Rest Now and Later

 Hebrews 2 through 4, 4:1-13; Isaiah 30:15

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it." Isaiah 30:15

Therefore, since the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,
    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

And yet His works have been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all His works.” And again in the passage above He says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This He did when a long time later He spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear His voice,
    do not harden your hearts.”

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:1-13

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What is rest? When God speaks of entering His rest, do we know what rest is? We strive to rest every day. Rest from work, from chores, from duties, from responsibilities. "One more thing; let me get this one more thing done and then, I can rest." Rest from stressful situations; that there would be an end, a positive end so it can be mindfully put to bed and rest. No one calling, texting, emailing, messaging. No one wanting a piece of you allowing you to rest. Rest. Sitting, laying down, walking without a thought or care, breathing deeply. Appreciating breath, life, those around us. Rest. Stopping the incessant nagging of life, pulling at your very being, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Sound. Noise. Ding, click, buzz. Flash. Lights, camera, action. Rest.

Where is rest? When is it time to rest? Now or later? What does rest look like? Feel like?

Rest.

In the future, we hope to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter your Father's rest," spoken to us by God Himself. Is that the rest we are striving for? In the future? Some eternal future? What about now? What about today? Do we get to rest now?

God gave us a promise to enter into His rest. A rest from our work. A rest now. Today. Not just in the future. Not just during the eternal future but, here and now. Today.

Yes.

The promise is for today, and the future. Rest now and later.

Think about rest. Think about the context of, "...on the seventh day, God rested from His work." 

God, the Triune God of Father, Son, Spirit - Mind, Body, Spirit - already existed. He loved Himself. He enjoyed Himself. He is sovereign and perfect already. Needing no one or nothing to complete Himself, He wanted to create Creation to both enjoy all of Creation and to pour Himself into Creation so that all of Creation can also enjoy Him. The relationship between Creation and God was a physical extension of the Triune God relationship. Yet, He knew that one-third of His created angels would turn away from Him choosing self over God. (The ultimate sin; the very definition of sin.) He knew Mankind would follow suit where an untold percentage would choose self over God. Yet, God planned Creation, how to create all of it, in what order, how Creation would obey His authority instinct-fully whether each ultimately chose God or not. God created a plan to save Mankind, within Creation, knowing we beings would need saving from ourselves. Then God created everything. In the order He planned, with His authority knit into Creation's existence and instinct. After all of Creation was created, God rested from His work.

This was more than resting from the act of working. God rested knowing what He created and planned for all time, was complete and not lacking anything. God trusted in His plans. He trusted in His abilities to fulfill those plans, as He planned. He would not, did not, will not deviate from His plans. He would not worry that He missed something within those plans. Missed a detail. Forgot something. Did not anticipate something. Be surprised or shocked by someone or something He did not plan for. He trusted in Himself and all He planned and created. He knew what He did, how everything would play out, how everyone would act, and that His plans needed no adjusting. No tweaking. No, "Oops, I didn't realize this would..." He rested from His work. He trusted in Himself.

Rest. Trust.

When God invites us to rest, He is not inviting us to rest from physical labor. Rest from our efforts both personally and professionally. Resting from the things and activities of life. No. Jesus actually said, "My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working." John 5:17

Resting is trusting. Trusting that God is God. God is who He said He is. That God is sovereign, all mighty, all knowing, all seeing, hearing, present, and defined by love without conditions. That He is capable of fulfilling His promises and plans. Willing to fulfill His promises and plans. That He knows everything about us. Every detail, thought, action taken, word spoken. He knew us before He created us. So therefor, we can trust God. Trust in Him. Trust Him to do what God said He would do.

As a result, we can turn away from our desire to control our lives and work out our plans. Plans that place self in God's role. Plans that remove God from our lives. Plans to benefit self over all else. Working to perfect ourselves. Hide our mistakes. Correct the issues we have caused or take on someone else's ill steps to correct. Because we can solve it; we can perfect it. Our plans are better than God's. He's unaware of an action taking place, a reason, a justification. If God would just do it our way, it would be better. Rest from self, from the demand of self.

Our prayers, if we pray, reflect this self over God. We think we can save ourselves. Save others. 

Really? We can save ourselves and others? So, what is our definition of salvation? 

God's definition of salvation is to save mankind from the mortal decision to choose self over God and the current and eternal repercussions for that continuous decision; that continuous demand of self.

