Hey
I was reading through this teaching last night and thought it was really good. Lots and lots for me to consider and think about. Hope it is ok, I thought I would share this with a few here for consideration.
your little sis in Him
Elizabeth
The Inevitable Call of the Grave
Except for that fortunate generation that will “be caught up with Him in the air,” each man and woman and child WILL die a physical death. Maybe it will “hurt real bad,” or perhaps it will be silent and swift. Perhaps you will outlive your children, or they may instead bury you. Regardless of method or timing, physical and total departure regardless of what is left undone—is rapidly approaching for all of us. It’s true, and what is true is best known and understood and accounted for in the decisions of our daily lives.
If you are amongst those who live “in denial” and will not willingly face the evil in the world, the pain in the world, disappointment, chaos, unhappiness…and death…it’s time to Grow up. It is only in driving forward “resolutely towards Jerusalem” and His Destiny in us that we can be Useful to the Cause and Purpose and Person of Jesus Christ.
“IF we will willingly share in His suffering, we may then share in His Glory” (Romans 8:17).
“No man is greater than his Master. If they hated Me, they will hate you also” (John 15:20).
“Woe to you, if all men speak well of you” (Luke 6:26).
We FACE the Truth
And so, we do not hide from pain and difficulty and unfairness, but embrace these visitors as one possible mark of Intimacy with Him and Promise from Him. “Denial” and avoidance are an empty game of the cowardly and fearful—not the Path of disciples of Jesus. The Enemy’s deceit and accusations towards Jesus’ men and women, the threats and power plays of the Enemy’s pawns and puppets are to be expected IF we are about the Father’s GENUINE business. Certainly, the marks of placebo cultural religious exercises and hobby are the daily pursuit of “acceptable” pleasure and comfort, and pursuit of our own personal business as a way of life. These who do not Know Him will order their lives by the cliché, “God, family, and religious hobby.” They will, and do, treat God’s Work and Together-Life in His “daily” Body (Acts 2:42-47; 1Cor. 12; Heb. 3:12-14) as no more than a social outing, on their own schedule. They will act as if His Truths are simply stimulation for the mind—a New York Times crossword puzzle of words and ideas and numbers. These are without awe of the Words of God, and therefore there is no felt compulsory obedience or responsibility for others. Christianity, His Church and Purposes are a game we play—a “plug-in” into the program of our personal lives, added to enhance our experience in some social and philosophical way. However, when our life’s only focus and goal is pleasing and serving and representing HIM, as was true of the First of our Tribe, Jesus Christ, then and only then will we find death imminent day by day, as all Faithful are promised to experience.
Many think that by refusing to risk, refusing to challenge that which is not, refusing to think or care, refusing to turn full face towards the Truth with open hands… many believe they can thusly evade the death cost of “life that is truly Life.” Some honestly believe, through squinted eyes as they read Holy Writ, that they might acquire the Pearl of Great Price for a rationalized tithe of a tithe of a tithe of life. They consider themselves complete and sufficient, if only they can point to the fact that they are being weekly sprinkled with evangelical “holy water” of “attending” a religious garage sale, flea market, or a circus or theater performance. And, OF COURSE, we know that this is not what Jesus demonstrated “Christianity” would be. “Anyone who claims to be In Him, must walk as Jesus walked” (1Jn. 2:6). Not simply “believe what Jesus taught.”
And so, death is inevitable for ALL who love Him and actually live FOR Him. Threats, rejection, hatred, accusation, and pressures towards death are Biblically inescapable for those who represent Him properly in daily life.
We know, as the sands slide quietly through the narrow throat of the hourglass, those rushing sands whisper the same message regarding the brevity of life to all—whether disciple of Jesus, or not. The passing of time will lead all rapidly towards physical death. There is no reasonable denial. There is no hiding—that will not cost us more than we have saved by this denial. “While all die, not all really live.” We choose. By definition, this is not an “extra” choice if we are truly a Disciple of Jesus (Lk. 9:57-62), a Christian (Acts 11:26). If truly Twice Born, each of us has chosen a life that is costly, enlightened, and sacrificial—if saved, we are “doulos” and slaves “bought for a price”—“the precious Blood of Jesus.” A Saved human, saved by Jesus’ costly Death and Way, has chosen a Life fraught with risk, by definition, according to Jesus Himself. “Daily taking up our cross,” we sacrifice what all “mere men” (1Cor. 2-3) count precious. Others, devoid of His Spirit, or shaming and grieving His Spirit, will instead take the road most traveled: choices and affections and relationships filled with the lukewarmness of world-loving self-life, preoccupation with trinkets and mirrors, and shallow rationalizations—stumbling as they play and pretend in the grey twilight, only a step from oblivion.
We mustn’t live in denial of that which is inevitable: “It is appointed to man once to die, and then to face the Judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Okay. We’ve got that said. Awake! We must all stand wide awake to what is and what must be and what shall be! Death is near to all. It is friend, not foe, when we are His, of course. This, then, explains a true Disciple’s willingness to face death for Him and in Him. Still, aren’t many (with or without Jesus) willing to step out of denial and face death? Are not the sonnets of the centuries filled with such stories of those who will face death without denial? With awareness of such lofty issues as life, and such inevitable matters as death, isn’t it true that some will cry with clarion call, “I am willing to die! I face death with eyes ablaze, chin jutted, and fist raised to the sky!”
Let’s consider that for a moment, together. What kind of man or woman would face death and not turn away? Perhaps there are four kinds of mortals who are not in denial, nor cowards in the face of death. Who are these four kinds of men and women and youth?
(I will post the rest soon)