Fortunate as Altha and I are to live at the foot of the Santa
Cruz Mountains, there is hill close by I can climb when I need a little perspective. My friend John Woodward recently wrote a post
entitled, “A Higher View,” in which he poses the question, “Why is it so
fascinating to get a higher perspective? Could it be that we get accustomed to
the ordinary appearance of our surroundings and lose sight of the larger scene?”
One of the reasons I was put off by the movie (remember, I
didn’t read the book) “Heaven is for Real” is that it presented Heaven as a “place”—more
than what it is: a higher realm. The closer I get to my last days on earth, the
more I take comfort in higher thoughts. (I am just sorry it took so long to get me to this point!) While we are yet living in this lower realm, it is “natural” to get
caught up in it (or is it ‘caught down’?). What better person than Paul—who was once caught up to the third heaven—to exhort us, “Set your
sight on things above” (Col. 3:2, Jubilee Bible). To do otherwise is to be terribly short-sighted (2 Peter 1:9).
An avalanche on Mount Everest last month killed 16 Sherpa
guides. Closer to home, a 28 year old man died in a climbing accident
on El Capitan in Yosemite Park last year. No one can deny the danger of
climbing. Only the fearless attempt it.
Likewise, the higher places of spiritual life are hazardous. The Psalmist acknowledges this when he says, “He makes my feet like those
of a deer and gives me sure footing on high places” (18:33). The high places
represent, spatially, closeness to God and greater spiritual sight (and insight).
The fear of spiritual heights is justified. If you fall—unlike
nature’s climber, you will not be destroyed—you will be more hurt than the security-seekers on the ground! (But think of the ecstasies you would miss!) Take confidence in the “God who is able to keep you from falling and bring you with great joy into His glorious presence without a
single fault” (Jude 24). Be fearless! Think about the spiritual revelations waiting for you at the summit! Think about Jesus high and lifted up.
Francis Schaeffer, an intelligent defender of the Christian faith in the 20th Century, predicted that self-professing Christians would increasingly reject the Bible as God’s inerrant Word. Of course Schaeffer was aware that already many once-conservative Bible schools and seminaries had rejected its Spirit-breathed truth, leaving them nothing to teach but myths and historical records.
But it isn’t just schools of higher education assailing the Bible; state and municipal governments seem to be on the attack. In 2008, Arizona Courts gave a man jail time for holding Bible studies in his backyard. In 2011, the city of San Juan Capistrano fined a man for holding home Bible studies without a permit. (And there are others.) But perhaps the most significant assault is coming from mainline churches, now rejecting a literal interpretation of Scripture, choosing to soften ‘hard sayings’ to accomodate our culture of tolerance.
That said, I have no interest in Biblical apologetics. Why? “People who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them; they can't understand it. Only spiritual people can understand what the Spirit means” (1 Cor. 2:14). No, the best way to prove the integrity of the Bible is to live it. The best testimony to Biblical veracity is a changed life (yours and mine).
The expression “I have no heart for that” means to have no enthusiasm for it. The phrase came to my mind after reading this quote by Andrew Murray: “Jesus has carried away our hearts with Him. We have no heart left for anyone but Him, or for anything that He is not part of.” The phrase “she/he stole my heart” also came to mind. Logically (I thought), if someone’s heart had been carried away or stolen, then they would have no heart—they would be heartless.
Now of course the word “heartless” has an entirely different connotation, doesn't it! It means ‘devoid of feelings.’ I fear, however, that this word may indeed be more characteristic, than not, of too many professing Christians who have little or no heart for the deeper things of God.
Jesus said the entire Law could be summed up in this statement: “Love the Lord God with all your heart” (Matt. 22:37). Think about it! If we truly did that, we would be anything but “heartless.” We would be “heartfull”—because God would fill our hearts with His love, comfort, and joy; he would fill us with the fruit of righteousness, with the knowledge of His will; we would be full of His Spirit, who would then fill us with His fullness. (Rom. 5:5; 2 Cor. 7:4; Eph 5:18; Phil. 1:11; Col 1:9; Eph 3:19). Heartless? No! "Heartfull?" Yes!
With 21 post-graduate units in theology and a semester of teaching in college, I am acutely aware of the dangers of what-is-called “higher education.”
Several times in the Scriptures, the Lord mentions the fact that an abundance of or excessive reliance upon worldly education can actually be a hindrance to entering into the Kingdom. The beginning words of the Lord’s teaching on the Mount began with the blessing on “the poor in spirit.” According to Strong’s Concordance this phrase means “destitute of wealth of learning and intellectual culture which education affords.” God said He would destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to naught the intelligence of the intelligent (1 Cor. 1:19).
