Imperfect Understanding

There are things happening around me, and sometimes within me, which involves my sometimes less than stellar reactions, that I cannot share. Not because I don’t want to, but because it involves an inadequate understanding on my part, that prohibits me from doing so. And the speaking of another, which I do not have God’s permission, to divulge. But I can tell you this, I have seen the face of our opposition, and it is sobering to see. There is a hatred there that defies description, and a loathing that is frightening to see. This is defiance personified.

Yet, and this is the unexplainable part, I still see God’s grace, that stands against this opposition, producing that which defies logic, that I can also actually see. There is peace where one would think, there should not be, and there is a covering that is wondrous to behold. And I can’t explain that either, but it involves trusting God, above and beyond that which I can see and comprehend. And this journey of coming to know God’s grace, and reaching out to Him, where in times past, I would not have done so. And even that, this simple act of going to Him, is a gift that He has brought about in me and not in or of myself. 

I don’t know if you are like me, but I have so many questions, that I have no answers to. There are a lot of “why’s” about myself and others, and things that I see, that I long to understand. I’ve even imagined, when walking in prayer with Jesus, to help me clarify the questions I would ask Him, that would lead to my understanding. Because, even there, I don’t always know even what to ask. And yet, through this maze of not understanding, comes a sliver of comprehension, that’s it not the “why’s” that are so often important, but even more importantly, the “who”, who is our source. Is it ourselves or is it our God?

A few years ago, while studying God’s Holy Word, what transpired in the garden set aside by God, for Adam and Eve, took on a new importance, that I sensed in my spirit, as a “key” to the understanding that we so often lack.  And this “key” involves our dependency in and our reliance on, not ourselves, but God. There is an acknowledgement of, beyond ourselves, in another, that is the linkage, to the limitations that we have, and the value associated with the source that we rely on. 

I don’t think Adam and Eve appreciated or comprehended that which they had, before their fall. They, to my way of thinking, obviously couldn’t have, or they would not have gone out on their own. But they did. That toggle switch of defiance, that “I can be” mentality, ushered them into a new reality, that was very different from that which they left. And throughout God’s Holy Word, that linkage back to the first Adam, and the path that he chose, is corrected or made right again, by the 2nd Adam, who is Christ our Lord. 

And the path of dependency that initially was, that was broken, is spelled out to us by Jesus Himself, who said that He did nothing of Himself, but that His reliance on and obedience to His Father, was absolute. And then Jesus told us that we also, needed to be reliant on and obedient to Him, or we could accomplish nothing, no fruit on that vine. I could easily fill this post with Scriptures that validate what I have just said, but I will leave that for you to do, should you wish to do so.

There is an underlying reality of acknowledging, trusting and appreciating, that is being returned to where it should be, and it is not the “why’s” that are of the vital importance, but rather the “who”. The “why’s” will be answered, but after we are completed in Him. We can’t have the “why’s” answered, without being reconnected to our “I AM”.  And I suspect that is due or linked to, the reality that we want all of our “why’s” answered, without our acknowledgement of, trust in, and obedience to, our Creator God. That’s the path that Adam and Eve chose and it just doesn’t work that way. God plan for our redemption is not a bandaid, it is a total reversal, based on our acknowledgement of, dependency in and love of our Creator God, personified in the person of Jesus the Christ, the only begotten Son of God.

The “example of defiance” which I allured to, at the beginning of this post, clarified the reality of this battle, beyond all doubt. And I will leave you with one parting Scripture: Ephesians 6:12 NASB “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. “

This “battle” is not over, there are still souls to be saved, but THE battle has already been won! Trusting in the Lord is not a bandaid, it is the means whereby we are sanctified, justified, and completed in Him. The way it was in the beginning and forever shall be.

Worthy is the Lamb! Blessings!