Ultimate Reality

Colossians 1:15-23

Who is the image of the invisible GOD, the firstborn {Greek,  prototokos – begotton, or to have initial beginning and final end} of every creature: For by {Greek, en – through} him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by {or through} him, and for him {or His purpose}: And he is before all things, and by {or through} him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence {or the highest rank}.

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness {or completeness} dwell; And, having made peace through {or because of} the blood of his cross, by {or through} him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him {or through His life}, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by {or because of} wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.

Three Primary Expressions of GOD

1. A Father – in judgment & creation

GOD expresses Himself as our Father in His correction and His creation. Paul tell us in Romans 14:11 shows us that GOD is our Judge. In Psalms 51:10, David teaches us to pray for GOD to create within us His will and purpose, and of course we can’t overlook His creative Word expressed in Creation.

2. A Son – in redemption & re-creation

GOD expresses Himself as our Redeemer, or as a Son, through His redemptive power, and by re-creating—or re-birthing—us according to His desires and plans. In his letter to the Community at Galatia, Paul shows us that Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the judgment of GOD (Galatians 3:13). In 1 Peter 1:18, Peter tells us that we were not redeemed with anything corruptible, but by the everlasting, precious blood—or essence—of Jesus Messiah. Jesus Himself tells us in John 3:7 that we have no choice but to be re-born in Messiah. Peter also shows us that we are re-birthed by the word—or expression—of GOD (1 Peter 1:23). The writer to the Hebrews shows us that Jesus—or the Son—was the express image—or exact imprint of the nature—of the Father:

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, GOD spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us {through} his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of GOD and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs, Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV.

3. The Spirit – in comfort and keeping power

GOD is our Comforter and Sustainer because of His intrinsic character—His very nature. In John 14:18 Jesus told his disciples that He would not leave them comfortless, but that He, Himself would come to them. Peter shows us that Jesus is the Keeper—or Caretaker—of our souls (1 Peter 4:19). He also tells us to, cast all [our] cares on Him, for He continually cares for [us] (1 Peter 5:7). This is the intrinsic character of the Eternal GOD. Because this is His character, then we are connected to the eternal GOD-ness through our intimate knowledge of His Spirit.

The Blueprint of Creation

The Text insists that Jesus is how GOD put things together (Col. 1:17). It is here that Paul points out that in some mysterious way, Jesus is behind it all. Jesus is the arrangement, the design, the intelligence.

As Christians—or disciples of Christ—we aren’t to follow Christ’s teachings because they are a nice way to live a moral life. We should follow them because they are the best possible insight to how GOD really works. Jesus’ words teach us how things really are.

I don’t follow Jesus because I think Christianity is the best religion. I follow Jesus because He leads me into Ultimate Reality; He teaches me to live in tune with GOD’s Reality. When Jesus said, No one comes to the Father but through Me (John 14:6), He was saying that: His ways, His words, His life is our connection to the essence of how things really are, which is GOD. For Jesus, the whole point is to help us connect with Ultimate Reality, GOD.

Even Paul tells us not to be so caught up and encumbered with religious relating to GOD: These religious acts and rituals are but shadows of the true Reality. The reality of the body is found in Jesus Messiah, (Col. 2:17).

Labels

It is a dangerous thing to label things Christian. The word Christian first appears in the Bible as a noun; a person, place or thing. The 1^st Century followers of Jesus accepted the moniker Christian because they had devoted themselves to living the way of Messiah. The moniker was used as a noun; a person—a person who follows Jesus, referring to a person living in tune with Ultimate Reality. 

Modern thinking has turned the word Christian into an adjective; a word used to describe a noun. The problem with turning a noun into an adjective—then tacking it onto words—is that this can create categories within the definition of Christian that limit the truth. This assumes that everything labeled Christian is both true or good.  For example, not all Christian music is good music; some is played with very little talent or regard to proper musical structure (not to mention that the goodness of music is very subjective). Movies are sometimes portrayed as Christian, but do all of them project the Character of Messiah? What if a preacher preaches or teaches something that is not biblically sound. Bear in mind that he is a Christian talking to other Christians in a Christian environment; yet he can still speak false doctrine. Just because you buy a Christian book in a Christian book store, doesn’t mean that every word of the text is founded in biblical truth. Christian is a great noun, but a poor adjective.

To be Christian is to do whatever it is that you do with great passion and devotion to Jesus Messiah. We do this because our actions reflect on our GOD, thus our actions are sacred as they are worship and consecration to Him. Paul said, Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus Messiah, (Col. 3:17). He goes on to say that whatever we do, that we should do it heartily, as if it were worship to GOD, (Col. 3:23).

As Christians everything we do must reflect the passion that we have for Him and His purpose. This is why our life-performance (job performance, school performance, etc.) should be the best we can make it—it is worship to our GOD. If I’m not giving my best in everything that I do, then I am not reflecting Ultimate Reality. If I’m not giving my all in everything, then I’m not giving my all in anything.