This is a battle, a war so to speak. The battle of control. Control over all of Creation. The control over mankind. The battle to free ourselves from the slavery to self which is not of God; the very definition of sin - not God. In fact, the word Gospel is "good news proclaimed by a messenger sent to the people - a messenger from the king - that the battle for control over his kingdom has been won. We are now free from the oppressor, the enemy of our king." So, if a king saw his people being oppressed by an enemy, and engaged in that battle for control. And if that king steps into the fray, battles the enemy on behalf of his people and wins. Sends his messenger to proclaim the victory. And if some of those people refuse to accept the victory from their king and instead choose to align with the enemy of the king, you can understand why God says, "So, I declared on oath in my anger, they shall never enter my rest."

We who choose the enemy of God instead of God, after He has created all of us knowing our choices leading to failures, knowing our propensity to place self on our lives' thrones. The Sovereign God has provided access to a kingdom of freedom from oppression and control. A kingdom where the King rules with justice, rightness, complete and unconditional love. A kingdom where our good, our access to the king, and our relationship with the king are priorities. And yet, we choose to walk away from that King, we can understand why God says we will never enter His rest.

His rest is part of that salvation process. It's the act of choosing and trusting in God as God. As sovereign God. As Lord of all Creation.

God describes rest as a part of the act of salvation and invites us into that process, today. Today; when you hear God's voice, do not harden your heart. 

Today; when you hear God prompting you to turn away from the demand of self, replace that demand by turning away from self and turning to rest in God, who God is, who He says He is, and what He is able to do. Trust that God already knows every detail about you, your life, what you're thinking, desiring, doing. What is being impressed upon you, thrust upon you. What you can and cannot control. Rest from that demand of self over you and everything else. Rest in God. Lean against Him, putting your full weight onto Him and into Him. Allowing Him to work out the details He planned. Knowing that, "...in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him and are called (by Him) according to His purpose (His plans for you, others and mankind)." Romans 8:28 (Emphasis and explanation added by Rose)

There is freedom in resting. Freedom knowing that we do not need to strive to answer and obey the unceasing demands of self. Freedom to ignore the god of self and turn to the God of Creation. Freedom knowing that God, through His Spirit, has searched, is searching, will continue to search your heart (will) and mind (thoughts). He knows our thoughts, intentions, and actions before we know those things. He knew all details about us before He created us. Before we thought, spoke, acted. "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account." Hebrews 4:13

And yet, God still loves us. Still calls us. Still uses every detail of our lives to fulfill His purpose. Complete His plans. Complete the work He set into motion at the beginning of time. As long as it is Today, God will continue to call, invite, work on our behalf. 

Rest. Freedom. 

Freedom from worry. Freedom from the constant pull to be in control of everything. Freedom from the, "If everyone did it my way, everything would be better." Freedom from the repercussions of our decisions, and from the results of the decisions others thrust upon us. 

Rest. Trust. Freedom. 

There is freedom knowing what rest God invites us into. It is rest from what we are striving for in life, today. Rest is not stopping your work. Not simply sitting still or emptying your mind of thought to provide an opportunity to rejuvenate. Yes, that type of rest is also critically needed for wellness of being both for self and the relationship between God and yourself; God and myself. Yet, God’s rest gives freedom to be with Him. A freedom to be present with God placing your full trust into God.

The Sabbath day was created for mankind and not that mankind was created to keep the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27) During Sabbath, a person is supposed to stop the focus on self and, replace that time spent with a focus on God. Reflecting on God. Communing with God. Talking with, praying, praising, thanking. A day of reflection and gratitude for all God has done with us, through us, for us. The Sabbath day is a physical representation of the rest God invites us into - Today. Sabbath is to be a day spent with God, without the interruption and interference of selfish thoughts and actions. However, Sabbath was not meant to be a time when we ignore critical needs or urgencies. Nor a time to ignore family communing together with one another and family with God. 

However, this Sabbath rest that God invites us to enter into, is completely and fully trusting in God while letting go of the call to control. Letting go of the call to be god of our lives. The nagging demand of self. The slavery to self.

We are invited to rest Today. Now. And later.

So, Today. When you hear the call of self and, you hear the call of God, turn from that demand of self. Turn to God and His invitation to allow Him to fulfill His plans in you, for you. His plans for your good. Plans for our good. For my good. To finish the good work He began in us, in me. He knows. He sees. He understands. He is able, He is trustworthy. We can rest in Him. I can rest in Him.

"Well done, good and faithful servant... Enter your Father's rest." Matthew 25:23

Dirt is better than you

The Book of Job, Job 38 through 42, Revelation 20

Earlier this week, Mia and I were sharing within our virtual "Morning Brew with Alpha Women" group via Marco Polo. (We jokingly-not jokingly have named this for our group of two because we are both strong women of business as followers of Christ.) On Sunday October 3rd, Pastor Joby Martin of the Church of Eleven22 shared some facts about the crucifixion and Roman times that neither Mia and I had ever heard before. Not that these facts are questionable or fabricated by Joby but because, many teaching pastors neglect to provide contextual facts either because they don't know these facts or simply don't think the facts are important. Sadly, that decision to not convey facts, distorts the important meaning of the action. The profoundness is diminished. The communication is misleading. It puts punctuation to Revelation 22:18-19,

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll."

