Most of us like to be linear people when it comes to progress, right? We desire that things move along smoothly in a straight line, to a beautiful conclusion. No setbacks, no problems, no aggravation.
Life, however, even the Christian life, especially the Christian life, is not that way. God knew it would not be. And, that's okay.
How can we have peace with this ongoing turmoil? Why does God allow this? As one of the newer Christmas songs puts it: what a strange way to save the world! Indeed. It all seems backwards at times.
The resplendent walk is not a linear walk, because ours is not a linear faith.
The Bible calls Jesus "the author and finisher of our faith". So, let's look at His example (Hebrews 12:1b-3) - - -
"Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Source and Perfecter of our faith,
Who for the JOY that lay before Him endured the cross,
And despised the shame
And has sat down at the right hand of God's throne.
Consider Him, who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself,
So that you won't grow weary and lose heart."
God Himself, pours Himself into a human body, with all it's problems and restrictions, to make the way of redemption for us. How backward is THAT? John Piper calls this "God's Most Successful Setback". In the same manner, our problems and trials are "divinely appointed setbacks" (Piper), which will always look and feel like failure.
The world looks at us and draws all kinds of erroneous conclusions. Here are some of them:
1. "Those people are too good, and I can't be one of them. I just don't have it in me."
2. "Those people claim to be so good, but look at what one of them did! Such a spectacular fall! What's that all about? I want no part of that."
3. "Those people are crazy to govern their lives by a mere book. They have a distorted view of reality."
And, their reactions range from hostility to indifference to ridicule.
No wonder! This path, this "race" as Paul put it doesn't seem to make sense. It is more like a meandering pig trail through the woods, really. Sometimes we get disoriented and wander off. Sometimes, we step into a mole hole and twist our ankle. Sometimes a branch flies into our face and pokes us in the eye. Sometimes it is uphill. Sometimes it is gloriously downhill.
Why did God do things this way, engineer our redemption in such a strange fashion?
He did it so that He would get the glory, and the worship and the praise, and not us.
There are two diametrically opposing principles in Scripture and in life. They are rebellion/pride versus submission/worship. If you will recall, the former was the original sin of Satan's, and Eve's and Adam's....and ours. When our race, our path becomes too linear, what is our fleshly reaction? We tend to exalt ourselves and take on the glory that does not belong to us. We tend to stop walking by faith and instead trusting in our own power. This serves to move us away from God, to estrange us from Him, because it is sin. It is the bedrock of our sin nature, which is covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, but which is ever with us as long as we live in these mortal bodies.
Glory and worship and praise are His, and only His. As a result, He allows the natural consequences of our sin nature to train us for future glory (Hebrews 11:12). The reaction He desires from us in all circumstances is the submission of our will to His, our worship.
If you have ever learned to ride a bike you may have a memory similar to this. You fell a few times, and your mama or daddy encouraged you to try again. Then, they ran a distance across the yard and said, "Keep your eyes on me. Don't look down. Keep your eyes on me and pedal toward me." And, you did. By focusing on your loving parent, you successfully pedaled your way toward him or her. Do you remember that joy?!
This is what Hebrews 12:2 is urging us to do, to keep our eyes on Jesus, when our progress is linear and when it is not. Jesus kept His eyes on His Father and on "the joy that lay before Him"!
Let's follow His beautiful example as we walk....resplendent!
Dear Father God, my prayer is that when people look at me that they say, "What a wonderful Savior she serves!" So often, my sin nature wars tremendously against your Holy Spirit, who lives in me. More times than I would like, I wander off the path of righteousness. I am so grateful for your forgiveness and restoration. Thank you for going after and rescuing me, over and over again, for being both the Author and the Completer of my faith. In Jesus' name, amen.
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