From Woodstock up: The Journey

Can I ever really see through the glass clearly, see God face to face? This tantilizing possibility was first hinted at in the ancient days of the apostles of Christ, in 1 Corinthians 13:12…

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (KJV)

Do I have the courage to even go there to that place where I will be KNOWN so completely that its described as face to face. Does anyone have such courage? 

I could just ask the above question but personally, I prefer to start at the bottom rung, like I am climbing Jacobs ladder, and work my way up! It is an amazing risk and example of vulnerability to say to a friend or family member “How do you see me, when I speak, how am I perceived?” In essence asking “Am I communicating anything worthwhile and meaningful in this world?” 

A friend of mine was recently prompted to risk doing this and she was humbly and profoundly ready to do so. Her reason: all that matters is if she is clearly sharing her Lord, His gospel and His Love to others. And yet,

Ecclesiastes 7:21 says, “Do not take to heart all the things that people say.”  If we can wrap our hearts humbly around this statement then, possibly, we are ready to be seen Face to Face. Or move in that direction up the ladder. 

My devotional on Ecclesiastes today gave me this prompt: What is one way you can turn your heart to seek the Lord’s wisdom and words instead of human wisdom and words this week?

My gut reaction was:

Prayer, worship and more prayer! Meditate on scripture and hold that truth in front of me as if etched in my glasses so I see everything thru the Word of Truth. A good place to start “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” referring to His ultimate sacrifice for us which was more important than His place in heaven at the Father’s side. Imagine that for awhile! I can barely comprehend the enormity of God and His plans for us let alone make it sink into my puny brain! 

So I have circled back to that mystical looking glass and it is a mirror of my thoughts, my feelings, my hopes and dreams for love ones and friends and my-my-my. No wonder I cannot see clearly! How can I let all of “my stuff” die like Jesus died for me? And as it dies prevent it from fogging up that mirror?

Windex is not the answer and even if I could remove the glass entirely my life still fills that aperture. My feet slip off the bottom rung and I am back on the ground. 

I really need to know, how do we approach God? 

I think the truth is one step and rung of the ladder at a time, one choice, one turning of time and one grief grieved fully at a time

I can get a foot hold with the following: in Micah 6 the prophet answers the question, What does the Lord require?

 “Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, 

    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”

8 He has told you, O man, what is good;

    and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,and to walk humbly with your God?”

This was given to me to meditate on  a week ago as I had just studied Abrahams words in which he told Isaac that the Lord himself would provide the sacrifice. Yes.

He will provide and He has done so.  Praise Him.

 

As I have lost many loved ones,  I have learned to see myself as living a sacrificial life and giving back to God everyone He had given to me to love or be loved and molded by in my life. Living with that awareness does keep me focused on the three rules of life which the prophet offers: do Justice, love Kindness and Walk humbly with my God. I approach God knowing that this life I live now is according to His will and by His spirit in me. 

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To everything Turn, Turn Turn, there is a season, turn, turn turn

Of course this is famously, the Pete Seeger 1959 song based on the essential truths of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. And etched in my soul by the Byrds in the 1965 with their Number one hit rendition. 

So I am not surprised that after a tumultuous decade or two in which I tried to experience everything under the sun, in God’s timing, I became part of an amazing group of pro-life Christian doctors and midwives in our City who 30 years ago opened a perinatal clinic as an alternative to abortion backed clinics and services. It felt like God was leading us all the way  through it and our patients prospered as did their babies. Eventually 500-1000 a year. A big clinic was bought and remodelled, we had 5 satellite locations and one Doctor supervised as the midwives ministered their care. I felt so blessed and it was so right.  

Until its time ran out. I was led out and into private Christian counseling practice as I could not write any more grants (a large part of my job) then 7 years later our doctor passed on. No one had a plan for this unfortunate possibility. But it was all in Gods timing. He knew this would happen. No doctor to supervise meant the midwives could not do their work. Besides the grant money had dried up.The ministry closed. 

I was dumbfounded for awhile. How could God build up such a huge ministry only to let it evaporate?  Had we missed our calling? I think not. 

It was the time He chose for the next turning. I eventually reconciled myself to the joyous truth that in those years thousands of young women had free ultrasounds and gave birth to healthy babies. The culture had changed and the truth was no longer hidden. He allowed us to shine a light brightly on the industry of death by abortion, and then to fade away and eventually individual medical providers stepped in. 

All is well in Gods perfect plan and His timing. I feel no regrets, only joy for the ministry of love that had been and the babies and mommas who still are. 

Justice sought, mercy flowed and lives and careers were spent in humbly walking with our Lord.

The Sum of the Parts

Even in the old testament there were true believers who worshipped the Lord in wisdom and truth everywhere and who knew they would one day see the Lord in the “land of the living”. Story after story breathes out the hope of redemption to those who are able to trust God’s hand. So what causes Soloman to wallow in disillusionment instead of redemption? Thats the Big story and it still is today. Two people can view the same set of facts or events and one will see a hopeless disaster and the other will see the truth and light of redemption. Is the cup half empty or half full?  

If Jesus taught us anything as He went through His sacrificial death for our salvation, it was that we too must ultimately die to ourselves, setting aside pride, self “actualisation”, materialistic and worldly success and humbly arrive at the foot of the cross where only God can save us. I think the cross was hidden from Solomon, so for all his wisdom, he was unable to arrive at this same conclusion. 

The end is in sight!

          

To everything Turn, Turn Turn,

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