Return to Love

These themes, lately:

Abide in Christ.
Abide in His love.
Love.

And others, but for the past many months...even in terms of merciful judgment to come...love has been the focus.

I've been reminded again, lately, at the vast disparity between Christ's love and what the world conceives of as being love.

The world's version of love is alway self-gratifying, in some way. Even if only as a matter of seeking to avoid emotional pain. ...even a mother's love has become entirely contorted, outside of Christ, to such extent that mothers even kill their children. Whereas others leech, emotionally. And still others count accomplishment as a marker for emotion.

Witnessed, only partially experienced (as on the receiving end), but not otherwise known.

And yet, a father's love is supposed to be as strong. Or, if it really is to be an epitomization of Christ's love, the Father's love, then...hadn't it ought be more fierce and unwavering? Or is a mother's love just a well an epitomization of God's love?

There's much talk, these past couple of weeks (months?) about the family as a representation of relationship with God. On the whole.

So, how contorted are things, then?


...look to the family.

One thing, over and over and over, that just will not leave my mind...

...is the idea of the love of fathers being turned back to their children.

Not a camaraderie, not a militaristic autocracy, not parenting in absentia, nor giving life then disappearing...and especially not any of the multifarious forms of wretched abuses conceived by the godless minds of many (even if without intent, but merely by rote of nature).

No, but a Godly love. One expressed through unwavering patience, encouragement, and tenderness, as much as comprised by an unassailable authority, ongoing assessment & correction, and the expectation of utmost respect. Or, at least, that's how I understand it, as of now.

But an unconditional love, yet inclusive all those things. Even the judgment. Even the punishment. As those are unto correction, ultimately, for any child beloved. Even as they're due, regardless. And for those who refuse to be sheltered as children, who choose to mock and deride and despise correction. The hatred in their own hearts will mark judgment.

I've also noticed, lately, that for some reason we're societally choosing to also now allow for spelling of judgment as "judgement." It used to be one of the words commonly on "commonly misspelled words" lists, and I always tended to misspell it, otherwise it wouldn't catch my eye so much now, to see the misspelling now accepted as a correct spelling (even Webster's agrees, apparently).

Just a strange thing that's been standing out, for the past couple months.

Same as it was odd that we societally decided to make optional the use of the oxford comma in common writing, not very long ago.

These things don't necessarily mean anything, but at the same time, chances are...they are significant of shifts in social conscience.

Memes are real things, in daily life. The last one I'd paid any mind to, hearing it begin and then take over so much of dialogue and consideration was reference to "common sense," starting sometime late 2012, then fully for a year. "It's just common sense, who wouldn't know that?"-sort of things, only used as statements of fact, rather than intended as relaying opinion in some fashion. The idea that took over, as it were, is that common sense is a viable, legitimate, and wholly universal "thing" which is wholly universal and unwavering, as though all people "just know" certain things as true.

Like, you know...

...that God IS and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

...that is common sense.

However, problem is...we get so wrapped up in the things of the world--in pride, in lust, in covetousness, greed, self-concern, envy, and all else which comprises a "normal" life...

...and we completely lose touch with what otherwise does in truth comprise "common sense." Again...that God exists.

That is common sense. Paul even wrote to the Roman Christians about that as a state of nature, God-given, at the beginning of His letter he mentioned it. Within what we call the first chapter.

Again...problem is...we all get so wrapped up in self, in terms of the world, that we near totally lose touch with reality (which is that God exists, and then all things remaining subject to that awareness do proceed within the scope of reality...). Most of us do, at least...

Point being--for people in any position of "authority" on the world's terms to make appeals to "common sense" is absolutely absurd, baseline, given life and actions which deny God's sovereignty. You cannot claim to honestly believe God exists and live in such a way as to denigrate and disrespect (whether blatantly or underhandedly, overtly or understatedly) everyone or anyone...

...I'd heard the point made very well, once...

...in terms of that being absolutely self-contradictory.

If you believe God exists, that is absolutely the most important thing you could ever begin to look to, then. If you believe He exists, what that means for life is that there is a one...who is sovereign even of you... ...and given, then, that someone is sovereign of you... ...it does logically follow that you might reasonably wonder whether or what any sort of expectations for behavior might exist... ...because, for one to be sovereign, if they do have expectations for your behavior and you don't attempt to meet them... ...then it might be also reasonably expected (that just as with the law of the land), if those expectations aren't met, then consequences are likely... ...thus, it would be of the highest importance to find out exactly what those expectations are, so as to do whatever can be done, to live within them. Given you're subject to them, regardless whether you know of them (same as with law, ya'll--ignorance of the law does not excuse a person for breaking it).

