Racing with the Heroes!

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

~ Philippians 3:13, 14

How do you imagine Moses? Long grey beard, longer grey hair, slightly stooped, moving at the speed of a teenage boy on his way to English Lit class, a roughly hewn staff in his grip? How about Esther? Regal robes, dripping with gold and precious gems, the slightest sheen on her beautiful olive skin, perfect posture and equally perfect coiffed hair, the most tasteful tiara --dignified and opulent but not overstated. What of Jacob? David? Daniel? Mary? Paul? These are some of the heroes of the Bible. Heroes we've never met; heroes whose images we develop from the information in the Scriptures and our own imaginations. But they really existed. They really faced the same types of trials and troubles we face. They really endured. Heroes really walked the earth.

As they do today. Just as those of old, today's heroes don't persist in and of their own capabilities. They do it for the glory of God. They labor with the tools they've been given. They serve eagerly, obediently, and completely. Take, for instance, this hero; I'll call her "Ellie." I attended a women's retreat with her many years ago. Because of a serious back injury, and in order for her to simply last the weekend, she had to take frequent breaks, in bed, surrounded by pillows and heating pads. She had, just a short time before we met, undergone two surgeries for cancer and had lost her mother to cancer as well. She spoke candidly about her circumstances, but they did not consume her; she had not abandoned her faith in God, but admitted there were days in which she struggled to worship. Nevertheless, there she was, toughing it out that she might know her Lord better.

Another hero I've met along the way I'll call Jeanne. She, too, suffers from back issues, issues that cause problems with her hips. She is stooped and walks --no, runs with a noticeable limp. She is one of the hardest working people I know, the glue that holds her supervisor's schedules together. Her supervisors, by the way, are pastors and church leadership; they say she is a tremendous encouragement to them!

There's "Leena" who came to Jesus during her time in prison, was released, and suffered a debilitating stroke shortly after. "Dina" who walks with a cane, has had multiple back surgeries, carries a small pharmacy with her, and worships like she has the energy of a ten-year-old! "Maddy" suffers from severe cognitive delays, but at the drop of a hat will tell you, as eloquently as enthusiastically, how good her Savior is! "Tara's" back injuries were so severe, she cannot stand to look anyone in the eye. She is bent as though picking something from the floor and looks at the world from the very tops of her eyes. She carries a small pillow under her arm as though it is part of her anatomy. And there's "Lori" who, in a year's time, suffered a lawsuit, sorrowed over the rape of her daughter, and received cancer diagnoses for her husband and her! 

These are heroes because they are heroes of faith. Each and every one was seeking and/or serving the Lord when we met. Not a one grumbled or complained, but each was as honest about their situation as they were assured their Redeemer was with them in it. Heroes of the faith are not relegated to the past. They are not necessarily the people who have very public platforms or can fill arenas. They are the people whose lives are typical and burdensome, uncertain and mundane, who keep going because they know their Savior awaits them at the Finish Line --a finish line they cannot see, but they know it's there in all its glory at the end of this race. 

Midweek: The Prodigal Son (Part Five)

We've mined Jesus' parable to depths I've never gone before --and isn't that the beauty of Scripture: it is alive and active (Hebrews. 4:12)! We can read it today and observe nuances and teachings we didn't notice yesterday; by the power of the Holy Spirit, God reveals things to us the more we seek to know Him through the Bible. I sometimes joke about "When did they put that in there?" That's why we need to read the Scriptures every day, again and again: it's not just a good book; it is The Good Book! And it brings about change in us! 

So, about change...

We've got this change in the younger brother in Luke 15:17. He has "come to himself," acknowledged his sin before God and his earthly father, recognized he is unworthy, even to be called the son of the father, and has returned to receive forgiveness and be taken in as a servant. I'd love to really blow this up and get into the whole bondservant/adoption thing, but that will have to wait for another day. Suffice to say, we are called to serve for Jesus' sake, but we are sons and daughters of the Most High through our King Jesus. He is the only way. And this young man realizes his insufficiency, asking to receive, at most, the benefits of a servant. He instead, because of the father's mercy, receives the benefits of a son and then some. Remember, his share had already been fully given him; upon his return, he receives more!

