Determination by Gary Rose

 

Over the past few months, my wife and I have found ourselves watching “Heartland” almost daily. Much to my surprise, I have begun to genuinely appreciate the relationship between a human and a horse. Heartland often shows how horses gradually develop the ability to jump a hurtle and I wondered if the same process would apply to dogs.

When I saw this picture, I realized that the answer was a resounding “YES”. How, I wonder is this achieved? The answer is love, discipleship and repetition coupled with determination.

The achievement I just mentioned, also applies to humans who wish to excel at something as well. Well, how about Christians?

Consider the following passage from the book of Hebrews…

Hebrews 6 ( World English Bible )

¹ Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,

² of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

³ This will we do, if God permits.

⁴ For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

⁵ and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come,

⁶ and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.

⁷ For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it, and brings forth a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God;

⁸ but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

⁹ But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this.

To my fellow Christians I say: NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER! Love Christ and your brethren, make every effort to develop your discipleship in all aspects and be a determined Christian. If you do these things you will overcome any and all obstacles that Satan may throw your way ( with help from God Almighty, of course ). In short, you will be a winner ( just like that dog ).

Perspective adjustment by Gary Rose

 

Recently, I found this picture of a rainbow. Its uniqueness is found in the description- a rainbow is actually a circle, not just the arc that we see from the ground. Over my lifespan, I have seen literally thousands of rainbows, some in the skies, but even more in pictures from the internet. Today, I find that my perception of them is far too small, for I have thought of them just from a ground perspective. This revelation brought forth another thought in the form of a question: I wonder, has my conception of Christianity, the Godhead and the Gospel suffered from a lack of perspective as well?

The Bible says...

Ephesians 1 ( World English Bible )

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ;

⁴ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love;

⁵ having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,

⁶ to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely bestowed favor on us in the Beloved,

⁷ in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

⁸ which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

⁹ making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him

¹⁰ to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him;

¹¹ in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will;

¹² to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:

¹³ in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

¹⁴ who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.

After a bit of reflection, I realize that I need to adjust my perspective in a number of areas, namely; time, space, power, blessing and the sheer scope of existence ( both now and eternal ).

In short, my perspective is way too small. God’s Gospel, power, blessings and will are of an eternal nature, with unlimited understanding, power and precision. This makes my understanding of reality far too small to understand the totality of God Almighty. God views reality from a spiritual perspective, which results in a physical reality. I can only see the physical existence and partially understand the spiritual.

Frankly, I think the world is headed towards global thermonuclear war. If this should happen, then what? Well, my thoughts turn to something that was said in Kevin Heaton’s adult bible class yesterday morning. If it wasn’t for Moses interceding with God, then The Almighty would have just wiped Israel off the face of the map and started all over again. Could not God, with his unlimited power do the same for all of humanity? I believe God could do this and far more.

With power that is beyond my humble understanding, there is nothing that any Christian should really worry about for God really does have everything under control, whether or not I can understand it. About this moment, I recalled the words of the prophet Habakkuk…

Habakkuk 3 ( WEB )

¹⁶ I heard, and my body trembled. My lips quivered at the voice. Rottenness enters into my bones, and I tremble in my place, because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, for the coming up of the people who invade us.

¹⁷ For though the fig tree doesn’t flourish, nor fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food; the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls:

¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in Yahweh. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

¹⁹ Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength. He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and enables me to go in high places. For the music director, on my stringed instruments.

And then this passage from the book of Revelation…

Revelation 21 ( WEB )

¹ I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.

² I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

³ I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

⁴ He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”

⁵ He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.”

⁶ He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.

⁷ He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son.

⁸ But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

To those who really love God, I say… OVERCOME! God will work everything out, BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD!

Now that is one huge perspective adjustment!