I’m reminded that my spiritual eyes are so far short of 20/20 . . . but that there is coming a day when I will have perfect vision.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1Corinthians 13:12 ESV)

Spiritual eyes work different than my physical eyes. As time has gone by, my physical eyes have deteriorated. I didn’t always need glasses . . . I didn’t always need such powerful glasses. What started out as “for reading only” is now from the time I get up to the time I go to sleep. I know I’m getting older . . . my dimming eyes remind me of that.

Not so with my spiritual eyes. They are getting better . . . by God’s grace. In fact, I’m reminded that I started out blind . . . absolutely insensitive to the things of the kingdom’s light . . . no operational sensors functioning to detect the things “not of this world.” I once was blind . . . but now I see . . . by God’s amazing grace. Didn’t see very much or very clearly at first. Took a while for “my eyes” to adjust. But adjust they did . . . by God’s grace. I started seeing things by faith that I had never seen before. I started recognizing truths from the word of God that I had never recognized before. I started to gain focus on a far away land . . . on a home being prepared for me . . . on a Savior waiting for me. And as I saw more, I wanted to see more. And over time, my spiritual vision has improved . . . through the Word of God . . . by the Spirit of God . . . all because of the grace of God. I see much better now than when I first believed.

But even at that . . . I’m reminded that I “see in a mirror dimly” compared to a future day. The mirrors in New Testament times were made of polished metal . . . good enough to see in . . . not good enough to see really clearly in. And lest I become puffed up concerning how well I think “I see” (did I mention that it’s all by the grace of God?), the reality is that my spiritual vision is so far from being 20/20. No sitting back and thinking that I see well enough. I know that though some things are very clear others are still “dimly” . . . obscure . . . an enigma . . . still mostly a mystery . . . I catch glimpses but have yet to fully behold. Yeah, I see much better now than when I first believed . . . but there is still so much more to take in . . . and take in clearly.

But then . . . face to face! What a glorious phrase! What a joy evoking thought! What a praiseworthy motto! But then, face to face.

There is coming a day when I will have perfect spiritual vision. A day when “I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known”. The things of earth will completely fade away and the glories of the kingdom will come into clear focus. The landscape . . . strike that . . . the heaven-scape, which would overload my physical optic nerve, will be fully taken in and processed by my “face to face” eyes. Things which are today “of faith” will then be “of sight.” Things which are brain-teasers today with then be solved puzzles. Partial knowledge will give way to fully knowing.

Oh, but the best part of having fully functioning eyes in that day will be to behold Jesus. To see Him face to face . . . and then go face to ground in awe and wonder and gratitude and worship. What will it be like to have perfect vision? I can only imagine . . . and I cant’ wait!

“Face to face with Christ, my Savior; Face to face–what will it be? When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me. Only faintly now, I see Him; With the darkling veil between. But a blessed day is coming, When His glory shall be seen. What rejoicing in His presence, When are banished grief and pain; When the crooked ways are straightened, And the dark things shall be plain. Face to face! O blissful moment! Face to face — to see and know; Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so. Face to face I shall behold Him, Far beyond the starry sky; Face to face in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by!” (Mrs. Frank A. Breck, 1855-1934)

Opus. That’s not a word I use in everyday conversation . . . but it’s a word that comes to mind this morning. At its simplest, it means a “work.” Specifically, it most commonly refers to a musical composition. Broadly, it can refer to any creative work. Devotionally, this morning, I see it in God’s magnificent arrangement of the body of Christ, the church.

As Paul continues to address issues within the Corinth church, he comes to the topic of spiritual gifts. These believers were “not lacking in any spiritual gift” (1Cor. 1:7), yet you get the sense that these gifts had become another reason for divisions to develop within the church. And so, Paul reminds them that, while there are different gifts, there is one Spirit, one Lord, one God (1Cor. 12:4-6) . . . that these gifts are given for the common good (12:7) . . . and that it is the Spirit who “apportions to each one individually as He wills” (12:11). Rather than arguing about which gift is greater . . . or who’s more spiritual because of the gift they possess . . . Paul says that the variety of gifting is in accord with the diversity of the members of a body and that it is God who has “arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose” (12:18) . . . that He has “appointed” individual members to play specific roles (12:28) . . . that He has “so composed the body” (12:24). The body of Christ is God’s work . . . His creative work . . . His opus.

That word, “composed”, is found only twice in the New Testament . . . here and in Hebrews 4:2 where it speaks of the need for the gospel to be “mixed” with faith. Literally the word means to “commingle” . . . to mix together . . . in the old King James the translators rendered it to “temper together.” That is the nature of those who are in Christ . . . a mixing together of individuals to create a whole . . . a bringing together of different members to form a body . . . different notes arranged to create a symphony . . . God’s great composition . . . His eternal opus.

Sometimes I think we need to recapture a sense of wonder and awe concerning the church. It is way too easy to get focused on the “works in progress” and not see the masterpiece God is putting together. Too easy to see all the rough edges of the “living stones” still being conformed into the shape of His Son and fail to marvel at the spiritual house God is building (1Peter 2:5). Too easy to fixate on how goofy some of the sheep are (forgetting that we too are but a sheep), and not praise God anew for sending His Son, the Great Shepherd, to gather together the flock.

God has composed the Body . . . He adds new members . . . He determines who plays what role . . . He arranges the pieces as pleases Him . . . He sets in order the individual parts according to His Sovereign wisdom and grace. The Body is His creative work “to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” (Eph. 3:10). The church, consisting of all believers on a global level, and of the “sinners saved by grace” who gather together with me at the building down the road, is God’s creative work . . . a lost world needing to hear the new song we have been given to share . . . the powers in heavenly places watching from on high and beholding the multi-faceted movements of God’s grace and wisdom.

How can we not be a fan of the church? Is the church perfect? Mmmm . . . not right now? But know that one day He will present us to Himself “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27) . Know that now He is “mixing us together” as serves His purpose and pleasure . . . know that He has called each one to play a specific part within His eternal song of redemption . . . know that we are His composition . . . His grand symphony . . . His creative work . . . His opus. All for His glory!

You gotta love the church . . .