...or alternately...

...if you believe God exists, then it follows that He is the highest of all beings, as the source of all, and thus also the only, supreme, sovereign. He would thus be the one most desired to be sought, for meaning, for purpose. And because He's there, then it must be possible to know Him, and if it is possible to know the God of the entire universe, then there is nothing else which could possibly compare in significance to seeking that one end--the utmost, highest pursuit any created being could possibly contrive to endeavor: to know the Creator. There could be no higher end than to seek He from whom all has come into being. Period.

So, whether seeking to know Him for the sake of who He is (and/or all the many things which could also be delineated of how He is, just per view of nature and creation...) or for sake of fear of His judgment...

...still...

...if you believe He exists, then the only way to reasonably live is in such a way as honors one of the above (or perhaps a variation further, but still one which would also make apparent per living and interaction that you recognize that God is the highest in all of creation, thus worthy of devotion, pursuit, and obedience)...

...otherwise, your actions entirely undermine veracity of your proclamation...unto making it a lie, on the whole.

Which is, now, where it comes in that the appeal to "common sense" was so utterly flummoxing. Denying the most basic of all creature knowledge/common sense--that God exists--by making such a statement as is intended to undermine and mock a perceived lack of intelligence in others simultaneously makes lie of any pretense to possession of "common sense" by acting in such a way as denies God's existence, having so flippantly mocked His creation while simultaneously exalting self as sovereign. So, yeah.

Because that statement totally proclaims the assumption, by the one making such statement, that whatever they conceive of as "common sense" is common and innate, such that anyone who lacks particular intelligences which such person considers "baseline" is thus not only unintelligent, but lacking in basic understandings of life (the implication underlying the term "common sense," moreover).

So, you see how confounding that is?...people who, without much a second thought (if any), make split second determinations (without much else than superficial judgments based wholly on appearance) which alter the entire course of other people's lives--adding undue hardship for those already suffering silently, moreover...and again and again and again, relentlessly--then mock such people for lacking common sense.

Lessers.

And that is the world we presently live in.

Those who should otherwise be the protectors, the providers, the procurers of mercy for the downtrodden...

...mock them openly...

...and then glibly turn them out into the cold (proverbially speaking, though surely literally too, in instance).

All in the name of progress.

So it doesn't surprise me overmuch to see that judgment is now changed of spelling, more liberally.
Nor to note that a(n apparently scholarly-specific distinction, alone) bit of randomness has also come into general grammar.

I mean, we have kids who despair because they aren't able to sign their name because they don't know how to make cursive letters.

And many children whose only knowledge of their fathers is intermittent, sporadic, and superficial...at best...given work demands, at the least...and generally tendency toward self-indulgence rather than family, in general. At best, except in cases which are the vast exception, now.

And how long has that taken? How many years? How many decades?

And cyclic, yes.

He never wavers, though. God never turns away.

We do.

So the turning is that we must turn, back to our Heavenly Father. Even as the love of the fathers will be turned back to their children, in due turn.

All a part of His mercy. Correction. To turn back to Him.
He will have His portion. He is due.

So, pray. We must.

To abide in Him.
To abide in His love.

He said He loves us, as the Father loved Him.

Can you even conceive of that? How great was the Father's love for Christ?

And how great, even, His love for us...to give His life?
Endure an eternal torment, within span of a few hours, an afternoon...only the infinite can make such things as time wholly bend.

And perhaps...that's not even precisely how it was...yet, nonetheless, that He did endure God's wrath due to sinners--for sins of all the world, as John said in his first codified epistle to the church...
...that those who would come to Him, drawn by the Father...
...would come into grace, as His atoning work became propitiation for such as our sins...

...He went into death, even, for us. God Incarnate died.

If that makes any amount of serious sense to you, please meditate much longer upon the idea!

The Eternal Father...the Ancient One made flesh...

...Life, Incarnate, died.

...

...for us.

So that we could have life. Despite the death we consume, all our lives. For sin is unto death, even once. Ever once, then always unto death.

