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E.T. Phone Home

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Mirrors are marvelous contraptions. Since narcissus fell in love with his own image while gazing at his reflection in a pond, the human race has been fascinated by mirrors. Mirrors are the friends magicians, the enemies of aging movie stars. WE have round mirrors and squat mirrors; big mirrors and compact mirrors; bathroom mirrors and rearview mirrors…If a dog is man’s best friend, perhaps his worse enemy is his mirror. Well, maybe his mirror isn’t really is worst enemy; it merely reflects the image of his most formidable opponent. What opponent is more dangerous than the one ho knows our deepest, darkest secrets? What opponent is more lethal than the one who can probe our most vulnerable points? – R.C. Sproul, Man in the Mirror Introduction

In this weeks installment of blogs we will seek to look into the mirror of the lives of Biblical twins to see what it reveals. In the familiar story of Esau and Jacob we are introduced to two brothers, fraternal twins (not to be confused with identical twins) who can teach us a great deal about who and what our spirit man can become. From the beginning of their birth the elder is favored over the younger as a man’s man; a hunter, or man of the outdoors. Tim Allen would depict him as a tool man (Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor), grunts and all. Jacob on the other hand was a homebody, some might ever refer to him as a “Momma’s Boy,” not given to grunts, hairiness, or the great outdoors. Whats’s amazing about these two is how quickly they expose our own spiritual condition; the divide between soul and spirit. Naturally, or soulishly, we would most likely have chosen Esau in a game of kickball, football or baseball. Jacob on the other hand would be the one last chosen; not our first pick. In an interesting twist God actually prefers the younger, and probably the least likely to be voted home coming king, or the most popular, or class president. But why? What is it about Jacob that God loved? What did He see that his earthly Dad couldn’t see?

Jacob valued the birthright, and the patriarchal blessing so much so that he was willing to stoop to any depths to obtain them. Jacob was so hungry for any blessing that he was willing to wrestle through the night to obtain it from an angelic stranger. But what was the big deal about the birthright and blessing? The Birthright was an honor given to the firstborn, bestowing “head of household” status and the right to inherit his father’s estate. The son with the birthright would receive a double portion of whatever was passed down. It’s your inheritance. The Hebrew word for birthright means to “bear new fruit.”  The Blessing on the other hand was prophetic in nature involving the Favor or Grace of God bestowed upon an individual in every area of their lives. (See Deut. 28). Jacob valued these – and he valued them bad. So badly, that we was willing to do whatever it took to get them. There you have it: inheritance and God’s favor or grace. Hopefully you can see what God saw. For in these two values of Jacob we have a foreshadowing of those who are born from above. Those whose hearts belong to Heaven. Alien strangers visiting an even stranger land. But these extra-terrestrial’s (E.T. phone home) have a heart light that must phone home. Col. 3:1-3 states an obvious characteristic of those E.T.’s when he states: If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. I used to be puzzled, even offended by the beatitude that stated: blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth until I read Psalm 37. That blessing is repeated 5 times. I noticed a teachable moment so I asked the Lord, What’s the big deal about inheriting the land? His answer surprised me. Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Everything that Jesus is coming back to possess belongs to His heirs. It should be of value to us because it is of value to Him. Jacob saw the value in the inheritance afforded to him through the birthright. He saw the value in God’s Grace and favor. He saw so much value in them that he was willing to do whatever it took to possess them. All children of the King should be the same way. This sounds really crazy but I long to be home with Jesus. But check this out: our heavenly home is only temporary. Why? Because Jesus is where our Home is and He is coming back to this earth to reign. Isn’t that crazy? Jesus makes Heaven – Heaven, and there’s coming a day when He will make earth like Heaven. Why do we pray, “Thy Kingdom COME!!!???? That’s so amazing. To be with Jesus – face to face; our faces looking into His Beautiful Face! Can you hear the call? E.T. Phone Home!

What’s Your Worldview?

