Limits
that we engage in directly affect whether statements we make or some actions we
are taking are realistic or even attainable.
Likewise, the statements and actions of previous generations guide the
parameters of those limits. As knowledge
and technology have increased so has our confidence that we can move the limits
further out. During my lifetime we have
moved from thinking about outer space to landing on the moon, establishing a
space station and sending vehicles to other planets to explore. Sixty years has moved the ongoing progress of
mankind from simple cameras to state of the art digital cameras and camcorders
in our cell phones. Along the way we
also moved the limits in human understanding of the human being that man has
become. The advanced teaching techniques
and special implements used in our schools and universities are churning out
graduates with more knowledge than ever before.
Physical, psychological, and emotional limits have been pushed with
positive and negative results. Just what
is it that mankind is looking for? What
is the mechanism that drives this need to push the limits? Let us explore that mechanism and its
goal. Firm moderation in our lives
coupled with the ever-expanding world of man somehow needs to bring peace. Internal, external and corporate and
community peace is the end choice for our world. It’s also the result in man’s relationship
with God. Let’s explore how this
mechanism is birthed, developed and used to transform us to a state of personal
and corporate peace.
We attempt to keep the areas of our life
in the realm of the possible and attempt to keep ourselves out of the realm of
the impossible. When we hear someone
say: “That’s impossible!” or: “That’s possible!” we have different actions and
reactions. For eons mankind has been
telling one another that there are impossible and possible elements to most
every area of life. Boundaries between
the two words is more nebulous to one degree or another. This is dependent upon mankind agreeing upon
a set definition based on fact. Of
course, we would be replete if we neglected the spiritual realm. Within Christian thought and the Word of God
we learn that “all things are possible”.
Really? We also learn that there
are instances when there are “impossible” situations or choices also. So, the “pool” of thoughts, evidences, and
actions create a space in mankind’s world that is each, neither and both
impossible and possible.
An example would be as follows: We are told that if we have the faith we can
say to this mountain to be moved from there to over here. Hasn’t been documented as far as I can tell. We are also told that with God nothing is
impossible. The variable we need to
focus on in the first example is “we” and in the second example is “God”. Taken to a quick end we acknowledge that we
are not God and never will be. It’s
simply not possible. There is only one
God and I am not him. That’s a
relief! I have enough to balance in my
life as it is. Yet, there are men and
women who do not believe in God and or even think they are god. Perhaps the interpretation is that those who
do not know Christ really are the god of their own world. Wait!
The Bible tells us that Satan is the god of this world. Whenever you have a situation where good and
evil are at odds you have no peace.
That’s why the section we are reading
says: “as far as possible…” At one and
the same time we are expected to use our “impossible” to be “the possible” in
our lives. When we are reconciled to God
in salvation and sanctification, the impossible has been defeated by our
surrender to God. Thus making our
impossible (we cannot save ourselves) into God’s possible (He is able to save us). We live our lives far from the realm of
“perfect”. We may have the ability to
pursue salvation, but the actual action of salvation belongs to God alone. He is the Completer in the equation. He is the Completer in our sanctification as
well. This action is also impossible for
us to bring about. We are a fallen
man. We have finite minds, heart and
live our lives without the possibility of doing it on our own. So, as far as possible for me, for today, for
this moment I can be part of the possible by surrender to God. Okay, I don’t do that well and know it all
too much. The sanctification remains a
possibility but can revert to an impossibility should I rebel against God. So, what happens when I remain in His will
versus when I choose to be out of His will?
I could just say “disaster” but that would defeat the purpose of
exploring the subject at hand.
When I am being a rebel and outside the
plan and will of God the first item to leave my presence is peace. If I don’t have peace, then I’m unable to
give others God’s peace as well. If I am
unable to be at peace, then my life is out of control. When I am out of control then it’s a good
possibility that I am not on good terms with anyone much less God. When that happens people, who remain attached
to me can actually become like me. That
is a huge negative. I don’t want people
to be like me even when I am in a right relationship with God. I want people to want to be like Jesus day in
and day out. Any focusing on me and my
world just distracts from people seeing Jesus and his world. Remember my world lies in the impossible and
Jesus’ world remains the realm of the possible.