As we chatted back-and-forth about the two facts we learned through Joby, we landed on that people knew innately right from wrong; some chose right and some chose wrong. 

I also brought into the conversation something that impacted me in my daily reading. I was in Revelation reading 19 through 22 where Chapter 20 struck me in its contrasts of significance versus insignificance and by its brevity compared to the previous chapters. 

I was amazed that Revelation chapters 1 through 19 cover about seven years of the tribulation period along with Jesus's return to earth, and the end of Satan's reign on earth by throwing the beast and the false prophet into the lake of fire, and binding Satan, throwing him into the abyss and sealing that abyss for one-thousand years. In Chapter 20, Jesus ushers in the millennial reign of a thousand years, where the believers who died during the tribulation, will reign with Jesus during that millennial time; He gives these believers (these non-deniers of Jesus as Lord God) the position of authority for rebuilding and repopulating the earth, reporting to Him as Sovereign Ruler over earth.

What amazes me is that the millennial time - a one-thousand-year period - received one chapter of 15 verses to describe this time period and yet, the previous seven years received 19 chapters with 340 verses of explanation. 

Satan's end is just as poignant in its insignificance. The great enemy of God and mankind just ends. Once God decides "this is it," there is nothing more powerful than He that can alter that decision and, God provides minimal details in Satan's demise which highlights that sovereign power God has. When it's time for evil on earth to end, an unknown angel from heaven has the key to the abyss along with the authoritative power to seize, bind, throw and seal Satan into the abyss to remain there for 1,000 years. The angel wasn't named. We are not told if this angel is as an archangel, such as Michael or Gabriel, who are chief among angels with leadership power and authority vested on them by God. No. This angel appears to be an "ordinary" angel given this position with its tasks and authority to be carried out at the designated time and command by God.

And Satan cannot overcome this angel, even though Satan was created as an archangel himself. As powerful as Satan is, God's supreme sovereign authority, power and position are unmatched.

What also struck me was the response of the people born during the millennial time and their reaction at the conclusion of this time period when Satan is released from the abyss prison and allowed to deceive people once again. Consider what is said and not said in Revelation 20; what exists and does not exist during the millennial period on earth. The beast and false prophet have been permanently judged, sentenced and vanquished to hell's lake of fire. Satan is sealed within the abyss without the ability to roam the earth; he cannot influence any person, animal or environment - he no longer rules the earth. Jesus Himself is present on earth and the supreme sovereign ruling authority. People see Him, hear His voice, can spend time with Him; the people existing on earth during this time are in the very presence of Jesus. The resurrected people, who died during the tribulation for their faith in Jesus - their refusal to worship Satan's beast - are alive and are ruling over the restoration, re-population and rebuilding of earth. (This is the first resurrection.) The people born during this time are not exposed to evil whatsoever. At least not the external evil influenced by Satan.

And yet, in verses 20:7-9 when Satan is released from the abyss for an undefined moment in time, he is able to deceive "the nations in the four corners of the earth... to gather them to battle" (against Jesus and His people). The number of people deceived by Satan "are like the sand on the seashore". In other words, during the millennial period the population grows significantly to constitute nations. And following 1,000 years of Jesus ruling in person on earth, Satan is able to deceive so many millennial-born people that the amount is innumerable by human standards.

These three verses made me think. In a world where external evil does not exist. In a world where Jesus is present, visible and operating. People are still born with the ability to choose self over everything else. To think and cause evil, to be off of perfection, to sin - syn. People still choose to rebel. People still choose to want to solely govern themselves and not have God govern them whatsoever. People still want to usurp the authority of Lord God Jesus and take His authority as their own. People choose "I don't need you Jesus. I don't want you in my life. I am the ruler of my life." People still think they can live a life without God; a life given to them by God where they live in the very presence of God and yet choose self over God. People selfishly choose to follow a rebellion when everything has been given to them; everything they need is at their disposal. Thinking they want and deserve more. And what they each have, is not enough for them; for us. Not enough for we humans.