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Sunday morning I was meditating in Psalm 37 and found an interesting parallel to one of the Beatitudes. In fact Psalm 37 mentioned this Beatitude 6 different times. Think about that. Why would the Psalmist mention this Beatitude 6 different times? It must be important. Right? Here’s what they say: 3 Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.; 9 For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord [in the end] shall inherit the earth. 11 But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 22 For such as are blessed of God shall [in the end] inherit the earth, but they that are cursed of Him shall be cut off.29 [Then] the [consistently] righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. 34 Wait for and expect the Lord and keep and heed His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; [in the end] when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

The Beatitudes of Jesus say a similar thing: Mt. 5:5 Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!

Now I have to be honest and admit that this promise has not been a bestseller for Christian bumper stickers, or refrigerator magnets. I don’t even think it made the list. Why the neglect, or apathy regarding this promise? It’s all about your worldview. Everyone has a worldview. It applies to you whether you are smart or average, rich or poor, religious or irreligious, Canadian or Australian – we all have a worldview. World views address 4 issues: origins, meaning, morality and destiny. In other words four crucial questions are answered: Origin – Where did I come from? Meaning – Why am I here? Morality – How should I live? and Destiny – Where am I headed? A worldview destitute of meaning and destiny will lead a person to draw the conclusion that they have no purpose for their existence. They aren’t going anywhere except to the grave and thus their lives have no meaning. Now over the years I’ve been in the ministry I have had some interesting interactions with varying world views among those who call themselves believers, or followers of Jesus. And I must say that until I received some revelation from the Lord regarding this matter that my world view was similar. What was the world view I encountered? That my destiny was wrapped up in dying and going to Heaven. Now I believed in the 1000 Year Reign of Jesus and all but the impact of the Scripture mentioned above hadn’t really settled in. That is until now. When I stumbled upon this promise it caused me to ask, “What’s the big deal?” I’ll just be happy to have a resurrected body, and worship Jesus. But when I prayed about it the Lord showed me an amazing truth. It’s found in several passages but I’ll only use a few. Rom. 8:17 And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.; Heb. 1:2 [But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order].; Heb. 6:17 Accordingly God also, in His desire to show more convincingly and beyond doubt to those who were to inherit the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose and plan, intervened (mediated) with an oath.

Heirs receive inheritances. Jesus is the Heir apparent of all things. Meaning He gets to inherit all things: the worlds, outer space with its galaxies, stars, planets and moons, and the Heavens. But the mind-blower and kick in the pants is what Romans 8:17 states: And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him];…

Let that sink in. All that belongs to Jesus will also belong to us?! The eye opener? Didn’t it all belong to us in the first place, or at least to our Great Grandad and Mom: Adam and Eve? Our broken, weak, diluted, and thin world views need a Biblical upgrade. We were born-again with a purpose. In fact Heb. 6:17 states as much. This means our world view of waiting to die and go to Heaven to see loved ones, dip my toes in the crystal sea, and play a few rounds of golf, is way, way, way off. What’s really crazy is that you and I were made for more than just looking at the back of somebody in church and calling that worship. Paul gives us a hint in 1 Cor.6:1-3 Does any of you dare, when he has a matter of complaint against another [brother], to go to law before unrighteous men [men neither upright nor right with God, laying it before them] instead of before the saints (the people of God)? 2Do you not know that the saints (the believers) will [one day] judge and govern the world? And if the world [itself] is to be judged and ruled by you, are you unworthy and incompetent to try [such petty matters] of the smallest courts of justice? 3 Do you not know also that we [Christians] are to judge the [very] angels and pronounce opinion between right and wrong [for them]? How much more then [as to] matters pertaining to this world and of this life only!

Did you catch that? We will judge angels and judge and govern the world. Thus my recommendation for the Body of Christ is to get an upgrade from God’s Word and adjust our world views to match Jesus’ and His Word. Our center needs to be adjusted for it has been off for quite some time. Jesus have mercy on His Bride the Church.