April 2001

[Part 141]

“Issues of the heart”

[Part Fifty-nine]

Hope For the Fearful Heart! [QQ]

“WHO CAN I TURN TO?”

             The first support systems most people turn to in a crisis are their families and friends which are good and Godly provisions for the natural man. Our Creator said, “It is not good for man (Heb 120 Adam) to be *alone!” (Ge 2:18) [*Ironically, this word- He calls not good for man- is the Hebrew word (905) “bad”, but it doesn’t hold its implied meaning. Its meanings include: “Separation, part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying, chief of a city, apart, by self, only, each alike, staff and strength.” Of these definitions, the most intriguing are those that imply it is “not good” for natural man to be a part of the spiritual body of Christ; or a branch of Christ’s Family Tree of Life; or a cross-bar like the one He carried up to Calvary; or the Good Shepherd’s Staff of Life; or the chief of the City of God, or the Strength of God’s Salvation! For, “Natural man cannot receive the things of Spirit- for they are foolishness to him- since they can only be discerned by the spirit!” (1 Co 2:14)
              For natural man to have a natural family and natural friends is good and proper for this natural world of sin and death! But there is also a spiritual man who has a spiritual family and spiritual friends which is good and proper for the spiritual world of Grace and Life!! When we are babes in Christ, the Lord lets us walk a double line between the two identities and relationships of natural and spiritual; but then comes the time He must wean us from our SOULISH DEVOTION to this world- including our natural family and friends! This Truth has often been misunderstood to mean we are to stop loving our natural families and friends, but nothing is further from the Truth! In actuality, it means our love is metamorphosed from natural to spiritual, from human to Divine, from temporal to Eternal! John said, “We know we have passed from death (carnal-mindedness) to Life (spiritual-mindedness- Ro 8:6) when we love the brethren (i.e., our fellow Christians). For he who does not love his brethren (as a true family of spirit) abides in death!” (1 Jn 3:14) This is a strong word but Christ spoke stronger words than these! He came to earth to tell His children, “All who *forsake: (natural) brothers, sisters, father, mother, spouse, children, lands or houses- for My Sake- shall gain 100 fold and inherit Eternal Life!” (Mt 19:29) After all, didn’t our Lord forsake all these in His realm of spirit to enter our realm of flesh and redeem it back to Himself in a higher, spiritual estate? But how could this be if our souls could never detach from fleshly ties? Jesus says, “WHOEVER DOES NOT FORSAKE ALL THAT HE HAS (in this world) CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE!” (Lk 14:33) It is that simple and that difficult! This means we will be misunderstood and rejected- or possibly pursued and persecuted- by those from whom our obedience to Christ withdraws us! Our newly-anointed perceptions of Truth separate our lives from the soulish endeavors of our natural beloveds- whose darkned understanding must disallow them to receive what we believe- if we try to share it with them- till they are called to His Purpose! For “To them that perish (have no spiritual vision) the preaching of the Cross (the crucified life) is foolishness, while to us who are saved, it is the Power of God!” (1 Co 1:8)

[*The word, FORSAKE, (Gk 863) means: “SEND AWAY, OMIT (Mt 23:23); REMIT (Jn 20:23), LAY ASIDE (Mk 7:8), LEAVE, SUFFER TO GO; (Lu 8:51; 12:39; Re 11:9); and YIELD UP (as “Christ yielded up His Spirit“ on the Cross!” Mt 27:50]

             So who are our true family? “Jesus outstretched His hand to HIS DISCIPLES saying, See My mother and brethren! WHOEVER DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN, is My brother, sister and mother!” (Mt 12:46-50) And this dear family can never leave us or die! This family can never see the grave nor suffer death’s corruption! This family- like our Father- is “No respecter of persons” (Ac 10:34) and is not manipulated by soulish loyalties! This family “Seeks FIRST the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness” (Mt 6:33) before making decisions! This family “Loves God with ALL THEIR HEART, ALL THEIR SOUL and ALL THEIR MIND” according to the great Commandment of God! And then they “Love their neighbor as themselves.” Jesus clearly reveals in His parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:29-37) that these ‘neighbors’ are ALL ON WHOM GOD HAS MERCY which is “All whom He shut up in unbelief!” (Ro 11:32) and that includes our natural family and friends!
             So who are our friends? “There is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother!” (Pr 18:24) Jesus says, “No man can display greater love than to lay down (“forsake, send away, omit, remit, lay aside, leave, suffer to go and yield up”) His Life for His friends; and you are My friends IF YOU DO WHATEVER I COMMAND YOU!” (Jn 15:13-14) Let us think back on all our Lord has commanded in this sharing- then let us selah!!

[TO BE CONTINUED]