So, not only do I lose my peace but those around me have their peace
disturbed as well. Have you ever been
around someone who is not in a good mood?
Yes? So, have I. As fellow man we might try to help them get
out of one mood and into another. We may
even take the time to pray for them.
Depending on our familiarity we may even ask them if we can pray for
them right there on the spot. If Jesus
is present through you there may be a call by the Holy Spirit to exercise the
gift you have in helping them step back onto the straight and narrow. What you do and how you do that is dependent
upon your surrender to God. The clincher
is wherever we are in our walk we are called to bring that portion of peace to
the people God brings to our lives. Unfortunately,
I’ve also had a track record of destroying the peace in other people’s
lives.
Let’s take a serious look at peace.
Peace
is central to the teachings of Jesus.
Other religions and philosophies have peace as a message of their
thoughts as well. Not with withstanding
the eternity old conflict between good and evil, there isn’t much real peace in
other religions and philosophies.
Probably because they are not based on a loving and gracious God who
gives us peace in our souls. One of the
basic concepts of human interaction is the rule that we cannot give away what
we do not have. It’s simply not
something we can do. We can give away
what we do have. So, we can give
material things. We can give away our
opinions. We can even give away
theories. On the spiritual side, we are
told to be ready to give (away) the reason for our faith. Are you able to do this? Are you able and willing to do this? Do you really believe in Christ and what the
Word teaches? If you do not, you are
merely giving away that which is yours (finite) and not Gods (infinite). Don’t fall into this trap and don’t fall for
it when others (well-intentioned but wrong) try to give you themselves rather
than Jesus.
We
humans have difficulty with peace. It’s not that we don’t want peace. Rather it’s because we do not want to do the
work and surrender necessary to have true peace. Then we don’t want to give it away because we
are a selfish people. In the end we not
only deprive others the peace of God; but also, ourselves. Let me give you an example. Let’s say I carry a grudge against someone
for something they once said that hurt my feelings. Let’s take it up a notch and acknowledge they
have been members of our church for the same long 17 years. The person has an accident and people are
asked to pay visits, bring food or help with a chore and your wife has
volunteered the two of you. You grumble
(no peace), fume (no peace) and strut around angry (no peace). Your wife takes care of what you are
contributing because you refuse to (yes, still no peace). Finally, the day of your turn comes, and you
and the wife drive over to the person’s home.
When you arrive, you tell the wife that you want to stay in the
truck. She asks why, and you say,
“Because!” Now you have passed on your
lack of peace to your wife. Good job
hero! Meanwhile, inside the house your
fellow man is lying in bed attempting to deal with their pain and discomfort. When your wife goes in to see him and drop off
the food they are happy to see her.
Quickly the look in their eyes changes and instead of being joyous, they
are saddened. You are not there, and you
just passed no peace onto them.
“As
far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with others.”
We
have discussed “possible and impossible” as well as “peace (good terms) with
others.” The middle section has not been
discussed. These two words are probably
the most crucial to look at in this sentence.
For men, surrender (with or without the previous five words) is almost
always a concept we balk against.
Surrender? Never! We read about not surrendering from early
ages to stories told by our grandfathers about “the war.” We maintain our stance against bullies and
big brothers and sisters. Are you able
to draw a picture in your mind about how men have had a long battle so that
they would not have to surrender? It’s
no wonder that mankind has been so thick headed and stubborn when confronted by
the Gospel from the Word. We are told to
“never give up.” And “big boys don’t cry.”
The echoes from barroom arguments to arguing about the color to be used
in painting the downstairs bathroom by ladies in the committee of your
church. One constant in no surrender is
everyone loses. We take the request to
“surrender” to an absolute standard. There is no room for negotiations. Giving ground in the mind of mankind is
failure. We all know this. So, why do we do it? Do we truly wish to have no peace in lives,
the lives of our loved ones or the lives of the Christian church? I think that mankind does want peace with
others. They just don’t use God’s idea
of peace. They use their own.
I
think “peace” is defined well in this sentence.
