Mirror

"Therefore, get rid of all unclean thoughts, and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls. But demonstrate that you are doers of the Word, not just those who passively hear, and don't change, thus deceiving themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; but once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what he looks like. But the man who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and keeps on looking, not being one who looks and then forgets, but whose actions are changed, this man will be blessed in what he does" James 1:21-25

Recently there have been reports of pastors and teachers who have fallen away from the faith. These are men who have blessed so many souls, helping them understand what the Bible teaches, and giving direction on how we should live. But much to our surprise, when faced with temptation, so many times they fall away. How is this possible? Didn't they know what they were doing was wrong? 

I believe this is what James is teaching us in this passage. There is quite a difference between knowing the Word with our mind, and receiving the Word ingrafted into our hearts. I remember the testimony of a man who was a seminary professor. He had studied the Bible all his life, and could understand the original languages in which the Bible had been written. He had all the academic degrees a man could get, but he was not born again. He knew well what the Bible said, but he only knew this academically. But through a crisis in his life, he turned his heart to the Word, and he was saved. The next time he read the Bible, he said it was as if he had never read it before. The words on the pages became like fire, and his heart was never the same. 

James compares the Word to a mirror. I believe that everything God wants us to know about Him can be found there.  However, when we look into the mirror, we may only see the surface image, when there is so much more to see. This is only a quick glance. Very easy to forget what we just read. He encourages us instead to look intently. Stay awhile. Don't rush off. Let the Word speak to our heart. That is when we are changed from "Glory to Glory" as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians chapter 3. Having so meditated on the Word, it becomes ingrafted in our hearts, and we are no longer hearers only, but doers of the Word. 

DOOR

 "I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and our, and find pasture" John 10:7-8

Doors are access points. A locked door prevents access, but an open door permits entrance. How then is Jesus the door? I mean I could get it if He said, "I am the doorkeeper", but that is not what He said. If He were the doorkeeper, then He would be in the position of guarding against the wolf entrance while opening the door for the sheep. But again, He said, "I am the door". What does this mean?

A sheep, I have heard, is far from the most intelligent creature our Lord ever created. They really DO believe that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. As dumb as they are, however, they know the voice of their Shepherd. Many flocks could be coming back from pasture, belonging to various shepherds. At the sound of each shepherd's voice, however, they will split off into various herds. What then is Jesus telling us? There are many influences in our world, many identities we could choose. Occupation that we are engaged in. Social status, who we know. Talents we may have. When we hear these voices, do we jump to attention? 

Those in the Kingdom of God can transcend all this. They may be lawyers, rich or poor, great singers, etc. However, these are not the identities they respond to. Only the voice of their Shepherd. They go where there is an open door. They refrain when the door is shut. Thus are they guided by their Lord. 

The safe harbor

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: Not as the world gives, give I unto you, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" John 14:27

Turmoil, fear, trouble and angst are everywhere. So when Jesus promises us peace, who wouldn't jump at the chance? But as the song goes, "I never promised you a rose garden, along with the sunshine, there's got to be a little rain sometime". Jesus DID promise that "in this world you WILL have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Yet as I observe many prayer requests from Christians, nearly all of them are asking for relief from a bad situation, healing of their bodies, or some financial blessing. Don't get me wrong. God can, and does, answer some of those prayers. This peace the world can understand. Don't we all want to have our suffering alleviated? 

There is another place, however, and there alone is the peace of Christ found. Daniel's friends were asked to bow down to the king's god. They said plainly that their God could deliver them out of the kings hand, BUT even if He does not, they still would not be worshipping the king's god. Why? They knew the secret. The peace of God is found in knowing Him. The storms may blow, and the tempest may arise, and it may seem like God has forgotten us. Faith, however, shows us that this is not the case. God does NOT promise deliverance from the storm, but rather that He will be WITH us through it. 

When Jesus taught us to pray, He told us to ask what God is doing, and agree with it. "Come thy Kingdom, be done thy will, on earth, as it is in Heaven". We do not NATURALLY know just what God's will is, so "give us this day our daily bread", which is primarily the revelation by which we will live. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every WORD of God" Luke 4:4. Sometimes what He is doing will seem a mystery to us, but our understanding is not required. When we have entered His rest, we know that whether or not our storm is calmed, our Faith will remain. 

"Built on the Rock, the Church must stand, even when steeples are falling, Christ builds His church in every land, bells still are chiming and calling. Calling the young and old to rest, calling the souls of those distressed, longing for life everlasting". 

"Not in a temple made with hands, God the Almighty is dwelling. High in the Heavens his temple stands, all earthly temples excelling. Yet He who in dwells in Heaven above, chooses to live with us in love, making our body His temple."

"We are God's house of living stones, built for His own habitation. He fills our hearts, His humble throne, granting us life and salvation. Yet to this place, and earthly frame, we come with THANKS to praise His Name, God gives his people the blessing"

"Through all the passing years, O Lord, grant that when Church bells are ringing, many may come to hear God's Word, where He this promise is bringing. 'I know my own, and they know me, you, not the world, My face shall see, My peace I leave with you Amen.'"