This made me think about the contrast of Job versus Satan outlined in the Book of Job. I wrote a piece about the Book of Job in November 2010 called Dirt Proves Satan Wrong. Job is one of my favorite books of the Bible. Although it's difficult for me to understand the first 37 chapters because it's sometimes difficult to know who is speaking - Job or one of his friends - and, what is said by Job and his friends is some truth, some misperception about God and, some false information all twisted together. These human conversations sound like the conversations that Satan had with Eve and Eve had with Adam causing the break in relationship with God. Yet, in Chapter 38, God steps into the conversation to correctly state the truth - His truth. Because He is the standard of truth. You can read God's sense of humor, his power, authority, and the details He provides about His act of creation with the joy that His creation brings Him. This is always mind boggling and amazing to me.

God enters the perceived educated conversation with sarcasm and correction telling a palatable description of His creation. 

It is evident that Job has not been suffering away from the presence of God. On the contrary, God was present with Job and heard Job's prayers and the conversation between he and his friends. It's almost as if Job and his three friends were talking about God forgetting that God was sitting there listening. Like those times when you're with a group of friends who forget you're sitting with them and they begin to talk about you and something you experienced, changing the details to suit themselves and then when you enter the conversation to correct the shared details, they rebuff you because they like their version better.

God starts with, "Where were you when I created the world. Certainly you were there. Go ahead; tell me how I created the world and everything in it while the morning stars sang." (Rose's paraphrase) And then God describes the environment during creation and some of the aspects He created and why.

I love this because you see the artist within God. Prior to creating the universe and everything in it, God created the angels, gave them roles, duties and responsibilities. One of those duties is to witness God in the very act of creating while corporately cheering and providing the creation music. The angels sang worship music and that worship music provided an artistic environment for God as He creates all of creation.

As an artist, when I create art, I set my environment to foster creating. I pull out my tools and supplies, arranging them to see everything I need, know where everything is and can grab what is needed while creating. I set up my canvas or tape my paper onto my drafting table. I ensure the room has enough light, both daylight and man made light. And, I select a playlist of music, set up the speakers and volume to create a room of sound to inspire and set the rhythm for creating. While I create art, I use both hands, sometimes sing along, my body moves to the rhythm of the music and sometimes I dance. I see, hear and feel the art of creation stepping into it to become one with it. The experience is amazing.

It seems God does the same thing. And why not? If I am created in the image of the Triune God. If God has gifted me with the ability to create art. If God allows me to taste the art of creation as He is the master creator. Then why would not the innate desire to create an atmosphere to foster creation not be a part of that process? Not mimic God's act of creation?

In Job 38:6-7, God tells Job and his friends that the morning stars sang and the angels shouted for joy, as God created all of creation. I think that is really significant and inspiring. I can almost hear God say, "Watch this!" and as He creates, the angels shout in awe and sing joyfully because of what they witnessed.

However, the overall theme of Job to me is the reality that some beings choose God and some do not. Some people, faced with insurmountable pain and suffering, choose God while others who live a blessed life choose self over God. And the same thing can be said in reverse. Some people (and angelic beings) ultimately choose God as God. They believe in Him - who He is, who He says He is - at their very core of self. And whether life is easy or hard, they know God is God and choose a life with God rather than a life without God. While others choose a life where they are the gods of their own lives.

Revelation 20 and Job illustrate that difference to me.

The one thing that really strikes me is the difference between angelic beings and human beings. The angelic beings were created before all of creation with the purpose of witnessing God creating while also providing the musical environment with which God enjoyed creating. They saw God create the seen and the unseen. The stars, planets, moons, suns, galaxies. The earth, the atmosphere, the land, the seas and the fresh water bodies. They saw God step onto earth, dig into the dirt He just created and model a man out of clay; a piece of artwork that in someway resembled God Himself. They saw God stoop down to this clay model of Himself, cup His hands around the head of this clay figure and kiss it while breathing into it. Suddenly, the clay softens and bends transforming from dirt to flesh and the artwork becomes alive. Human being is created and, when that being opens his eyes and takes in his first breath, he sees God Himself looking back at him. Adam's first breath and first sight is of God looking back at him, lovingly holding him in His arms.

The angels stand in awe. They shout for amazing joy! They sing praising God for what they just witnessed and for God being God of all creation including themselves and now this being.

Since Satan was also called the Morning Star and an archangel in charge of leading the angelic worship team, perhaps he asked God if this human being would be under his authority. The angelic beings reported to him so maybe Satan thought man would report to him also. Maybe he asked God, what is that and is he mine?

We do know that one-third of all of the angelic beings, who see God face-to-face and live in his presence at all times, chose to rebel against God following Satan's lead. They all want to be there own gods. These angels witnessed God creating, see Him on His throne, know His love and power and yet they choose to want to usurp God's supreme authority over them. After all, they are created beings as well and yet they think they can attain a God-like status above Him, instead of Him, replacing Him.

