Learn From Me

Matthew 11:20 NASB “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

I’ve been doing a fair amount of investigative research this last month or so on what I call “secondary issues”. That would include things like the “Big Reset”, which includes a wide scope of secondary topics such as the validity of Covid-19, the coming World Order, the conditioning of the general populace, the eroding of a number of our freedoms, plus the dangers associated with the vaccine and their ultimate purpose, and a host of additional topics that are all interlaced within this particular subject.

I’ve also been closely following the ongoing claims being made by some, that the elections in the US were fraudulent and the continuing divisions that this is causing. There is also, of course, a wide scope of secondary issues that are interlaced with this particular subject that touch on the uniqueness of the current President and his role in furthering the values of Christianity. And yes, I’m choosing my words very carefully.

In both of these complex topics I have made use of sources that are both conservative and liberal, which includes both far left or far right opinions with related documentation expounding upon the validity of their particular perspective. If anyone thinks that there is a shortage of data on these topics and the varying opinions, they would be wrong because there is in fact a tremendous amount of conflicting available information on these topics. The short story is if you want to find information that supports your perspective you can find it and in like manner, there is usually an abundance of information that will also refute it. From what I can ascertain, as a general rule of thumb, the source selected largely determines the prevailing perspective, so if one is looking for untainted “truth” it usually comes down to which source is in line with all or most of the available facts (validated by the vast majority of competent relevant professional authorities) and consequently, the most consistently reliable. This particular goal alone can be monumental, especially when investigating a truth within a highly scientific field of knowledge, that you know very little about.

Ultimately these topics endeavour to propagate a particular perspective of the “truth” and the flavour of the “truth” that one adheres to, would be, in my opinion, largely dependent on the source that one most frequently makes use of.

The reason why I decided to expend this amount of time and effort on these “secondary issues” is largely due to the complexity of these topics and the frustration factor that is frequently encountered, when interacting with those that I deeply care for, who hold an opinion of the “truth” that differs from mine. And I should clarify that this is not my first run at these topics, as I have been following both of them for a number of years now.

And then, just to make things a little bit more interesting, I have been doing some introspect with regard to results, when dealing with specific Biblically related topics where I have interacted with others who once again, hold a different opinion on a particular Biblical truth than I do. Topics here also cover a wide spectrum and include subjects such as church attendance, the celebration of Christian traditional holidays, Calvinism, the New Apostolic Reformation and old versus young earth creationism, which is just a very small sample of available topics.

Whether we realize it or not, we all make judgements about topics which can and frequently do, differ from the judgements of others. And just because we are Christians and have God’s Holy Spirit within us does not in itself guarantee that decisions that we make are always going to be in accordance with God’s perfect will. There are numerous examples of this within the New Testament but the one that stands out in my mind is when Paul had to take Peter to task (Galatians 2:11-13). No one would question that Peter did not have God’s Holy Spirit within him but as recorded in the NT, Peter had made an incorrect determination or judgement. The Scriptures, are in my estimation, the ultimate authority and so one can see, due to differing interpretations of the Scriptures themselves, how differing perspectives can and do come about.

So what does all of this research and introspection have to do with the lead-in Scripture quotation from Matthew 11:20? Good question! Because God’s Word is our ultimate authority, and because Jesus specifically instructed us to “learn from Him”, to my way of thinking (and I could be wrong), that means really examining and taking to heart everything that Jesus did say and also noting what He did not say. It includes looking at what He did do and what He did not do and it also means focusing on what Jesus focused on. And when we do that we immediately come to grips with the reality that we are not Jesus. And our dependency is on Him, just like Jesus depended on His Father.

The short story is that I am not God. Jesus is. I don’t always know all the facts and all the things that need to be considered, Jesus does. And considering the reality that I will never, while in this body, have the ability to know all the facts and all the things that need to be taken into consideration, then my immediate goal is pretty simple. If you ask me for my opinion, I can give it to you and explain why it is that my opinion is what it is. As long as you are not denying one of the main pillars of doctrine within our Christian faith, opinions on other considerations are secondary and I should basically keep them to myself unless specifically asked for. And my primary focus is and always should be Jesus. The minute some other focus pushes Jesus aside from the primary position that He holds as my Lord and Saviour and my Teacher, I am taking an off ramp from the straight and narrow.

I have always wanted to understand. I don’t think that is going to change. But in my quest for understanding I have come to the realization that my understanding is indeed limited and I am never going to understand all that I would like to understand, while I am in this body, even when I apply all of my abilities. And that being the case, my one priority is to focus on Jesus, who does understand. If Jesus did not follow His own will while on this earth and in a body, if Jesus depended on His Father for all that He said and all that He did, and I am to learn from Him, then that, God being my helper, is what I shall try to do.

And to those whom I have personally offered my opinion (one to one), without being asked, in the past, my apology. Romans 14:1 comes to mind. I shall earnestly endeavour not to do this in the future. My track record in this endeavour isn’t that great so I may need to revisit this from time to time.

Worthy is the Lamb! Blessings!