Our Trust And His Wisdom

Why bother God with our requests and petitions when He knows the beginning from the end anyway? And even if it is not a bother why do we really need to submit any inquiry to Him since He is all-knowing?

Some situations in life are going to teach yes you can do that. Other situations will teach no you cannot do that or maybe at a later time you can do that.

However, there are going to come circumstances within our experiences which warrant wisdom. This type of wisdom can only come from a God not only willing to share His vast, unending insight with us but also warn and educate us about the pitfalls of life because He has been there and done that. Hebrews 4:15 states we can trust in this very fact about God through Christ - 

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin."

As you may observe, in this age of faith, seeking wisdom is half of the answer to why pray, why petition, why we press God for anything - trust is the other answer.

I used to be very impatient and when I experienced an issue I would go directly to a source of help and grab the aide needed. As I have matured in life, I have adopted the practice, depending on the situation, of trying to figure a problem out to the best of my ability before calling on the knowledge and wisdom of those around me. 

This is where growth and maturity happens. In this stage of life where the rubber meets the road, where there is friction - change has to occur for development to proceed. God initiates His formula of pressure over time and believers are refined once more. If He supplied us with the answers to problems on the onset of every issue, there would be no progress in our development. God allows change through all kinds of friction so that in our relationship with Him we move from glory to glory. Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:18 says it like this -

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

There are other sources of knowledge and wisdom that people place their trust in today. There is the source of the world and all its organizations. There is the source of technology and plethora of information available. There is the source of people and their experiences in life. And there is the source of faith in a God who has created it all, always been there, has a plan for everything and desires relationship with everyone through Christ Jesus.

The problem with consistently relying on anything other than God through a personal relationship with Christ and His Holy Spirit for answers to anything and everything is the limitation of the other sources. God has no limits and desires to share in a developing relationship with us.

A computer can only output or even predict in so much as we input into the machine or computer. With God, He already knows your life backwards and forwards, inside and out.  

God or Yahweh has known the beginning from the end. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. And even transcends time and space because He created them both. He is simply waiting for our humble trust in His wisdom.

Therefore, a cultivated relationship with a created being is what I believe God seeks. Even in the face of Him knowing everything, the fact that He knows everything and owns everything has put humanity in a category that many do not want to accept – we don’t know everything. The beautiful fact here is that God desires to impart His knowledge and wisdom to us.

That is one direction, one part of the relationship God’s movement toward us. What will our movement toward God be?

There is a huge “IF” coming here and “Ifs” are conditional words. This time the condition falls on us. Matthew quotes Jesus saying, 

“seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:33)

The “all these things” that will be given to us are the concerns of life that we deem are necessary and Jesus does not deem priority. Speaking of priority, Jesus states here that IF His kingdom and right-standing with Him are pursued first in the believer’s life then the rest of what we are concerned about in life “will be given to you as well”.

King Solomon found himself in alignment and therefore in favor with God as he was in his early years of ruling Israel. God said to  Solomon, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." 

In Solomon's response to the Lord, he began by stating the major blessings that had been given to his father David and himself. However, the blessings given led to an awesome responsibility - the leadership of God's Nation, Israel. For this leading role, Solomon knew he fell woefully short in experience and needed divine help, so he formed his request as follows - 

“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (1 Kings 3:7-9)

This begins to tackle the other half why bring a question, request, or issue to our All-Knowing God in the first place – trust.

Christians are in a developing relationship. This means the relationship must be continually cultivated. Unlike our earthly, limited-in-knowledge and wisdom relationships – the bond we have with God, through Christ and the Holy Spirit is on a next level of belief, need to know basis, which seems to be another definition for faith to me.

However, through this relationship and in this faith, God is the potter and the believer is the clay. As He molds us and makes us into His image more every day - to ask questions, to request things, to petition the King is what He expects – so do it, Trust Him. This is how Christians grow and mature. This is how believers get equipped for the next life battle – Our Trust And His Wisdom.

Worthy Of The Reward

This world, our society is performance driven. Goals are usually set to help in meeting benchmarks and attaining the ultimate prize. Wherever believers in Christ are driven to perform or serve, whether in a necessary job or in voluntary charity work - Christians need to realize and capitalize on their relationship with Christ. The Kingdom of God requires the believer's attention by them being so heavenly minded that they are very earthly good. Focusing on Jesus with His plan for our lives and lifestyle in the Holy Spirit is The Way.

Do you have a building name after you? An eponym is a person, place or thing after whom or which someone or something is named. For example, many honored and distinguished people receive the privilege of having buildings named after them. The Twelve Apostles have their names inscribed on each of the twelve foundations of the heavenly city, New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:14 describes -

"The wall of the city had twelve foundations and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." 

I am going to go out on a limb here and say that I think the Apostles did not have the inscription of their names on the foundation of New Jerusalem as a goal in their lives. I think and believe their relationship with Jesus and reuniting with Him was their main objective, while teaching of His Good News and ways were their goals. The inscription of their names on the foundation of the heavenly city was and is a very special reward for those men.

As with the Apostles, every believer's ultimate prize or reward is uniting with Christ one day soon in our glorified or perfected bodies, see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. However, Scripture is quite clear about three areas concerning rewards for believers - 

1. there is a judgement of works or deeds (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Cor. 3:10-15), 
2. there is a kind or type of reward/treasure to be storing up (Matthew 6:19-21), 
3. to be working or showcasing your devotion when the Lord returns because He first loved us (Luke 12:42-44).

