Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
Have you ever stopped to ponder about purpose?
Kidnapped from a life of privilege and subjected to years of slavery, he returned to invite his captors to enter the Eternal Kingdom he had discovered. He became a valued son, and after receiving a vision from God, an obedient ambassador of the King of Kings! But I am certain, if given a choice, this journey was not what he would have freely chosen.
Considering this drastic account, I am reminded of a short book by C.S. Lewis that also portrayed a stark contrast. It is titled,
“The Great Divorce.”
It begins with a desperate scenario. One where frantic suburban commuters board a bus with hopes to escape to a better reality. In deep dissatisfaction they were leaving a, virtual utopia; a place where any material possession or comfort would simply appear, as inhabitants casually thought them into existence. But their preoccupation with self, and their inability to tolerate their neighbors, or act in a way that their neighbors could tolerate, turned their utopia into a jail of torment.
This is a Heaven turned Hell.
One seemingly suitable for creatures, formed in the, “Image of a Creator God.” A place for those who failed to embrace His character and discern His purposes, or desire His will.
The book goes on to describe the task of preparing for heaven.
Personally, I find Lewis’ descriptions intriguing. Considering the miracle of life and all I see around me, I cannot help but wonder about my own future. By faith I accept my position as a valued ambassador in a glorious kingdom, because of my Savior’s sacrifice.
Personally, I find Lewis’ descriptions intriguing. Considering the miracle of life and all I see around me, I cannot help but wonder about my own future. By faith I accept my position as a valued ambassador in a glorious kingdom, because of my Savior’s sacrifice.
But I also wonder about my role and my purpose. Am I prepared?
In the book of Genesis, the fallen angel, Satan, invited Eve to have her eyes opened and join him in his rebellion. It was a rebellion of religious autonomy. He called for her to rise up in defiant self-confidence and, ”be like God,” even as he challenged God’s integrity.
In the account, her willing submission to his enticement was the door way. This doorway to self-deception was opened through an appeal to her appetite. An appeal for her to seek and experience a different form of knowledge and wisdom. Satan was aware of her appetites and used them to gain influence and control over areas of her life.
Satan’s involvement in shaping our appetites can influence us as well.
His enticements, especially to our pride or vanity, when cherished and held tightly combined with the intriguing mystery of forbidden fruit can add great allurement to the vises we muse.
And like Eve, after committing, we readily allow these alluring distractions to reshape our thoughts and convictions. Like Eve, we may even flee from the God we knew, or imagine a reformed god, that is more amenable to our new prejudices and passions.
Soon, our entanglements identify us and dictate who and what we are willing to tolerate, or associate with. Eventually our commitment becomes enshrined and our right to religious autonomy may define our entire identity reshaping our existence.
Jesus was confronted by this type of shifting prejudice during His ministry.
Early in His ministry, His message of love and hope was strongly embraced by both the crowd and the established leaders in the Synagogues.
But as He continued, His call for ALL to repent became intolerable to the religious leaders. Soon, they would reject Him and as was their custom, they would create self-righteous reasons to justify putting Him to death.
But what about, “The Kingdom?”
Jesus describes a different kind of Kingdom. One even more glorious than any here on earth!
In the book of Genesis, the fallen angel, Satan, invited Eve to have her eyes opened and join him in his rebellion. It was a rebellion of religious autonomy. He called for her to rise up in defiant self-confidence and, ”be like God,” even as he challenged God’s integrity.
In the account, her willing submission to his enticement was the door way. This doorway to self-deception was opened through an appeal to her appetite. An appeal for her to seek and experience a different form of knowledge and wisdom. Satan was aware of her appetites and used them to gain influence and control over areas of her life.
Satan’s involvement in shaping our appetites can influence us as well.
His enticements, especially to our pride or vanity, when cherished and held tightly combined with the intriguing mystery of forbidden fruit can add great allurement to the vises we muse.
And like Eve, after committing, we readily allow these alluring distractions to reshape our thoughts and convictions. Like Eve, we may even flee from the God we knew, or imagine a reformed god, that is more amenable to our new prejudices and passions.
Soon, our entanglements identify us and dictate who and what we are willing to tolerate, or associate with. Eventually our commitment becomes enshrined and our right to religious autonomy may define our entire identity reshaping our existence.
Jesus was confronted by this type of shifting prejudice during His ministry.
Early in His ministry, His message of love and hope was strongly embraced by both the crowd and the established leaders in the Synagogues.
But as He continued, His call for ALL to repent became intolerable to the religious leaders. Soon, they would reject Him and as was their custom, they would create self-righteous reasons to justify putting Him to death.
But what about, “The Kingdom?”
Jesus describes a different kind of Kingdom. One even more glorious than any here on earth!
During His ministry He reported the coming of, “The year of the Lord’s favor,” which include freedom to prisoners, sight to the blind, oppressions broken, the dead raised and the gospel, (good news), being preached to all.
Before Pilot He stated, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest... But now my kingdom is from another place.”
And yet we still experience it’s influence today and reflect on those changed by it, Like, Patrick!
In Matthew Jesus said, “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come.
Are you ready? Join us as we explore this beautiful site.
Imagining at Ashford Castle on St.Patrick'sDay, Imagining Faith and Duty
shot at(website)
I would title it, "Even when it looks like God has left us... God is in full control, and we are His ambassadors. Hear it at:
