The Last Battle
Friday, October 25, 2019
What’s a Christian fanatic? Can a person survive after being set on fire? Is it possible to be on fire but not consumed?
When I was a younger man I couldn’t stand fanatics. That is until I became one and realized that a fanatic was simply someone who loved Jesus more than I. After encountering Jesus I wanted to change that – but how?
Numbers 14:44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country; however, neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp.
In this passage the Children of Israel had listened to the report of the spies who had gone into the Promised Land. Caleb and Joshua had faith for the promises of God, whereas the rest of Israel chose to believe the bad report. As a result they were condemned to continue wandering around the wilderness till they died. What’s really sad is that after they receive this rebuke and condemnation they presumptuously chose to go up into the “heights” of the promises. Unfortunately, presumption never secures the promises of God leading to destruction and ruin.
It’s interesting to note that the Mountain of God went by two names: Horeb and Sinai. Both names were used for the same Mountain. For years I puzzled over the meanings of the two words. I discovered Horeb means the “sword that brings desolation” whereas Sinai means the “one on fire.” While seeking to wrench some meaning from its symbology I finally reached the end of my mental, or soulish abilities. Instead I chose to seek the Lord in prayer regarding it’s mysteries. As I sought the Lord I reached the conclusion that the two names were symbols of our two natures: Horeb, the older name, referred to our Soul Man, whereas Sinai, referred to the younger, Spirt Man. Which should cause us to ask: Do I want to live my life according to Horeb, the “Sword that brings desolation?” IN other words, Do I want to live a life that leads to “destruction, and judgment” or do I want to live my life according to Sinai? Do I want to become like the “One on Fire…but not consumed?” If you would recall that the burning bush of Moses was located just at the foot of this Mountain. Here Moses observed a bush on fire but not consumed. At the end of Revelation we discover Jesus as the Burning Man – on Fire but not consumed. (Revelation 1)
As we come to the base of God’s Mountain we have a choice to make. Which mountain will we choose to ascend? Scripture repeatedly asks, Who will ascend the Mountain or Hill of the Lord in Psalm 15, and Psalm 24. Yet in Isaiah 2:3 the unanswered question appears to be answered as the prophet observes: And many people shall come and say, Come, let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, to the House of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us His ways and that we may walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law and instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
What changed? What changed was that only One was worthy to ascend the Mountain of the Lord – only One. Jesus, our Conquering King, ascended the Hill of the Lord and made the way for us to follow into the Throne Room of God’s Presence. We must remember that there are only two ways to ascend. The first path is very wide, and popular. It is motivated by the presumption of the soul – mind, will, emotions and personality. From this path presumptuous souls assert themselves in the hope that somehow they can come into the Presence of God through knowledge, will power, sentiment and emotions. The personality of self- focused, self-centeredness asserts, and flaunts itself before a Holy God condemning itself to a life of separation from God. Fortunately God has made a way to the top of that Mountain through the Burning Man – Jesus. It’s path is narrow, and few find it. It’s not very flashy or popular. On the surface it appears to be insignificant, and can be easily overlooked. Yet through living a life in pursuit of Jesus we discover that this path is the greatest of them all. Here we face His Fires consuming our self-centered, presumption. Here we watch as our souls squirm, and struggle to be wrenched free from control. Yet here on His “Cross-Path” we may stumble, and even fall, but His Rock Strong arms are always there to lift us up, encouraging us to ascend higher. Blazing love beckons to us to progress from walking to running, to soaring on eagles wings. And why wouldn’t we? Who can resist the Eyes of the Blazing One – the Lover of our souls calling us higher, and higher. As C.S. Lewis wrote in the Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle: “I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now…Come further up, come further in!” This truly is the battle of the last days.