“As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with
others.” What would it look like if this
sentence was manifested in your life? All
your life? The cost of peace is the
giving of your life. Jesus did not die
in vain on the cross. He died so that we
could have peace. Peace in heart soul
and mind. He surrendered to death so
that we could have life. That’s
impressive. I don’t know anyone else or
anyone else’s god or philosophy that has been able to do that. History books are full of good people. None of them came into being to reconcile the
people to their Father. But Jesus
did. So, we can’t be perfect! We can still strive through sanctification to
bring the Gospel of peace to the land in which we live. There is nothing stopping us except us. Yet, we hear from time to time how mankind is
at odds towards one another both inside the church and outside.
Part
of our problem is found in the contingencies we put on our interaction with
others. Remember that we teach our
children that which we know and do. When
growing up in North Dakota there was no fear in picking up a hitch hiker as
most likely they were a neighbor who needed help. We were expected to stop and then help. It might even mean going out of our way to
help them. It was just something that was
expected. When I lived in California and
became a police officer my “definitions” changed with the added element of
safety. So, I picked up hitch hikers
only if I clearly felt the Spirit of God telling me to do so. It’s very seldom that I listen for that voice
anymore. With all the crime and whatnot
there is too great a possibility that I might be hurt or killed. It’s a sad testimony on me, the world, and
unspoken expectations. I can rationalize
and justify my actions as that of a concerned husband and father. They need me for…you fill in the blank. The risk level has risen to such a great
level that our human fear prevents God from seeing his work done through us. I’m not saying we need to not be
careful. I am saying that we need to be
obedient. This example is on the more
dangerous side and we are not often subject to it. However, there are choices every day that we
can and need to make where we risk but are not at risk. Believing God will care for us and provide
safety for us and our family is central towards our personal peace and the
peace we pass onto others. To be used by
Christ I cannot afford to see and interact with my contingencies fueled by fear
and my weak will.
Fear
is not a side product of the Christian life.
Peace is a product of the Christian life. If you and I do not have peace it’s not
because Jesus hasn’t given it. It’s
because you and I have chosen to reject his peace, keep our fears and doubts,
and listen to Satan and man instead of Jesus.
Not something I think any one of us can change without admitting to
ourselves our failings, asking for forgiveness and then doing what he asks us
to do. I heard Corrie Ten Boom speak on
a show once. She was talking to a crowd
about forgiveness. Towards the end of
the presentation she noticed a man at the rear of the auditorium. When she had finished he walked towards her
and she recognized him as one of the guards at the concentration camp she had
been taken to and where her sister had died.
When he reached her, he told her that he needed to and wanted to ask her
forgiveness for what he had done and not done in that camp. She said she struggled only a moment before
hearing the clear voice of God telling her to forgive him. She went on to say that she did forgive him,
talked with him and then was by herself where she noticed that she no longer
had any negative feelings towards him.
Forgiveness had taken place. I’m
not Corrie Ten Boom. I am no different
in the family of God. There is a mandate
that we forgive those who have wronged us.
There is no mandate that the person being forgiven ask for it. The Bible calls the process being
“reconciled” with God and man. Are
we? Have we? Will we?
We
deceive ourselves and still expect peace.
We don’t give peace and still expect it for ourselves. Divisions in the body of Christ continue and
grow because of our selfishness. I want
to address one more item we have not looked at.
How do we look at and react to the disobedient in the body of Christ? Do we still offer them peace though they turn
their back on God’s teaching? When
confronted by the Spirit of God do we listen and obey or allow fear and pride
to take us away from that which He expects us to engage? We have talked about this long enough and
should be adequately convicted to repent and seek God’s forgiveness for our
sins. So, we are all guilty. Me first and foremost. I cannot and should not ever justify my sin
or rationalize my sin. Yet I do. What is the matter with me? What’s the matter with you? It isn’t an easy answer, but it is a simple
one. We have lost first love with
Jesus. Do you remember when that
happened? Do you remember how peaceful
you were?
“Go placidly amidst the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without
surrender be on good terms with all persons.”
That is the command. With the heart and mind of Christ this is not
impossible, and we can be on good terms with all mankind whether they believe
as we do or not. They (whoever) are not
our enemy. They are souls who need the
saving grace of Jesus Christ. Bring it
to them wherever you are whenever he tells you to.
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