Farther Along
Blessed is the man who searches his heart
And dares to step out of line
He watches the crowds and considers their direction
Only he thinks to himself - what a crime -
How a man could have accepted lies so undetected
Blunting his heart to evil -
Linking hope that is deceiving to the truth he believes in
His standards have fallen feeble.
But give the man a Bells, yes honor him well -
He who dares to question
All status and quo, along with its' woes -
The lies being covered in reflection.
Awakened he stands with a backfire in plans to now openly search his heart
For therein lies purpose in this outrage of circus, it's as though he were to restart.
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Final thoughts.
This year I had the privilege to confide in a community of people who love Jesus. We spoke freely about Jesus as regularly as society speaks about sport, politics and relationships. We dug daily into the scriptures, searching for deeper meaning and understanding of them. Jesus was pretty much central to all work, snub, debate and play. Such was the culture that was created. Speak of Jesus the way we did in an everyday societal context and you'd be labeled 'religious'. But it was more than that, it was transtemporal (big word for the day).
As for the transition, a blending back into society: what a treacherous affair. Moving from a culture infested with Jesus to one that is void of him, is not worth transitioning into. I'm not sure I want it. And yet I notice how easily I am swayed by it, the culture of this world. It calls me back, taunting me like a wayward woman lures in an insecure man.
You adulteresses! Don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.' James 4:7
I find in myself a desperation to hold on to what good one had whilst exploring Africa, as our hearts were set on keeping Christ preeminent throughout. And so the search for a safe haven intensifies; an environment that shares in a similar Jesus-culture one had come to know. In a vulnerable state, one may easily embrace, indiscernibly, the arms of the very next 'churchy' setup. What a danger this too is: falling deliberately to the opposite end of the spectrum in a hopeless attempt to steer clear of the BGC (before global challenge) days. It may appear less adulterous as you'd be shutting down the old, worldly ways. It may be less like Peter, who after his 3 year walk with Jesus simply goes back to fishing. However, this may be a stagnation in disguise. It's the deceptive strive for a safety net so as not to appear wayward, but in the end it is simply holding to the 'image' of a Christian, rather than the substance.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives freely without hesitation and without reproach; and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, without any doubting - for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord - he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:4-8
Yes, we must seek and hold on to the company of Christian brothers and sisters, but not as the focal point. Nor should we seek it as a backdrop were we to fall. First and foremost, we prepare our hearts by humbling ourselves in true repentance before our king for therein he answers us and shows us what to do. Those who truly seek him will know and hold to his word that says, ‘I will never leave you, nor forsake you…’ (Hebrews 13:5). Then secondly, we are required to act and make changes as he shows us and for each one this would be different, but do not be idle and do nothing.ÂÂÂ You know what you need to do, and God knows what you need before you ask it.
There is no need for a safety net in this life, it is temporal. To live is Christ, to die is gain, therefore Jesus is our safety. As the focal point, he's calling us to 'Go therefore'; be it into the nations; to the hungry and the lost; to the beat and broken; to the poor and the sick: to the ragamuffins. Hereby we take up our arms; honoring the call to make disciples of all men; inviting those who are thirsty to drink of the living water. 'A city on a hill cannot be hidden.' Will you go? (Matthew 28:19)