Our Life in Christ. It’s not an easy thing to grasp. Maybe you understand it only by living it. And maybe Augustine was right on the money when he wrote: ‘Give me someone who loves and he will understand what I am trying to say. Give me someone whose heart yearns, who feels the nostalgia of loneliness in exile, who is atheist and signs for the fatherland eternal, give me such a one and he will understand what I am trying to say. But if I must explain myself to ice-cold indifference, he will not understand.’
~ Brennan Manning
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
~ The Encourager, in Hebrews 12
Oh beloved, it is true. Many will read this, and simply walk away. However, some will sit for a moment, they will know – maybe for the first time – they are not alone. There are parts of His body set apart for special and private use.
Many are called to live the life of a person in the main body of the group. And for those people, this writer is glad. It is great joy to look in on this group and see so many beginning to stand and walk in the strength of His Grace. There is a lightness and fun to the fellowship. But some of us don’t belong.
We exist for another purpose.
Some are called to live the joyous life of a prayer warrior, or a leader of worship. And this is closer to our calling, for the people that we are do indeed learn that strength is found on our knees and that the new song He has put in our hearts puts a bounce in our step.
But we are something other. We have no purpose.
A few of us have been slain. There is nothing left of our will that can stand against the onslaught of His Spirit which now dominates our being. The only real pain we have is when we assert ourselves against the lead He has taken in our lives.
We want nothing but Him. And there are times when even the most committed of Christians will look at a bond-slave and wonder if we haven’t gone a bit crazy.
Where will you live? … i Live in Him.
Where will you work? … Wherever He leads.
What about your plans? … i have none. He will show me.
What do you want out of this? … His glory. To know Him. Nothing else.
Don’t you think you are taking your faith a little too far? … i have no faith. i don’t even believe in G_d anymore. i know Him. He is my Best Friend.
Don’t you care what happens to you? … i am already in eternity. i live and move and have my being in Him. All is well.
What do you think about all the bad things in the world? … Love. There is no other need.
And it is about this time that most will smile some sort of knowing grin and kind of try to make their exit from the presence of fools like us. Most will simply say that it is not possible for someone to be this committed. They think we must have some sort of ulterior motive…
But some get us. It may take years. But the joy of being an exile is that we have never been alone. We are the watchers and ushers of others into His presence. And there does come moments when the strongest of disbelievers (usually those most zealous for their faith) come to realize that their own belief is for naught… Only faith working through His Great Love is effective.
We get to watch people die. But then, we get the great joy of watching the dead man rise and look around to see things as they really are – for the very first time – and forever more. They have come out of the infancy of their walk and are becoming the fully mature sons of The Father.
So, are you feeling out of place as you begin to see The Word for who He is and what He says through the Scriptures and His Spirit? Keep going. Run actually. Just head right towards Him. He will never be out of sight again. Just run.
Run Home. You are almost there. He is The Way. He is The Truth. He is The Life.