This is why it is impossible for a Christian to have a truly secular job. If you follow Jesus—and you’re doing what you do in His name—then it is no longer secular work. You are there; GOD is there; the difference is our awareness.

This truth has significant implications for how congregations function. Actions or talents don’t have to be part of a church service to be for GOD. A church is a community of people who are learning how to be His disciples wherever they are, so they can do whatever it is they do in the name of Jesus Messiah. The goal isn’t to bring everyone’s actions or talents into the church. The goal is for the Community to be these unique kinds of people who are transforming the places they live, work, play, exist.

Doing things for GOD happens all the time. Throw yourself into your life and give it all you’ve got; because you’re living your life in worship and commitment to Him. This is why labels ultimately fail. No matter how useful they are, they don’t always reflect the true meaning of the word.

We have to learn to distinguish between dark and light; GOD and flesh. The ancient Hebrew rabbis would say, The first thing GOD does is distinguish between dark and light, and the rest of Scripture is GOD teaching man how to do the same. The Text is filled with examples of GOD teaching His people how to think, how to discern, how to sort and shift and figure out what is or is not Ultimate Reality.

Being a Christian is about engaging the mind and heart more and more; not shutting them off and letting someone else think for you. Peter admonished the Community to be alert, (1 Pet. 5:8). Paul instructed the Thessalonians to test everything and hold on to the good, (1 Thess. 5:21). The danger of labeling things Christian is that it can lead to our blindly consuming things we’ve been told as fact; we assume they are acceptable simply because they’ve been taught to us by people we respect. When we turn off our discernment radar dangerous things can happen. We have to test everything. Everything that we see or hear must be run through the filter of the Text. If it doesn’t gee haw with the Character and Essence of GOD, we should discard it.

Don’t follow anything blindly; because if you do then you are ignoring the passion by which you should live your life. Don’t swallow what I’m teaching uncritically; wrestle with it; challenge it; make sure it is founded in Ultimate Reality. No one has it completely nailed down; we’re only contributing to the discussion. GOD has spoken, everything else is commentary.

Then what is Ultimate Reality?

Ultimate Reality is GOD Himself; His very character, His expressions of Himself—ultimately, His purpose—is Ultimate Reality. Every aspect of our lives—our very existence—must reflect our complete and total devotion to His Ultimate Reality. Anything less than everything is nothing at all.

Listening to GOD

Listening to GOD is the first step toward obeying Him. We can go back to when Moses and the Israelites entered into a covenant with GOD, and Moses commanded them to hear, learn and follow His statutes. As Christ-imitators, we also have entered into a covenant with Jesus Messiah and should be responsive to what He expects. Moses' threefold command to the Israelites is excellent advice for all GOD's followers:

1. Listening is absorbing and accepting information about GOD. 
2. Learning is understanding its meaning and implications. 
3. Obeying is putting into action all we have learned and understood. 

All three parts are essential to a growing relationship with GOD.

Listening for GOD is training in humility. Another example is with Elijah, he knew that the sound of the gentle whisper was GOD's voice. He realized that GOD doesn't reveal himself only in powerful, miraculous ways. To look for GOD only in something big (crusades, conferences, highly visible leaders, etc.) may be to miss Him, because He is often found gently whispering in the quietness of a humbled heart. 

Spiritual listening is always followed by action. It is important to listen to what GOD's Word says, but it is much more important to obey it; to do what it says. We can measure the effectiveness of our study time by the effect it has on our behavior and attitudes. 

Do you put into action what you have studied? Are you listening for GOD? Step back from the noise and activity of your busy life, and listen humbly and quietly for His guidance. It may come when you least expect it.

Showing the World a Big Jesus

It's been a month or so since I've posted anything, but this is a subject for which I feel a lot of passion, so I thought I'd share it.

Acts 3:1-4

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

The Temple and the Hebrew

There are several significant items at the beginning of Acts 3. The first thing that I notice is that Peter and John were on they’re way to the Temple first thing in the morning. The next thing that comes to my attention is the lame man who had been carried to the gate of the Temple to beg for alms. Something that comes to my attention from a layer or two deep is the the fact that both the Apostle's frequenting the Temple and the lame man being carried to the vicinity of the Temple were apparently common occurrences. In fact, there's a good chance that Peter and John had seen this same man on previous Temple trips.

The Temple was an integral aspect of the daily life of the 1^st Century Hebrews. The Temple represented the central theme of the Hebrew lifestyle. This lifestyle was not a religion, rather an entire existence. The Temple was where you talked to GOD, where you worshiped GOD; and GOD was everything to you. The Temple was also located in the center of the city, and all daily activity moved in and around it.

This placement of the Temple within the layout of the city, and the high importance of GOD in the lives of the Hebrews, insured a GOD-thought in their minds on a regular basis. If they went to the market, they had to pass by the Temple. If they were going to visit a friend on the other side of town, they had to pass the Temple. If they were going on a journey outside of the city, they had to first pass the Temple on the way to the gate of the city.