Believers in Christ are promised a time after The Rapture, when The Bema Seat or Judgment Seat of Christ will commence. The Christian's salvation is obviously not in question here because all believers are in Heaven. All the works of a believer, good or bad, are placed or are made accountable in the fire of Holy Spirit and judged. Listen as 2 Corinthians 5:10 states - 

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due to us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 adds the descriptive mark, stating -  

"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved – even though only as one escaping through the flames."

With this judgment of deeds, one would think that the believer would get the message and lean heavy on doing good works that are supported by Christ. However, Jesus helps the Christian even more by speaking to the nature of our deeds. 

Matthew documented Christ saying in Matthew 6:19-21 -

"‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

The nature of the Christian's thoughts, actions and words should be eternally governed. The believer's treasure should always remain Jesus, then one's heart will be in true alignment with God. Beyond this, the rewards Jesus has for believers, are all icing on the cake, part of the benefit package of His Kingdom.

Knowing that there is a judgment coming on the Christian's deeds, knowing that the believers should pursue an eternal influence -  Luke records Jesus emphasizing the need for all believers to be busy about the Lord's business when He returns.

"‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions." (Luke 12:42-44)

Notice two things: 

1. Jesus, the Master, will be returning. 
2. And to be found working for Him when He does return. 

A message of Hope in Christ's returning and Purpose until He does.

Did you know that there are heavenly rewards awaiting the believer in Christ right now? According to Revelation 2:17 and 3:12 these rewards are all centered around names given to believers by Jesus.

There will come a day when Jesus, The King will be delivering and inscribing new names upon His own. 

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it." - Revelation 2:17

This is an extremely personal and intimate gift the Lord has for each believer! God only knows what the criteria is for this new name. But I am not to concerned about the criteria because I know - 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17)

This new name being in written-form suggests a personal, Holy language that is shared only between the believer and God. That would be amazing!

Next, God takes His writing utensil and applies it to the "overcomer's" body.

"Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name." - Revelation 3:12

A lot of identification going on here - 

1. we have written on our bodies the name of Father God,
2. we have written on our bodies God's city - New Jerusalem and
3. Jesus has a New Name that He tattoos on every believer. 

These bodily inscriptions should come as no surprise because we return with Christ after the seven year period on earth called The Tribulation and The Lord has a tattoo of His own - 

"On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords." (Revelation 19:16)

Although I have never had a tattoo, I envision these inscribed names as beautifully written tattooed names that claim ownership, declare citizenship and reveal relationship. Three stamps of new names, bought at the highest price, each shouting - "You are mine! You are mine! You are mine!"

Christ is more than enough as a reward or prize to live for. However, Jesus has always been about abundance with His own. Three places in Scripture encourage the believer to live this life or "run the race" as "to get a prize" - 1 Corinthians 9:24, 1 Corinthians 9:27 and Philippians 3:14. The important take-away is just as long as Jesus is our eternal focus Christians will be Worthy Of The Reward.

Identify With Them

God, in His All-Knowingness, did not have to come as God-Man, as Jesus Christ - to know what humanity goes through, but God is all about the extra, about the abundant, about going so many more extra miles that it is ridiculous to count - God visited anyway.

Because humanity categorizes things, Christianity is labeled a religion. However, Christianity is more than rules and regulations - lived properly, Christianity is a relationship with God through His Son, Christ Jesus. 

And why not believe in Jesus Christ? His love- plan was to humble Himself or dress Himself with humanity, His own creation, not some other animal and not only not use all the All-Power He had at His disposal as God, but some translations say "emptied Himself" to become the best example of the servant of Father God. Paul in his letter to the believers in Philippi stated it like this - 

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:  who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:5-8)

His image demanded a human likeness, not just male and not just female, but male and female, together with God as a solid triune unit. Genesis 1:27 supports this by stating - "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." 

The God-Man would experience every kind of tempting circumstance or situation in life that would cause sin or rebellion against the precepts of God and NOT sin once. Hebrews 4:15 states - "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin."

Then, after a few years of teaching about The Way, Jesus would sacrifice his life, not for the teachings/lessons but for the lives of "whosoever would believe in Him" as their personal Lord and Savior.

The promise that comes with accepting Christ as one's personal Savior is two-fold: 

1. Jesus promises to return (John 14:2-3) and
2. Jesus promises trouble/hardship in the meanwhile (Luke 12:51-53; John 16:33).

Jesus stated His promise to return in John by saying, "My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:2-3)

Jesus stated the promise for trouble and hardship in Luke and John when He said,

"Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’" (Luke 12:51-53)

"‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’" (John 16:33)

Life will not all of the sudden become a "bed-of-roses" for anyone who accepts Christ as their Savior. However, Jesus assures every believer that the Holy Spirit will be the Christian's Advocate, Counselor and guide living inside them as the wait for Christ's return continues.

Until Christ's return, Christians are to love others as Jesus loved. Show compassion. Find common ground to identify with people. This is simple when examining the same kind of scars and/or afflictions we share.

Jesus kept His healed scars. The remnants from the Crown of Thorns, bruising, gash, nail-prints and scars are not only proof for His own accomplishment of His finished Plan but the scars are the identifying markers of our Savior's suffering for us.

After the Resurrection, Jesus presented Himself before the disciples, specifically He addressed Thomas - "Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’" (John 20:27) The victory is complete but the scars are still present. His scars are visual proof of the price paid for every humanly identifying circumstance and situation that would cause one to sin. The scars of believers are not for ugly disfigurement but for a gloriously helpful testimony in aiding others going through the same life difficulty. 

Thank you Lord that you became us, scared humanity, to experience our life according to your perfect standards and perfectly lived that life that we would never accomplish. And praise you Jesus that we now have the honor and privilege to come alongside others and Identify With Them.