Mad Hatter or All That Matters?

 

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

“Arise, Jerusalem!  Let your light shine for all to see.  For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you….I will exchange your bronze for gold, your iron for silver, your wood for bronze, and your stones for iron.  I will make peace your leader and righteousness your ruler.  Violence will disappear from your land; the desolation and destruction of war will end.  Salvation will surround you like city walls, and praise will be on the lips of all who enter there.  Isaiah 60:1, 17-18

Isaiah looks across the annals of time to that day when holy light shines in Jerusalem.  It is the Messianic promise of God that one day all will be well, because all the darkness of humanity will have been subjected to the light of God’s glory.  He speaks of a massive upgrade:  bronze becomes gold, iron turned to silver, wood strengthened to bronze, and common stones made into useful iron.  Peace now leads by the rule of righteousness.  Violence has disappeared! “War” has become a word retired from all lips, even banished from our thoughts, and the eternal reign of God’s salvation will be the talk of the universe…every bit of it bathed in the praise and glory of JHWH. 

When we read passages like that it is not surprising that a potpourri of reactions comes forth.  One imagines it is fantasy; how can humanity, the  community of darkness, be found living in such light?  How can peace reign eternally, given the warring nature of mankind?  Violence vanished?  You would expect the Mad Hatter, that Alice met in Wonderland, has been given free reign to write the news of the day.  So it would be, it seems, a riddle without answer.

From a human perspective such an idyllic promise of Heaven on earth is little more than wistfulness, an empty hope, or high-thinking-but-unreachable dream.  It would be nice, but how could this be?

There was once a teenaged girl who was given such a vision by a heavenly being.  She was told she would bear the Son of God, Messiah…He would be the Prince of Peace.  He would usher-in the Kingdom of God, and be our Savior.  She also mused on the riddle of being pregnant under the most unusual circumstances:  How can this be?  But from the first swelling of her belly to the last drop of blood on Calvary’s hill, every word the Angel told Mary came true.  And it was that truth spoken to Adam and Eve that a Savior would come to overcome their evil.[1]  

Considering all of that, how can we think Isaiah a Mad Hatter with a delusion?  The prophet speaks not of a fantasy, but the most sobering reality.  The day is coming like a pregnant woman’s moment in the birthing suite:  pain and the judgment of blood, followed by joy and the fullness of God’s promise.

For You Today 

I’ve been a little on the poetic fringe today, offering commentary on Isaiah like the Cheshire Cat Alice encountered in Wonderland.  Alice asked the cat if he would kindly tell her which way to go.  The cat, from a tree branch, asked:  Where do you want to go?  Alice replied:  I don’t know.  The cat said:  Then it doesn’t matter which way you get there.

Riddles can be as much madness as an unwinnable video game wasting your hours, like you have an inexhaustible supply.  Isaiah was no Cheshire Cat; he was pointing us in the only direction that matters…eternally!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

Go to VIDEO (read by author)

There are about 2,500 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  To dig deeper explore some of these:  Epiphany  and The Embrace of God's Peace 

Title Image: The Mad Hatter via Pixabay.com    Images without citation are in public domain.

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©  

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[1] See Genesis 3:14-15

Yes...and No

Friday, December 16, 2022

Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’  Anything beyond this is from the evil one.  Matthew 5:37

Humpty Dumpty made his appearance as a riddle of the late 18^th century.  His presence has graced virtually every literary idea-push from Mother Goose fairy tales to edgy political satire.  Alice (of the Looking Glass in Wonderland) has a conversation with Dumpty, the talking egg:

"I don't know what you mean by 'glory,' " Alice said.

Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. "Of course you don't—till I tell you.   I meant 'there's a nice knock-down argument for you!'"

"But 'glory' doesn't mean 'a nice knock-down argument'," Alice objected.

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less."

"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."

"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master—that's all."

Alice was too much puzzled to say anything, so after a minute Humpty Dumpty began again.  "They've a temper, some of them—particularly verbs, they're the proudest—adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs—however, I can manage the whole lot!  

Impenetrability!  That's what I say!"

