SEEING CLEARLY

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 08 April 2012

Hi all,

Consequences! Everything we do has an end result. Even doing nothing has an outcome. Many of the things we do are coincidental. They are the result of natural laws that God has put in place in the universe. If I step off the roof, the consequence could be fatal. The fact that I was standing next to someone may be a coincidence. If he pushed me off the roof it couldn't be a coincidence. It was someone using the upshot of the law of gravity to “get rid” of me. Some would argue that God had told him to do it. Others would say, “The devil made me do it!” Others may suggest that I was foolishly testing my own jumping ability. The outcome for me would be the same.

We often warn our children not to do certain things. “Don’t touch the hot plate, it will burn you” is a classic example. The child does it and gets burned. That was the outcome of disobedience. Often, children do these things to see if what we say is true. They get a quick lesson in effects. Hopefully they won’t test the consequence of playing hop-scotch on the motorway.

There is an aspect of consequences that we don’t understand when we make choices. The impact it will have on life in the future. Having children is perhaps the greatest example. Even if the choice was accidental and unplanned, the consequence is permanent for the mother and the father. In the vast majority of cases, the children will outlive their parents. So for the parents, the consequences are life long.

For a Christian, the decision to make Jesus Christ Lord of life has eternal consequences. It is life changing on this side of the grave and, on the other, dictates our ultimate destination.

Today’s meditation refers to an unfortunate incident in the life of a friend of mine. Circumstances “conspired” to give him “arc eyes”. For the next couple of weeks he had to visit the sick bay for treatment. It was the brilliant light from welding that caused it. He had looked at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Scripture informs us that to look at the face of God would kill us. ²⁰ But you can't see my face," he (God) said. "No one can see me and stay alive." Exodus 33:20 NIrV

But the day will come when we will see Him and will not die. This will be the day He returns! ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. ¹⁷ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thess 4:16-17 NLT

Now this is something to look forward to. The consequence of committing our life to Jesus will become reality.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Seeing Clearly

 When I was an apprentice, in nineteen sixty three,

There was a silly accident to someone close to me.

Another friend was welding; and so he “struck an arc”.

A light so very blinding, he wore a pair of dark

“Glasses” on his helmet to see the welding place.

And also keep the sparks away from flying on his face.

The man who did the welding was very highly skilled.

They called upon him often: The company was thrilled,

Because of his ability to do the hardest job.

A talent that had raised him above the average mob.

My other friend was watching. He should have turned away.

But he was not quite quick enough when he stood there that day.

The welder started welding and as the arc was struck,

It seemed on this occasion my friend was “out of luck”!

The light, in all it’s brilliance, went straight into his eyes,

And left him semi-blinded. If only he’d been wise,

It never would have happened. A price he had to pay.

To let his eyes recover in the company’s sick bay.

The moral of the exercise is something Moses learned.

Just a little look at God; he could be badly burned.

A welding flash is nothing compared with what will be,

If by some odd coincidence, the face of God we see.          Exodus 33:20

My friend was semi-blinded. The flash was very bright.

But that is next to nothing. If somehow, we catch sight,

Of Father in His Majesty we cannot stay alive!

His purity and brilliance; we simply can’t survive.

And yet, the Lord has told us, that there will be a day,

When we will look upon Him and not be blown away!

John tells us in his letter; his first one in God’s Word,

We’ll see Him and be like Him. I know it sounds absurd!

But we’ll be like the Saviour! He will protect our eyes.          1 John 3:2

We will not need a helmet when we meet Him in the skies.

If we continue doing, the things He says are right,

He said He’ll turn the darkness into everlasting light!

The shout of the archangel and the trumpet of the Lord,        1 Thess 4:16-17

Will snatch us from the graveyard to come for our reward. 1 Thess 4:16-17

And nothing could be better than being face to face,

With Father, Son and Spirit and feeling their embrace.

Jim Strickland – written Sunday 8^th April 2012.