Does not all nature around me praise God? If I were silent, I should be an exception to the universe. Does not the thunder praise him as it rolls like drums in the march of the God of armies? Do not the mountains praise him when the woods upon their summits wave in adoration? Does not the lightning write his name in letters of fire? Has not the whole earth a voice? And shall I, can I, silent be?
~Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
~ Peter, The rock, in 1 Peter 4
Oh beloved, it is true. Death is the path to Life.
This writer is now one of those who have ceased both to live to self, and as a servant to sin. G_d did indeed have to almost kill the body of this fool, that his spirit would finally Live in a right relationship with Him. And – while i did indeed live in the flood of debauchery, sensuality, passions and drunkenness – He did indeed kill that old fleshly part of me.
And this death was the best thing that ever happened to me. Upon the death of the flesh, i entered into a brand new life in the spirit which is now bounded by the will and manifold grace and wisdom of G_d, instead of the foolish lusts of the past.
And in this new life comes a completely new focus that looks in a direction completely other than the past. The sobriety that comes from, both the absence of chemicals and the near-Presence of our Creator, allows us to set our minds on the things which are above.
And as our minds are set on those things which are above. We begin to see the end game. We see that there is an upward call in the One who called us in the first place. There is a Kingdom (both invisible now, and pervasive in the future) with Him at the center. This is a place of profound righteousness, joy, and peace in the power of His Spirit. This Kingdom (with Him and His glory on the throne of it!) becomes the very focus of our Lives.
And as our focus narrows in on the Light of the world, we begin to receive His heat in ever-greater measure through our communion in His Spirit. Then, even the dross of our past, and the phantom pain of the amputated old man begins to burn away. Further, as the old burns away, the new can begin to burn cleanly and eternally for Him.
Ignition.
Suddenly, we are torn away from even the circumstantial wreckage of our past. In fact, in Him, we have a new past – one made righteous by the righteousness and righteous acts of the One who died for us. And in the wake of the past, now instead of consequence, comes opportunity to live and move and preach and give and Love and encourage those still dead in their own trespasses. His Love has covered the multitude of our sins. And in covering ours with His blood, we begin to burn with that same Love for others.
First, He gives us perhaps one or two to reach. Then, He proves us and His Gospel true through His working through us to touch a couple lives. And after the one, come ten. Surely, He proves Himself true, and improves our ability to bring Him glory through our lives. Then, it is one hundred. Then ten-hundred. Then ten-thousand.
We become the very oracles of G_d. We preach with the same fire that Lit the burning bush in Moses’ desert. We begin to serve with a strength unmatched, because it is not our strength at work, but His. We speak, and lives change. We touch, and people get healed. We move, and circumstances yield to the motions He makes through us.
We have been given a ticket to ride on path we never dreamed possible. For truly there was no possibility whatsoever that we could have gotten onto the this path under our own power. No chance. But G_d! And this path now is a sure way Home; a place where His glory pervades, and His Lovely Self dwells forever.