The riddle of The Dumpty is much too dark for children, and therein lies the point; we can be as imperceptible as we wish, skewing the meaning (and therefore the intent) of our words.  Jesus says that’s too dark and evil for a believer.  A simple yes or no is clear, unmistakable, and wholesome.  And that is rather the Godly point.  To be any different than Thou shalt not, or thou shalt, when it comes to what thou dost…crosses the boundaries of love.  And, for Christ, that is the utmost concern…because it is the benchmark of Godly character.  To deceive, even with a so-called child’s riddle, is to be Satan’s offspring.

In our contemporary culture truth, unvarnished and untarnished, is just as uncomplicated (and uncommon) as it’s always been.  From interpreting economic forecasts to explaining a new law’s intent and purpose, politicians have danced with truth as you would dance with molecules of Coronavirus, just as far from being pinned with your words as possible.  The shade of darkness of Sir Humpty’s word-penetrability is directly proportionate to what’s at stake for the dissembler.

The most telling illustration of this in my memory is from 1998, when the Grand Jury asked President Bill Clinton if there was any improper relationship between himself and staffer Monica Lewinsky.  The president’s Dumpty moment surfaced when he responded:  It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.[1]

For You Today  

For anyone with a reasonably-sized vocabulary, it is always a temptation to hide-behind a word wall.  Jesus, ever the master at punching-through deceptive walls, is never taken unawares by any attempt to cover the truth.  Following Him means you will let your ‘yes’ and ‘no’ stand on nothing less, or more.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

Go to VIDEO (read by author)

There are about 2,000 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  To dig deeper on today’s topic, explore some of these: 

   Of State Dinners and Spies and Diverse - and Dying

Images:  Title Via Wikimedia Commons   Images without citation are either personal property of the author, or in public domain.

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©  

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[1] Bill Clinton and the Meaning of “Is”

And I Will Give You Rest

[1]

If you recall "Alice In Wonderland" is a children's story.  If you recall it in detail you remember it is not a pleasant children's story.  Alice faces some very scary and confusing circumstances.  The difficulties Alice faced were fantasy.  Most of us will never be confronted with a Cheshire cat or nasty Queen of Hearts.  (The jury is still out on TweedleDee and TweedleDum – although McConnell and Pelosi come close). 

But the crises that trouble our lives are as much perplexing as Alice's walk through the looking glass.  All through her adventure she is looking for direction, a road to travel.  Like Dorothy in the Land of Oz, there is the anticipation of rest and home, if we can just get where we're going. 

In the 1960's, my generation, the rebellious flower children, were frantically searching for themselves and finding they needed something from without to help them understand that which was crying-out from within. 

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel expressed the inner turmoil of that day, and Alice, and Dorothy’s as well:

All my words come back to me in shades of mediocrity,

Like emptiness and harmony, I need someone to comfort me....

Homeward bound, I wish I was homeward bound. 

Home, with my music playin',

Home, where my thoughts escapin',

Home, where the love light's waitin' silently for me.

There is not a person in this room that doesn't want the kind of rest Simon and Garfunkel sang about in their longing for home, or Alice frantically needed down in the rabbit hole, or that rest Dorothy couldn’t find in Oz. 

Jesus told his followers how to find it:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

We once had a toaster that provided entertainment more than toast.  It had a frayed wire.  The sparks were like Disney's light parade.  Electricity knows when you are not its' master.  I have learned to have a lot of respect for electricity. 

When I "fixed" that toaster, it became like other things that didn't get professional care in our house.  My kids called it a Dad-fixed thing.  Whatever dad fixes is sure to come unglued, undone, and certainly the results are unholy! 

It is like that with the Christian's walk with the Master.  Without a good connection, our power leaks out, and we become short-circuited.

Jesus' offer to us is to Come.  That is an invitation to come closer to Him, so we might be restored to a closer relationship with Him.  Too often believers are willing to be in the family of Christ, but not under His daily control and direction.  That is like trying to live in two different worlds at the same time; and THAT will wear you out.  Jesus offers rest, the kind of rest that allows you to be peaceful inside and out.

There are SEVERAL DYNAMICS at work about responding to Jesus’ invitation to come to Him and receive that rest.  That call is an offer of restoration, a repairing of what we started out to be, but messed-up.  And even more, Jesus’ brand of restoration goes beyond just a new start; it’s a start on a higher plane than where we began.  