And here is man, where aside from Adam and Eve, we don't see God. Unlike those that saw, heard and walked with Jesus, we don't see Him. We see the evidence of God yet we don't see Him. We don't hear God's voice audibly speak to us. We don't smell God's presence. So when we choose to believe, trust and follow God, our faith is in some ways greater than the faith of angels.  

Yet, even though Satan rebels, is thrown to earth where he roams and influences the earth - seeking to kill and destroy, trying to take as many of God's beloved human creation with him. It's an, "if I can't have them then you can't have them," bent on destruction. Even though Satan is quite powerful, he has no authority over God. He cannot attain the power God has. He must ask God for permission to do anything.

In Job, Satan asks God if he can harm Job and he's given permission to take Job to the edge of death itself. But God knows that Job will choose God over self. Even in Job's misperception of God. Even in Job's amazing pain, anguish and suffering. Even when there seems to be no reason to believe in, trust and choose God.

To me, it's as if God is saying to Satan and the rebellious angels, "You see me all the time. You were there with me when I created the universes and everything in it. You know who I am and yet, you choose to walk away and try to take what is mine claiming it as yours. Here is my beloved Job. A man, created out of the dirt. You have thrown everything you can at him and yet, Job still chooses me. Job still knows I am God. Dirt is better than you."

Innately, we all know the difference between right and wrong. Innately, we know the difference between truth and not-truth. Innately, we know God is God and no one can usurp God's authority and sovereign position. Innately, we know God is the very definition of love. And yet, God allows us to choose to love, follow and believe Him at His very being and word. His love for us is so deep that He is willing to allow us that choice. A choice with profound implications yet, we are given that choice. 

Perhaps because those of us who choose God whether we are angelic beings or fashioned from the clay of the earth, we choose God out of love for Him. With everything stripped down - both blessings and sufferings removed - we choose God so therefor, our love for God is pure.

And perhaps this is the ultimate outcome God seeks. Pure love for Him. So we can experience pure love from Him to us for ever and ever. 

After all, this is why we were created. 

 

Valuing what's been given to Us

When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. ~John 17:1-3

God blessed them (man and women) and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." ~Genesis 1:28

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This weekend in church (Eleven22), we were in John, chapter 17 verses 1 through 26 and immediately, I was struck by a realization of comparisons. 

Pastor Joby Martin explained "...glorify your Son that the Son may glorify You," which only added punctuation to that comparison. Joby said that when Jesus prayed, "glorify your Son," the context does not lend to what we consider the act of glorifying. Where people laud over and gush about us, shining the light on us. No. This "glorify" was more aligned with, "The time has come for You to use me, Father, for Your purpose. Bruise me. Do whatever is necessary that fulfills Your purpose of saving human kind. Complete Your purpose through me so, I bring You the glory You deserve."

What struck me is that Jesus recognized that God gave Him authority over all human kind, and yet Jesus valued that authority and its specific purpose without challenging God about that purpose, in order to fulfill the responsibility given to Him. 

In contrast, God gave mankind the authority to rule over creation - everything in the sea, the skies and on the earth - and yet we not only challenged that responsibility, we thought we could rule over all creation without God. When we decided to disobey God and eat a forbidden fruit - the only thing in all creation that was forbidden for us - we did that (and continue to do that) with the mindset of wanting to take God's sovereign ruling authority from God, claim that authority as ours, claim ourselves equal to God, and dismiss Him as not needed or necessary. 

And yet Jesus valued that God-given responsibility, knowing He was given all authority over mankind to provide the ability to live with God eternally, and knowing that in order to give eternal life, His life was to be given in exchange. He valued that deemed authority in such a way as to not deviate from his charge. Even though Jesus is equal to God. Even to complete abandonment by all who knew Him. Even to public humiliation. Even to brutal force used against His body. Even to allowing people to torture Him to death.

Our authority was to live in a perfect creation where God Himself would join us to share our days. We were able to enjoy being with God in His physical presence. We were to live in this gorgeous abundance and have authority over everything God created to be in this environment. We were to live and multiply and everything associated with the act of multiplying. We were given the authority to live and be joyful and we chose (and choose) not to value that responsibility. We challenge God. We are not satisfied with the level of authority He has given us and attempt to grab His authority, claiming it as ours; taking His creation as our possession and dismissing Him from life. 

Who are we that God gave us authority over His earthly creation? Who are we that God cares for us and, wants to save us from our self-created destruction? Who are we that God pursues us even in our defiance? Who are we that Jesus valued the God-given responsibility to fulfill the critically needed actions to save us from our self-created destruction? Who are we that God loves us?

Perhaps (Jacob), we should value God and what God has given us.