This bring to my mind several questions. How important is the house of GOD to the Community today? Have we forsaken the assembling of ourselves together for matters of convenience? Is work and responsibility more important than daily communion with GOD and the people of GOD? Sure, I'm aware that the church building is by no means the only place to interact with GOD and/or His people, but this great significance to our designating a place of communal worship, and to a place where GOD places His name (do the study, it's fun).

The lame man was taken to the gate of the Temple for a reason. He knew that he had the best chance of receiving in the place where people were congregating and passing through. He was not there by accident nor happenstance. He had gone to the Temple seeking (hang on to this thought, we're coming back here in a bit).

The Temple of Flesh

There is great significance in the words that Peter said to the lame man in verse 4. Peter knew the lame man was looking for something to help him out. He also knew that the lame man was looking for money; money which Peter didn’t have. Understanding all of this, why then would Peter say: Look on us?

Is it possible that Peter’s words are a foreshadowing of Paul’s teaching to the Community at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 3, 6 and 2 Corinthians 6? In this Text Paul tells us that our bodies are the Temple of God (1 Cor 3:16, 17 and 6:19). He also teaches that as the Temple of God we have no agreement or interaction with the idols of this world (2 Cor 6:16).

When Peter said, Look on us, he was telling the lame man, you don’t have to look at this Temple of stone anymore to find the answers; instead, look to the people of God, because the Answer lives inside of us. Peter was not only giving instruction to the lame man, he was also giving instruction to the modern-day Church. The Answer this world is looking for is not found in our buildings nor our monuments, but in our lives, but the world will only find the Answer in us when we place God and the things of God at the center of our entire existence. When our world looks to us they won’t see us, but they will see God through us (Matt 5:14-16). Like John the Baptist said, He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30).

Acts 3:5-7

And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

The Expectation & the Answer

It’s important to note that the lame man looked to Peter and John expecting to receive something. Our world is like this lame man; they need something, anything to get through the hell that their lives have become. The world is looking to GOD's Community expecting us to give them an answer.

What are we showing them?

When Peter made the statement, look on us, the lame man’s focus was taken off of the man-made Temple and centered on the GOD-filled Temple. Peter’s statement of identity impacted the man who had a need. When we say to the world, we are the people of God, we are telling them to stop looking everywhere else for the answers.

Are we prepared to give the Answer?

The lame man was not asking to be healed; he simply wanted something to help him get through that day. Peter gave him Someone Who got him through the rest of his life. The Community can’t help our world out with a fix, but we can show them Someone Who can change their lives forever. Peter and John gave us the example of what we should show the world: they showed the lame man a Big Jesus.

Acts 3:18-21

But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

The Big Jesus

Jesus did not come to the world to do a small work. We make a mistake when we trivialize the life-work of Jesus into something as simple as strictly salvation. While it was the primary purpose of Jesus Messiah, salvation was only one aspect of His Mission. Peter shows us in verse 21 that not only did Messiah come to seek and to save, but he also came to restore all things. What is this restoration that Peter is referring to? What is the significance of this restoration in my life, and your life, and the lives of everyone around us? What is Jesus really talking about when He says, I have come that you might have life, and this life I give is more abundant than anything that you’ve ever imagined (John 10:10)?

To understand this mystery we have to think Hebrew. Peter was referencing an ancient Hebrew teaching that had been passed down from generation to generation. The teaching was that at the advent of the Messiah all things would be restored to YHWH's original creation: harmony with YHWH. The Hebrews believed that Messiah would bring this restoration by establishing an earthly kingdom that would bring all creation back into perfect harmony with GOD: or what they called Eternal Life.

We have to remember that GOD never intended for man to be separated from Him. Since the fall of man, GOD has desired for man to be restored back into this harmony. Salvation is the first step in this restoration. Peter reiterates this point in 2 Peter 1:5-9. The faith is the first step toward salvation, but we can’t stop there; the process of restoration is a journey that brings each one of us individually back into perfect harmony with GOD. Deliverance from sin is only part one of the Answer. The Answer continues with complete and total restoration to GOD.

The world in which we live has been sold salvation by every religion and philosophy out there. They are asking for more than just religion. They want something more than just safety, they need something that will bring them back into harmony with GOD. We are not called to shine our world a small Jesus that can only touch their lives spiritually; we are called to shine them a Big Jesus that can restore every part of their existence. When we reduce Jesus to simply a religious answer, we are reducing His impact in both our lives and the lives of everyone in the world. The Answer of Jesus is not a small answer. Jesus is the Answer to every part of life.

As the Body of Messiah, are we shining our world a Jesus of religion, or are we shining them a Jesus of reality?

Are we showing the world a small Jesus, or are we showing the world a Big Jesus?