For that restoration touch we turn in our Bibles to Paul’s second letter to Timothy, and pick up where we left off last week ^{(2 Timothy2:15)}…with seeking God’s approval by becoming right handlers of God’s Word. 

In the next chapter^(#3) Paul tells Timothy right handling of that Word means listening to what God has to say to us, about us.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.  2 Timothy 3:16-17

Paul did not hiccup or stutter when he stated flatly that every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, and training us to live God’s way.

Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.  And that brings rest to our souls.

Let’s take a look at the process:

I.  God’s Word Showing Us Truth  

(to teach us what is true)

The truth God shows us is how we are in need of being in line with God’s pattern for human beings as He created us. 

Last week in the children’s message I showed them my new electric power saw.  I then showed them the owner’s manual and compared that with how the Bible, God’s Word, is the manual for humans.  Just like my power saw is dangerous if not understood and operated properly, so the human being must operate within God’s will. 

We were created to respond to God’s nature…not our own whims and desires.

The current tension and impending split in the United Methodist Church is a textbook illustration of this truth.  When humans begin to reject (rebel) against God’s truth with their sexuality, choosing to live in a rebellious perversion, rather than as God created us, it should not surprise anyone that the world will be flipped upside down in judgment.

When that happens God’s Word will move from teaching to exposing…

II.  God’s Word Exposing Rebellion  

(make us realize what is wrong in our lives)

The King James word is reprove; the Word of God rebukes us by showing us where the error lies.  And there are only two responses possible when God speaks a definitive word:  increased rebellion or cleansing repentance. 

This “exposing” of our rebellion is something God’s Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts.  This can happen under many different circumstances, but often God uses a preacher speaking the word of truth, and the Spirit bringing conviction to the hearer’s heart.  Sometimes that leads to the end of a rebellion; too often it leads to a firing of the preacher because the pride of a backslidden Christian doesn’t want to hear all about his rebellion.

So…the process begins with the God-breathed truth of the Word which exposes our rebelliousness, and then the Word tells us what must be done to get back on course, walking with God, not away from Him in rebellion…

III.  God’s Word Correcting Rebellion  

(corrects us when we are wrong)

Correction is what the doctor does.  We’re sick, and he gives us medicine to cure it.  This may be the hardest step in the process. 

It’s like the rich young ruler who came to Jesus.  He’d been a good person all his life, but he was married to his money.  He wanted to know what further good thing he needed to do; Jesus said Give up your love of money.  That was the living Word of God correcting the man’s rebellion.  But the man turned and walked away.  It’s hard to let go of our favorite sin!

But what does the Word have for us if we do?  What if we hear the truth of God’s Word, find out we’re off course in rebellion, hear how to change our ways, swallow our pride, and lay it all on the altar, asking God’s forgiveness?

What if we’re willing to change our way, surrender our life’s pattern for following the pattern of Jesus? 

That’s when the Word of God teaches us how to stay on course…

IV.  God’s Word Training to Live  

(God’s Word…teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work)

By this point in the process of being restored to peace in our lives, both within our hearts and minds, and with other people, we’ve learned that God teaches us truth, exposes our rebellion, and shows us how to stop rebelling and start cooperating with God. 

Those are wide-pathway principles that cover every area of life.  Accepting those principles is a momentary decision.  It’s like responding to the evangelist, saying yes at the altar, and signing a pledge card.  It’s a simple yes or no decision.

However, this next – final – step in the process lasts from that moment on, until that fateful day you step on Heaven’s shores and meet Jesus. 

Until that day it is training, becoming a disciple, learning constantly how to live denying self, taking up the cross, and following Jesus.[2] 

It’s being conditioned to follow the pattern of right living, the kind of living only God’s Holy Spirit can empower.

There is so much more to this last discipleship step than can fit in a sermon, or a library of sermons.  But, perhaps the testimony of one who found rest after being restless for years can help.

The Story of One Who Moved from Rebellion to Rest

This one who moved from rebellion-to-rest was a young boy, raised in church.  He heard the truth about loving and cooperating with God in his home, and at church.  By the time he’d reached 9 years old he had accepted that truth and the Savior of that truth.  He became a Christian.

