In the last entry, we looked at a special shelter that God had constructed is a haven for His people in the time of trouble (Psalm 91). I would like to study how our viewpoint affects this shelter.
Through all of the hatred, brutality, injustice, violence, disease, death, "natural disasters", economic upturns and downturns, racism, wars, strife, corruption, political haranguing, thievery, perversion, oppression and depression, whether found in the world or even in the Church, the Lord keeps my eyes fixed on a particular view, and doesn't let me turn my head to the right or the left to see anything else. I am very tempted to turn my head and gape, like a rubber-necker slowing down to look at a disaster scene, but so far, try as I might to look, my head is jerked forward again, and I am directed to "look this way instead". It's like being a race horse that has to wear blinkers to prevent it from getting distracted from the goal - to cross the finish line placed somewhere ahead of it, or a blinkered plow horse that is to keep to the row being worked. As it turns out, I don't think being blinkered is a bad thing.
The Word of God is full of examples regarding where I should be looking, where my viewpoint should be, especially in these times.
Jesus said that the conditions at the time of His return would be like those in the days of Noah: people going about their normal daily tasks, unaware, or disbelieving, that judgment is about to fall. The days of Noah were filled with men's violence against men. Men had become so depraved that only evil filled their hearts and minds continually (Gen. 6:5, 11-13). Where was Noah's viewpoint through this terrible time? His viewpoint was directed by God, not upon the wickedness of men, but upon the shelter from the calamity (v. 14-16). He had to have his eyes focused on God, ignoring all diversions, because he couldn't have built the massive ark any other way. We don't know that he was even a shipbuilder, but God had appointed a work for Noah to complete before the judgment was to begin. God's covenant was with Noah (v. 18), and this shelter would be for himself and family members. In setting his view and focus upon what the Father planned, was Noah neglecting his spiritual responsibilities to be salt and light, or as a prophet to his generation? Scripture says no (Heb. 11:7, 2 Pet. 2:5). The fruit of his singular focus, which was the gradual building of an ark, which consumed many years of Noah's life, was a witness in itself to those around him. Its purpose was not only to provide a shelter for the righteous, but to condemn the unrighteous world. The world asked, "Noah, why are you doing such a foolish thing when there is no water anywhere around here?" "Noah, don't you see the terrible things going on all around you?" "Didn't you hear that your neighbor was murdered last night by violent men?" "Where is your God now, Noah?" But Noah kept building. There was a terrible judgment coming, but Noah's job was to build an ark, plank by plank- a work that not only pointed to a judgment, but also to the refuge from it.
As Jesus' return nears, it is also accompanied by many horrors and terrors as prophesied, with worse yet to come. These calamities will be the worst the world has ever known (Mt. 24:21). His first coming was also accompanied by terrible conditions and events. The Roman occupiers were brutal. They took captives from the conquered lands like Israel, and brought them to Rome to be slaves. Thousands were crucified along the roadways as a warning and a tool of intimidation against any who might think to "cause trouble". Their rule was oppressive, and they sucked the economic blood out of the territories they conquered, removing riches and taxing the people into poverty. Their governing was corrupt, and "justice" was bought for money, or determined by political considerations. The puppets they put in charge betrayed their own people to serve the Roman interests. Demons had seeming free reign, causing people to lose their minds, even viciously attacking children. Sicknesses were chronic or incurable, so that even physicians and priests could no longer offer relief. Even religion had become monetized, oppressive and violent. One had to believe the Messiah secretly for fear of expulsion and persecution by religious leaders. Towers fell, and innocent people were killed. It was every man for himself as the sick and lame struggled to enter into the healing waters. Even among the disciples of Christ, the son of perdition was present, who stole and betrayed unto death. He was a "wolf in sheep's clothing".
So what did the Holy Spirit lead Jesus to do? Yes, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit (Lk. 4:18-19/Isa. 61:1-2a; Lk. 4:1), and the Spirit was leading Him in a specific direction. The Spirit was leading Jesus to build an ark or a shelter, which was the kingdom of God, and Jesus did not remove His eyes from that goal. He was anointed to preach the good news to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of prisons to those who are bound, and to proclaim the acceptable (ratson- good will, favor, pleasing, delight, will, desire, satisfaction, acceptance; root meaning-affection, reconcile self, approve, accomplish, pleased, paid off) year of the LORD.
A multitude gathered to hear Him speak one day. Considering the events and turmoil swirling around the nation, what would Jesus, this rabbi and prophet say? Would He condemn the brutal Roman occupiers? Would He rebuke the corrupt puppet king, Herod, like John the Baptist did? Would He praise Israel for remaining faithful in their worship at the Temple, despite all of the challenges? Would He demand justice for all of those who had been abused and oppressed? Would He lead a revolution against the occupying power, as the Maccabees had done? The multitude waited to hear what He would say to them. They didn't expect Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit, to build an ark:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake." Mt. 5:3-11
No doubt there were many perplexed and disappointed listeners that day. They didn't hear what they were hoping and expecting to hear. However, if they were listening carefully, they would have heard the building of an ark, a shelter, a haven of spiritual safety within the darkness of evil, and the storm of judgment that was to come against it.