This is where we are met with THE lesson of the parable. As I said, we can glean and glean all day long and never come up short; but if we look at the events which occurred prior to Jesus telling this story, we know where it will end. He told them two shorter parables about things lost and then found, and the celebration of such an occasion. But Jesus' third lesson, that of The Prodigal Son, adds a contrast: the older brother who refuses to celebrate his brother's homecoming. The criticism coming from the religious leadership (with regard to the people Jesus loved and taught) is what brings the older son on stage. There is this wonderful climax, the son's repentance and the father's forgiveness! But Jesus doesn't stop there. The shorter parables preceding, end with celebration, a glimpse into heaven when a sinner comes to repentance. In this last, Jesus provides a glimpse into what is happening in the hearts of the religious elite. And it's not at all pretty.

Ellicott's Commentary puts it this way: He who professed obedience to his father is out of harmony with his father’s mind. And, I would add, is out of touch with who his father is! The older son's concern was not that the younger was taking advantage or would turn around and leave once more; he was not looking out for his father, looking to protect him or his assets. By his obedience, the older son had judged himself entitled and his brother unworthy. The irony here is the younger brother agreed with his brother's assessment! The younger brother knew he was unworthy. But for his father's grace. His brother, however, had no clue. He was so oblivious to his father's heart and his father's character, he did not know the value of each and every one who would live under his roof; he did not know the father's heart for all who would come; he did not know the joy.

We are not told whether the older son joined the celebration --not with regard to this parable. Scripture indicates that some of the religious elite, the Pharisees, came to know Jesus as the Messiah. I think, however, Jesus left the decision of the older son ambiguous that those listening might make their own inferences and examine themselves. He is asking us to do the same. 

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
~ 2 Corinthians 13:5

Capably Incapable

We are capable people, aren't we? If your family came from the continent of Africa, you might be tempted to thank them for coffee and iron metallurgy. If your ancestors sailed from Scandinavian ports, they may have known such famous artists as Dahl and Krohg or, if you really go back, they might have fashioned something in an Oseberg style. Look at the developments that came from Asian lands: the domestication of wheat and rice, chess, gunpowder, and PlayStation. We, the human race, appear to be very capable people! But from where does this incredible ability come?

To answer that question --at least, partially --I present to you, King Uzziah, once king of Judah. He began his reign at age sixteen, taking the place of his father. Scripture says he did what was right in the sight of God, he consulted God so long as a prophet by the name of Zechariah was alive. But in the midst of all of his glorious achievements, we get a glimpse of not only something not quite right, but of what can happen when the God of all is relegated to a seat beside the throne of self. 2 Chronicles 26:5 says, "as long as he consulted ADONAI, God gave him success." Do I detect, perhaps, a time in which Uzziah did not consult God? Well, if we head on down to 2 Chronicles 26:15, 16, we read:

And he made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong.

But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

He was "marvelously helped." By Whom? We discover the answer when we read on that his strength was his undoing. His strength led him away from dependence on God, from the help he had received from God! King Uzziah stopped seeking help from the Lord because he began to believe he himself was enough. All along his strength had been from God; all along it was ADONAI who brought him victory and success and growth and fame. When he stopped reaching out to God for help, he had nothing left but his own resources, which, we see, amounted to very little. He could not even control his own health, and wound up separated from God's presence, from most human relationships, and from his throne.

Not convinced? Maybe it was the stress of rapid success that caused his health to fail. Maybe it was coincidence. Maybe a spiteful and self-promoting god punished him. Well, there's always King Jotham. 

When King Uzziah died, King Jotham came to the throne of Judah. Scripture says he did what was right in the sight of God. And he was successful! Victory, success, growth, and fame. Sound familiar? Except for this distinction: 

So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God (27:6).

That's it. No "as long as" a prophet was watching. No arrogance. No offense against God. His submission to God brought him might. And when good things came to him, he did not cease to submit to God. 

God is the Giver of good gifts, whether it be the ability to create beauty, or design structures, or teach, or farm, or govern, or brew coffee --whatever the talent, it comes from God. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord! (Job 1:21) Aptitudes are not to be worshiped or guarded as though they are our possession. Doing so can prove to be our undoing, as it was with King Uzziah. Perhaps, as a race, we are more capably incapable: unable to even draw our next breath without the express permission and implementation of our King, but provided with certain resources with which we may work and play in the world He has given us. Those resources, skills and affinities to which we may be inclined, are not of ourselves, but by our Lord's intent and grace, that we should serve Him until He calls us to cease.