But in the two decades that followed, old rebellion showed its ugly face and stunted the spiritual growth of this newborn babe in Christ. 

Married by this time, and having suffered enough unrest because of his rebellion, he was searching frantically for a way home where the music played, and the thoughts escapin’ were waiting to comfort.  Like Dorothy longing for Kansas, or Alice wanting desperately to climb out of the rabbit hole, this young man anguished for rest!

Finally, the Word of God began coming back, making sense, calling him to the home not made with hands.  And the Word who had become flesh and dwelt among us had those hands of flesh outstretched, opened wide in invitation to come and learn of the meek and lowly. 

It was the old, old story, and it told the young man to take the yoke again; it was easy and light…and it would lead to rest…restoration of all that was really needed.

That young man swallowed his pride and took that yoke; he felt the outstretched hands wipe away the tears. 

And the Word of Truth spoke again – rest; enter into My rest, Russell…there is rest for your soul.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…Amen!

Go to VIDEO

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[1] Title Image:  Russell Brownworth (original work)      All Scripture from The New Living Translation (unless otherwise stated) 

[2] Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24

Seeing and Following the Light - Part 1

[i]

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.  Proverbs 29:18^(KJV)

In Proverbs 29 the writer deals with discipline and its effects.  He talks of disciplining children and employees, and also lays-out the disastrous consequences of ignoring that discipline. 

The text uses two words that open the entire train of thought, vision or divine guidance, and perish, which is a word picture of a usually tame animal running wild.  A modern day picture would be a locomotive, with all its power, off the track and headed for destruction. 

Vision comes from two basic words in Hebrew which mean to see, and restriction.  Prophets are people who "see".  In ancient times they were even called "seers".  In this case, revelation, or vision is seeing the restrictions.  It has to do with discipline. 

Paraphrased we could say:  "When the people are not seeing things that should properly restrict, then they run amok, unrestrained."  The Proverb writer knew in his heart that God requires humans to observe the restrictions placed upon them.  It is then, and only then that we can live a meaningful life. 

At one point in Alice in Wonderland she asks the Cheshire cat: Would you please tell me which way I ought to go from here?" 

That depends a good deal on where you want to get to, the cat replied. 

I don't care much where, Alice says. 

Then it doesn't matter which way you go, says the cat. 

I really think the writer of Proverbs could have ghost-written the Cheshire Cat’s dialogue.  The Proverb text declares a real human goal, to see the discipline, the restrictions of God, because without it we won’t get anywhere.

Over the next couple of days we want to see from this text some plain Axioms, eternal truths that cannot change, and which, if we apply them to life will bless our days.

Let me restate Solomon’s proverb for the 21^st century:

Where we cannot see the compelling logic, and overwhelming evidence of God's prior claim on our lives, we will scatter and not serve Him.  Proverbs 29:18

And now let me give you what Jesus had to say about seeing:

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world.  If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”  John 8:12^(NLT)

So…say it simply, preacher:  God owns us, and He expects us to serve Him.  From this main thrust we can see a few other related truths....

1.   WE ARE EXPECTED TO BE DISCIPLINED SO WE'LL GROW 

In every area of life there is a discipline in which to enter for the purpose of becoming more proficient.  A child obeys parents to learn wisdom and grow.  A worker learns new developments in his field to serve his employer.  A leader studies trends to understand the marketplace.  And in the spiritual realm, believers study scripture, worship often, give, and serve so that they will become mature parts of the body of Christ.  The alternative is staying as a spiritual infant. 

In the book All God's Chillun the author recounts when his little 2½ year-old daughter was chastised for some little wrong, she used to say:  It was not I who did that; that was another little girl in me.  Failing to accept responsibility for growing as believers is destructive.  Chaos is not a good thing in any area of life.  The word perish in Proverbs 29 could very well be translated chaos.  Discipline changes the chaos of life into stable growth for a strong body.

For You Today

Got any chaos in your life?  Any idea how to change all that?

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!

Go to VIDEO

NOTES

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[i]  Title image: By Anant Nath Sharma (www.thelensor.tumblr.com), via Wikimedia Commons