Other listeners on another occasion might have been equally disappointed to hear Jesus say that the first and most important thing to seek, even in those times of brutality, was the kingdom of God, and His righteousness. He promised that everything else they needed would follow that ark (Mt. 6:33). This is where their eyes should be focused.
Jesus was creating an alternate reality through faith. It was not a false reality, but the true reality of the kingdom of God. This is the way we are to understand all things- by faith:
"By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." Heb. 11:3
The whole of Hebrews 11 is about men who were not ruled by the things which they could see, but they sought the things that were not yet seen, in spite of what was visible in the natural world. They, after the image of God, through faith, created a new or an alternative reality from things which could not be seen. Paul wrote, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Cor. 5:7). Faith is the whole basis of the belief that we have. It is impossible to please God without it (Heb. 11:6). Our faith is strengthened or weakened depending on our viewpoint.
Jesus said that when we see all of the calamity happening, and the evil growing worse and worse, even to the point where men's hearts are failing them in fear and expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, our viewpoint is to then change. When we become aware of the appearance of these signs, we are now directed to "look up" with heads lifted up, because our reality, Redemption, is drawing near (Lk. 21:26-28). What is seen when "looking up" differs greatly from what is seen when "looking around". We need that change in viewpoint. We can't build what needs to be built without that change. They see disasters and the fruitless countermeasures of men, but we see Redemption and the power of salvation and creation. This different viewpoint of events creates joy where there is reason for sorrow, and hope and confidence where there is encompassing fear and dread. We are not to be reactive to the world, but proactive in the kingdom of God.
In Psalm 73 King David, of the household of the Messiah, wrote an account of when his viewpoint was changed. His eyes had been on the prosperity of the wicked, and the seeming injustice of it (v. 1-3). He found himself becoming angry, bitter, resentful. He began to think that it was pointless to seek righteousness. His heart was grieved, and his mind was vexed by what he was focusing upon. In fact, he said that his feet almost stumbled, and his steps nearly slipped. However, when he entered the sanctuary (mikdash- holy place, hallowed part, chapel, asylum (which means an inviolable place of refuge and protection), consecrated place; root meaning: holy, prepare, appointed, set apart, be separate, to keep oneself apart or separate) of God, his viewpoint was changed. He began to set his mind upon the things above rather than things on the earth (Col. 3:2, Phil. 4:8). He became filled with the vision of God, rather than the vision of man. The warning to me in this account of David is that our spiritual walk is profoundly affected by our viewpoint.
On another occasion, Jesus spoke about a king planning a wedding banquet for his son's marriage, and how important it was that all invited should prepare to attend. Jesus' listeners could have wondered why attending a wedding was important at such a time as this. Like those who refused the wedding invitation in the parable, they might think there are more important things with which to be concerned. How could focusing on preparing to attend a royal wedding solve their dire problems? Yet Jesus told them it would.
As those who were connected to Herod (allied with worldly powers) questioned Him about paying the controversial taxes to Caesar, Jesus was not going to be drawn from His viewpoint, which was His Father's kingdom. Instead He examined a coin, saw the image of Caesar upon it, and answered, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." (Mt. 22:16-21).
Jesus talked about the work and the profits the hard Master expected to receive from his servants when He returned. There was a spiritual job to accomplish regardless of worldly circumstances and "wisdom". I'm sure His listeners were hoping instead that He would tell them how to be freed from the hard task masters they already had here on earth, not told to serve another one. However, Jesus was telling them how to escape their earthly servitude. Messiah expects to see what we have accomplished and created through faith in Him, not from a viewpoint of the world. Yet by having our viewpoint on the shelter of the kingdom that Messiah expects us to focus upon, we are serving those on earth who labor, and are heavily burdened in these times.
Jesus talked about the field that was white for harvest, and the laborers that were few. Was Jesus now expecting them to add another task to their already burdened bodies and souls?
No, He was talking about the spiritual work that was to be accomplished during such a time as that... and this. From this viewpoint, we are not denying reality, but creating it, and not just for ourselves, but for many others as well.
Finally, Jesus completed the ark, the shelter of salvation, that He was anointed to build by offering Himself as the Haven in the storm of wickedness, turmoil, and death that swirled around them. This sacrifice was the final nail to be set in what Jesus was building by keeping His eyes on what His Father was doing, not upon what man was doing. From the viewpoint of men, this sacrifice looked like a humiliating death deserved by a sinner, but from the viewpoint looking towards heaven and the Father, it was an act of a righteous Man, creating everlasting life for many.
There is a judgment about to fall, and an ark or shelter for us to build, and like Noah and Jesus, our eyes should be set to the task. Do not be pulled to the right or to the left, but let your viewpoint be directed by Him (Prov. 4:25-27), the Master Ark Builder. There will be those in the world who will be looking for the place that is the haven and the shelter that the Father has built.
If we are following the leading of the Holy Spirit, our work in progress, and of course the completed work, will be a testimony and a prophetic warning to the perishing, but also a shelter, an encouragement, and an asylum to those appointed to everlasting life. It just depends on your viewpoint.
Our Father is showing us where our viewpoint is to be placed.