Oneness with the Sovereign God of All; Living within the Peace of God

 Isaiah 30:15, 52:1 and 56:1-2

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says. "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, ..." ~Isaiah 30:15

Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again. ~Isaiah 52:1

Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the man who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil. ~Isaiah 56:1-2

Sometime at the beginning of 2020, I began wanting to be one with God. Perhaps because the pandemic slowed down the actions of my life, and I was able to hear God once again. Perhaps because I realized I had starved God out of my life having prioritized myself as important over God.

I'm so busy.

I need to do this work; I have so much to do.

I need to fix this; perform better...

I, I, I; me, me, me...

Perhaps because the pandemic grounded us from work and personal travels forcing my husband and I to face our lives in Gainesville, realizing its growing, suffocating darkness and oppression. (It was time to go.) Perhaps because the symptoms from a (then) two-year battle with unknown illnesses or illness, were cranking up again; the symptoms had waned at the beginning of 2020 but by mid-year, had cranked back up again demanding attention. Perhaps all of these things played a role or maybe God was just grabbing my attention.

During this time, I completed a painting called Testimony; God is in the Waiting (the first in a forthcoming two-part series called Crushing). Testimony was the visual representation of everything I had experienced with my job, family and life in Gainesville and now it hung on my kitchen wall, testifying to the presence of God in my life. And with my last journal entry of 2020, which touched on this wanting, I renamed my online journal Testimony... One with God to reflect the evolution of my relationship with God (what I realized about my relationship with God; He already knew.)

Whatever was the basis for the longing, it was a realization that I am in deep need to be one with God. To enter into His community with Himself, His Son, His Spirit, and eavesdrop so to speak, on their conversation; witness their remarkable love; their Oneness. Hear them talk to one another and to me. Leading me through and to what is next. Smelling their cologne of frankincense and myrrh; seeing their glittering, radiant glory as they interact. The fullness of being three in One while inviting me into sharing that relationship.

I knew I needed to relinquish control-over and re-prioritize God-in my life, giving Him full control. And yet, I piled on top of that desire, all that is me, myself and I, smothering that longing.

Me, Myself and I, De La Soul

Relocating out of Gainesville became a focus, thinking we needed an escape from the darkness that encroached on life there; and we did. 

Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Sir Elton John

Starting a new life. Settling into our new home and community. Continuing the life that came with us - family, friends, jobs, finances, chores and health.

Busy-ness

More me, me, me.

My morning time with God was being squeezed by other "more important things," because, "I have things to do. People depend on me. I want to spend time with you God but, I have emails to do, calls to take. Morning chores. Dinners to plan. Time for exercise and getting ready. Time with Chauncey. News feeds to read. Text messages. Social media. Solitaire to play. I, I, I; me, me, me."

And yet, God kept impressing One with Him. Being. Living.

2020 ended with the "covid Christmas" where one of my daughters - Sarah - Chauncey and I all contracted the virus. We each experienced the virus differently and I ended up with vertigo for three months which stopped me in my tracks. It almost appeared as if God used the virus and its effects, to grab my attention.

A year later, realizing I was still squeezing out God while He was still pursuing me, and with no ability to physically move through my day, I made the concerted effort to re-prioritize God as first in my day. Although not as dedicated to that prioritization as I think I am, I try to limit the non-God activities in the morning to making tea and brushing teeth so I can focus some of my first thoughts of the day on God. Moving upstairs to isolate myself, my days start with God through quiet time of conversations (prayer), reading, listening and digesting His Truth.

Give Me Jesus, Jeremy Camp

Morning has Broken, Cat Stevens 

Several things propelled this focus. We began attending a new church with a dynamic lead pastor - Church of Eleven22 with Joby Martin. Our friend Max Wilkins launched a podcast series called Brilliant Gaze which referred to the book of Isaiah, regularly through the first season. This encouraged me to read through Isaiah because it had been a while since I fully read Isaiah. My sister-in-law Mia, who loves Isaiah, uses the app Marco Polo to share regular video messages discussing what God was saying and doing in our lives, creating our version of a small group. My father temporarily moved in with us, was quite broken, and through Eleven22 and its messages, Dad surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. And I grabbed an old school, paper tablet with pen and began noting what God was teaching me. Our home and my life started to fill with acknowledging the presence of God once again. 

It was welcoming to be sharing-with and about God through Isaiah. One of my life verses comes from Isaiah - chapter 1, verse 18, "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord..." I love to reason. God wired me to reason. And this portion of the verse provided me permission to reason life with God because God Himself invites me to do that with Him. To be one with Him; transparent, honest, together thinking through the things of life. I love that.