So, He endured the wrath we would suffer...were we to come into the presence of God with hearts of sin, loathing and despising Him...raging, burning, hatred, loathing the light He is...enduring eternal torment, even in such a moment as to be in the presence of the Holy One...no longer shielded by the distortions made play by the flesh, but wholly plain, spiritually seen as fully turned against Him...and no longer hidden from His light, then burning.

Rage against the one who loves becomes utmost torment in the unchecked presence of He who loves.

A sight akin to that even played out in the flesh is like unto what goes when too much concern, too free a compassion, too hearty a love and desire for wellness and comfort is shown, unreserved, to any who aren't willing to receive such love, freely. It breeds disgust, at the least. Suspicion. Resentment. Disdain. Mockery. Unto open loathing and derision, even, if let wholly to rot.

And that's even amongst Christian brethren.

...yet being transformed...

There's so much suspicion.

So much suspicion.

And...suspicion takes so much energy. Have you tried it? I don't recommend it. It's sort of like just having a panic attack set at simmer, but on constant. It eats at you. Tears things down--piece by piece, bit by bit--until nothing is trustworthy...until not even one's own senses are trusted.

So, yeah--suspicion isn't worth the time or the effort.

I'm weak sometimes, still, and allow it a foothold. But the Lord is so faithful--He delivers me, again and again. I stumble, He gently picks me up, restores me.

Just that...with suspicion...

It leads to so many other, far more wretched and destructive inner tendencies, unto sheer malice. A cold, frigid...just...no. Razorblades in her smile.

No.

I'm not sure that I've ever given over to malice--but by the grace of the Lord, alone. ...just, I've been in the presence of those who have. Many times. Even in churches.

Pouring the Lord's love, direct onto such a spirit...would be like heaping coals on their head. Merely loving would be akin to the utmost torture...unintended, yet just the course, per the state of the heart.

Such a sad state.

And we could all just as easily fall. But for grace.
No place for pride.

There is no place for pride.

Just...abiding.

Increasingly.

He overcame, so that we can.
He overcame death.

It couldn't hold Him.

I mean, seriously--if you really think about it, how could death hold Life captive?
The Eternal cannot be ended, merely perforce the very nature (so far beyond comprehension though it be) which eternality constitutes.

So, He overcame death. He resurrected.

No one else has ever self-resurrected.

Only God can do such things. He, alone, controls death and life.

So, yeah. He overcame death. Bringing, at such a point, then all things under His power...as given by the Father.

Such that we, now, are given of the same, in and through Him. But no other way.

For, otherwise, we remain dead in sin--our hearts turned against God, we cannot embrace Him.
Yet Christ is the way.

Calling out to Him. Seeking Him. ardently.

Unabashedly.

Unwaveringly.

...just begin again...every day.

He is the strength to do so.

Abiding in Him.

His Spirit...His Precious, Holy Spirit...

...comes to all those who become His, having cried out in earnest, seeking without ceasing, longing for fulfillment and accepting none else but that which is the only fulfillment--to know Him.

And I understand the theological distinctions far enough as presently need be, to suit general conversation (no, I don't remember terms, and I won't be able to...and if I do get any more tattoos, it/they certainly won't be the names of doctrines... ...just sayin'...)...

...but you can describe it as though retroactively, attempting to take an eternal perspective for work yet being done within realm of the space-time continuum...

...and whatever...

...but for all intents and purposes, I'm personally concerned with logistics in terms of what terms will be more readily accessible to people who aren't yet wholly "in the know," and you know what?
...falling off the PC-scale for currently accepted models of  theologically precise wording and phrasing...
...is something I heartily hope for, in view of a greater desire just to know Christ better (while fearing men less) and in hopes of being able to share such knowledge of Him more aptly (to circumstance, situation, et al which may come to bear), in whatsoever ways as He would condescend to yet allow and forgive of my yet blundering, stammering tongue (and type) which finds itself ever yet confined to the flesh.

So, yeah.

His Spirit comes. That moment. I'd had no idea, even, that I needed to ask and keep asking for Him to change me. So, I know that desire...and the continual asking came from Him.

But still, there was that need.

Just as, now, there's such a need to abide in His love. Not just His presence.

His love.

He told us how, too. Those who obey His commands will abide in His love.
Love others as He loves us.

Even as, ultimately, to abide in His love...is, in a way, to be in a state of constantly loving Him.
...then, also (as naturally proceeds), it is a matter of constantly loving all others, simultaneous and with the same fervor.

Yeah.
So.

That's another one of those things that's just...impossible?

But...

...with God...

...all things...

...are possible.