Please do not misinterpret my comments as “anti-intellectualism.” The mind is an essential part in faith: Paul says we are to grow in knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). And Jesus told us to love God "with all our mind” (Matt. 22:37). The challenge to each of us is to be a diligent student of the Word (2 Tim. 2:15) so we may attain a truly "higher" education.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately—not just randomly, but deliberately—about what God may be calling me to do in the future. It has occurred to me that I have to think out of the box (“my” box), that is, not limited by my own imagination. Shelly Lazarus, former CEO of one of the most prestigious New York advertising firms, says, "If you can think it, you can do it." Normal Vincent Peale said, “Change your thoughts and you change your world.” Is that biblical? On the other hand, Henry Ford said, “Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right.” Well, I don’t want to think more highly of myself than I should, nor be limited by whether “I” think I can. I want to be thinking what God can do.
The apostle Paul said, God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20). Though Jesus defied the laws of nature, cast out demons, restored crippled limbs, healed the blind and deaf, and raised the dead, he proclaimed “whoever believes in me will do even greater things than these” (John 14:12). I don’t know about you, but I can hardly imagine doing greater things than Jesus did. But that’s my problem. I’m limited by “my” thoughts and “my” imagination.
The likely interpretation of Jesus’ words is that while He was limited by time and space, we would take the Gospel to the entire world and where the spiritual realm, called the kingdom of God, would have no end. No limitations. Jesus knew the power of God would work through us to accomplish these “greater things” and the “good works” He Himself created us to do (Eph. 2:10), We must be vigilant with ourselves not to be limited by what we can think or imagine. We must have higher thoughts (Col. 3:2-3).
I have a friend who prayed for months that God would do something about a noisy neighbor keeping her awake at night. (I am sure her prayers were something like this: ‘God can’t you make him be quiet’; or ‘God, why don’t you make him move?’) But last I heard from her, the neighbor is still noisy and she is still waiting for God to answer her prayer.
I call unanswered prayer a divine mystery. On one hand, Jesus said “if you ask the Father anything in my name, He will give it to you” (Jn. 16:23). But Scripture also gives examples of men and women of faith who endured pain, suffering, torture, even horrible death… and died without ever receiving the promise (Heb. 11:36-39)—their prayers of deliverance seemingly unanswered.
The writer of Hebrews tells us God had something better for them. We expect God’s answers to be “yes” or “no.” But in doing so, we limit God to human logic. Have you considered that God’s answer to your prayer is I have something better for you? “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Is. 55:9). There really is no such thing as unanswered prayer: unanswered prayer is an oxymoron! God always answers you—but in His time and in His way. If God does not answer “yes” or “no,” it is because He has something better for you.
Some are calling it the “Lost Decade”— net loss in job growth; a decline of middle-class incomes (adjusted for inflation); and a lower Dow Jones average in 2009 than ten years earlier. The only gain was an increase in household debt—117%. After the robust 90’s who could have imagined a decade without profit! You can be sure for the next ten years, our fiscal leaders will be working to make our nation profitable again.
Through the prophet Isaiah, the LORD says “I am the Lord Your God who teaches you to PROFIT and will lead you by the way you should go.” (Is. 48:17). Throughout the centuries men have prayed to their gods to make them profitable! But the profit Isaiah speaks of is not that which the world seeks. The word ‘profit’ comes from the word ‘ascend,’ i.e., to ‘go higher.’ God is saying ‘I will teach you a higher way.’
As aliens on this planet, our home is in a higher place—and we are more concerned about building treasure in heaven than earning profits on earth. Just imagine God as a prudent financial planner who teaches you how to invest your assets to get the best profit. As a wise planner He discerns the path to success—and “the way you should go” is heavenward. Jesus teaches us that denying your own interests and following Him is very profitable. But as any investor will tell you, when considering long-term investing, you’ll need to be patient; and especially Christ’s disciples: their investments won’t fully mature until they reach heaven.
…for what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (Mark 8:36)
I am convinced one of the most important ministries we have is encouraging one another—“Let us… stimulate one another to love and good deeds… and encouraging one another all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25). Our souls are stressed by living in this sense-oriented world; we get weary and discouraged (Gal. 6:9). We need to lift each other up!
When Abraham and his men were exhausted from battle, and most vulnerable, God sent someone to lift him up—Melchizedek, king of Salem. Though his place in history is brief, much has been said about Melchizedek as a type of Christ. He shows up right after Abraham has won a war against the kings of Canaan, with a well-deserved & much-needed meal for Abraham and his weary men. Then, after dinner, Melchizedek delivers a 2-verse sermon: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." (Gen.14:19-20)
Imagine that, you pastors and teachers, a two-point sermon that can be delivered in less than a minute! Point One: The Most High God owns the heavens and the earth. Point Two: the Most High God had defeated the enemy! The sermon was very relevant: Abraham would have been tempted to 1) covet the spoils of war, thus enriching him, and 2) lift himself up in the pride of his victory. In other words, at the moment of self-exaltation, God sends Melchizedek to lift Abraham’s eyes to the Most High God.
The best sermon is one that lifts you up to see God’s “higher” perspective, one that helps you to “set your mind on things above” (Col. 3:2), and turns your attention away from your ‘self’ to the Most High God. This is how we are to encourage one another—it is the Melchizedek ministry!