Come now let us reason, is actually the basis of the reflective and redemptive life with God. Jacob wrestled with God, trying to understand God and the impacts a right relationship with God would have on his life. When God deemed that the wrestling had accomplished its reflective work, He renamed Jacob to Israel. The name Jacob means "heel grabber or usurper" as in someone who usurps authority and grabs what isn't his, and Jacob means "deceiver" as one who is deceived, continues to deceive self and others. While Israel means "one who wrestles with God" or one who reasons his life with God and acknowledges God as sovereign. The renaming of Jacob to Israel also reflects the adoption by God into this family; into relationship with Him. "You used to be this person belonging to this people group but you are now this person and belonging to My people group."

The full verse of Isaiah 1:18 is actually, "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white a snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Which means, in the process of being in an honest and transparent relationship with God, realizing you cannot hide what is wrong with yourself, wrestling and reasoning what you are with-God and without-God, the Sovereign God Himself will clean you of your wrongness; clean you of the impacts of not being in relationship with Him. In that process, you go from being a deceiver and usurper who is out of relationship with God - out of a familial relationship with God - to being invited and welcomed into a right and familial relationship with God who cleans you of your sinful nature, deems you restored and acceptable, and renames you as belonging to Him. The act of salvation - God saving us.

As we turn from ourselves - turn from me, myself and I - and turn towards God to be present and live in community with Him, we wrestle with the parts of our lives that control our wants, desires and demands to be masters of our lives. Our human nature is to control our lives, think and tell God that we don't need Him in our lives. Taking what is God's and claiming it as our entitlement, our accomplishment. Wrestling with the basis of sin - syn - missed-mark, not perfect. Wrestling with the deceived nature that is within us. And God not only wants us to be engaged in that process, He invites us to join Him as He wants to join us and be a part of that wrestling. He wants to be right there, reasoning, challenging, correcting, rebuking, disciplining, training, exercising, encouraging, coaching, loving... in active relationship, one with us; one with me.

"Even now," says the Lord, "Turn and come to Me with all your heart (in genuine repentance), with fasting (from life) and weeping (from overwhelming reflection) and mourning (until every barrier is removed and the broken fellowship is restored); ~ Joel 2 (amplified)

When I arrived at Isaiah 30:15, the verse birthed fresh meaning in me that rolled in my head for months. It was one of those verses that previously had not meant anything to me. Now, it caused me to think, to reason. I talked it out with God during reading, praying and writing. As I did my morning walks or drove to appointments, I would Marco messages to Mia working through the verse's definition for me. Talking it out loud with, "If this is this and this is that and that is that, then this means..."

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says. "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, ..." ~Isaiah 30:15 

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In turning away from self, wanting to control yourself and life, making self a priority above God and others, acting to always benefit self, taking what is God's or what God gave others and claiming it as self's...

Resting in God is strength. Not controlling something or someone is strength. But strength is relinquishing self focus and prioritization, and resting in, and knowing God has your best interest and the best interest in others. That is strength.

Quieting your mind, body, soul and spirit from your loudly and constantly demanding self. I must control, perform, solve, win. Quieting that self cry for being top, best, first.

Trusting God with your life, knowing He has your best interest, plans for you, will finish what He began in you, has the ability to fulfill those plans, better than you can; will protect, guide, reconcile, restore, renew, show the way, complete and meet you at the point of perfection in the future, you just need to walk forward trusting He will not only meet you there but solve and renew everything in the process.

That is God's salvation, His rescuing from a life that ends in misery and death. That is true strength. True life.

This is what the Supreme Ruler, the Supreme Monarch (needing no one to advise Him in order to rule; independent of His creation, operating outside of His creation without interference or influence), the Holy One of Israel (God intact, set apart, whole and complete, needing no one to complete Him; Israel - the deceived one who wrestles with God) says, in turning away from your desire to satisfy self over all else and control your life, relinquishing that control and resting in God - leaning your weight on and into God knowing He has your best interest in mind and allowing Him to work the details of your life leading you forward - is salvation from your life without God. By quieting the desire of self screaming within you - me, me, me, I, I, I, mine, mine, mine, I want, I want, I want - and completely trusting God with your life, this is true strength. 

This is what God says to you, "Turn away from yourself and trust that I will care for you better than you will care for yourself; believe that I am who I am. This is the definition of salvation. Quiet your inner being from its continuous noise demanding attention and rest yourself against and in Me, allowing Me to care for you as Father. This action is your strength."

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Although I moved forward from 30:15 in my reading, daily I returned to reread the verse and repeat what it means to me. Rest, quiet and strength resonated.

Next, Isaiah, chapter 52, verse 1, seemed to reinforce what God was saying about strength and brought other scripture and images to mind. 

Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again. ~Isaiah 52:1 

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The City of Zion - Jerusalem, the Lord's City - is sleeping and unaware of something urgent and of God's calling for its purpose. The city that is home to God's family, His people, those that are to reflect Him and live in relationship with Him. "Wake up! And clothe yourself in strength!" Clothe yourself in quieting your incessant demands from your inner being, and the pull from everything that is not God. Rest in the One, True, Sovereign God and trust in Him completely. Rest from the life without God. Clothe yourself in that garment of rest, of trust. Put on the garment of strength I have provided you, your garment of splendor.

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Suddenly, all of the Scripture that speaks about garments of protection, identification, royalty, authority all came flooding to mind. Joseph. Jesus. The people invited to the wedding. The armor of God. Those of us invited to the Lamb's wedding. 

It seemed that to God, the act of walking away from self, quieting the sinful nature demanding attention and action, fasting from life's pull, remaining in relationship with Him, resting peacefully in His ability and trusting Him with your life's outcomes, is like putting on a robe over your naked self. Clothing yourself in a fine and precious garment that God gave as a gift expecting and wanting us to wear it continuously. Wearing that garment as protection and identification. And wearing it as a witness to yourself as to who's you are.

Strength.

And yet, part of strength is living in God's peace, His shalom. Peace from worry. From fret. From anxiety, control, demands, busy-ness. Life pulling, self calling, people confronting. Peace. The peace that transcends the clamor ringing in your ears, in your mind. Shalom. Wholeness. Harmony. Completeness. Oneness with God. Daily living Sabbath from self and world. Daily being in relationship with the Triune God. Daily clothing yourself in the strength that comes from quieting, resting, trusting in God. In who He says He is and His ability to do what He says He is doing and will do. Peace.

Tremble, by Upper Room (Mosaic MSC)   

(A song that we have sung many times at Eleven22 during all of this reasoning and wrestling.)

While Mia and I were working through Isaiah and our lives' happenings, we got to the place in the conversation of uttering we each needed God's peace, His shalom. And how to ask for it, how to live in it. It became evident that God's peace would be a byproduct of relinquishing that control over self and life. And that Sabbath was more than resting from daily life, one day per week but, an ever portable, ever present opportunity to rest from self and world, and rest in God.

Isaiah 56:1-2 seemed to outline that concept.

Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the man who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil. ~Isaiah 56:1-2

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While living, continue to do the right thing for others and self, maintaining justice. Doing the right thing for people in your life, in your path. By doing this, you reflect God's efforts with you in your life and, you replicate that action for others. You show them the true God by doing what is right and just for their benefit. You turn from benefiting yourself and work to do what is right for others, all while resting in God knowing that He sees you, knows your needs and will care for you as you care for others, the way He cares for you. Laying your life down, laying it aside, to benefit others. This is salvation and it's close by to you, revealed in you, revealed to others. You are blessed by God when you rest from the cry of self and work to benefit others. When you Sabbath from self and your life, fasting from the world. Living in Oneness with God. Keeping yourself from harming yourself and others. Keeping yourself from claiming, taking, usurping, hurting, shaming; benefiting self over all things. You will live in the shalom of God, His peace.

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When you turn from self, rest and trust in God, you see God's salvation in you at work. When you quiet self and rest-in and trust God to take care of you completely; when you do what is right and maintain justice with others, keeping yourself from taking the upper hand. When you clothe yourself in that garment of strength God gave you. When you let go of control, and fully trust God, able to stay in open and continuous relationship with Him, you fast from the life of not-God. You sabbath from self. You stand in awe of God. All He is. Who He says He is. Who He says you are to Him and in Him. You continue forward in life meeting Him at the designated point of solved, reconciled, restored. And the completeness of God rests on you, operates within you. Shalom.  

Oneness with God is not a once-and-for-all act. It is a continuous invitation to be in constant and active relationship with God. And in the act of living with, reasoning, wrestling, following, believing, quieting, resting, trusting, preventing, refraining. Walking forward. Maintaining and doing what is right. Listening. Caring. Protecting. A whole, complete and true relationship with the One, True God. You see your salvation. You live in Sabbath, in the freedom God provides. You know the peace that operates even within the chaos of life. You know God is near, with and for you. Oneness.

Shalom.

 (You are My) Rescue Story, Zach Williams

 

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As always, God confirms what He is speaking in many ways. On Sunday, September 5th during service at Eleven22, we sang a beautiful song that reinforced all that I learned.

Make Room, by Elyssa Smith

And we were in John 15:1-17 which reinforced further especially 15:12-17.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.

September 9, 2021

Heard two songs today that reinforced what I learned.

He is, David Crowder

Human Nature, Brandon Heath