Christian Faith Perspectives

When you are looking for an image to express something you want to say, it can often be so allusive… nothing seems to fit. Then suddenly you see it! Indeed it is true, ‘ A picture is worth a thousand words’. There is an innate factor within us all that wants to belong to something. We enter life belonging as we respond naturally in that filial relationship to our parents as a son or daughter. We touch, we feel the emotions of contact. LIfe is all about being linked to something, we do not function well in isolation, we are all meant to be part of the whole. The poem ‘No man is an island’ also seems to capture some of this idea: –

No man is an island entire of itself, every man is a piece of the continent,
a part of the main.

If a clod washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a
promontory were. As if a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were,

Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And
therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

John Donne (1572-1631)

In life we anchor ourselves to something, to have a sense of belonging. Like we are adrift in the cosmos desperately needing to find something where we can truly discover our identity and feel that we are part of the whole again.

To me, God himself is the whole! Our need is to find our way back and discover that we are each an important part, with a special role to play. Like one piece of a giant jigsaw still to find its place and complete the picture. To belong to Jesus Christ is to suddenly find we fit, we now belong, we are part of the whole!

Have you ever had to decide between two pathways in life? It can be a time of personal uncertainty because both choices seem right. I recall a time when I had to make such a decision. I was 40 years old at the time and had just been successful in a job application to take up a position as a Town Clerk in rural South Australia. This position would mean a further development in my Local Government Career. At precisely the same time I was offered a Church Pastoral position in Tasmania. But this position would mean a significant career change. After much thought I decided to change and follow my heart.

The pathway choices we make in life and the time we make them are so important. God is able to give us wisdom to make right decisions and to make them precisely at the right time as we travel the journey of life.

There is a fantastic Biblical example of God directing the lives of his people. The Israelites had left Egypt after that memorable first Passover night and were now being led by God by means of the cloud of His Presence. A transportable Tabernacle or Tent of Meeting had been built and God’s Cloud would remain over this tent structure with the various tribes camped around it.

The amazing thing is this, the cloud would lift when God wanted his people to know it was time to leave. They would pack up their tents and the tabernacle would also be dismantled and made ready for moving. Sometimes it would be a short stay, sometimes long, but God was controlling their travels.

Most of us can identify with this as we reflect on changes we have made in our own lives; different jobs, and different places we have lived. But our lives do not have to be the result of random choices or pathways simply determined by circumstances. The right direction for the pathway ahead is available.

Ref. Num. 9:15-23. NIV.

We all know what happens when you plant a seed; germination takes place, and a new plant begins to grow. But the interesting aspect of this process is that the seed actually has to die or drop away in order for the new plant life to emerge. As a young man keen on growing vegetables, I was always fascinated by watching a broad bean seed germinate. Being such a large seed, it is easy to examine and see the embryo development as the first small leaves begin to appear and the new plant starts to develop.

Jesus referred specifically to a wheat seed, explaining that it had to die as an individual seed in order to produce many seeds. We know that the death of one man, resulted in eternal life being available to the many! But what happened on that Cross?

When our Saviour died, he was being condemned to death as the Son of Man. In that one act, sinful humanity was judged and executed. When Jesus`went through the experience of death he was literally becoming us in our sin and separation from God.

As believers we are no longer condemned because Jesus took that condemnation and punishment when he became sin. Our sinful state was totally dealt with by God in the person of his son. When we put our faith in what he did, we leave the old behind and begin a new life in God through Christ. John 5:24. NIV.

Have you ever walked along an ocean beach, exploring a rocky coastline. The waves crash and surge over rock platforms, as you see cliffs and fascinating rock formations at every turn. A strong wind is blowing off the sea, and salty spray strikes your face. As you walk over rock pools and seaweed you round a corner and discover a cave carved out by the endless pounding of the waves. The tide is out, so you walk inside, curious to investigate. The sound of waves and wind goes quiet, and somehow you feel safe in this coastal hideaway.

It reminds me of walking into a large city cathedral entering through large thick wooden doors. Outside are the sounds of a city, but as you enter, all is suddenly quiet and peaceful, a place of retreat within a vaulted structure of stone.

In the Bible Jesus is often likened to a rock, one on whom we can depend for security and protection. Our heavenly Father has provided his Son as a rock in whom we can find a place of refuge. There is a famous Hymn written by Fanny J Crosby (1890) which has the following chorus: –
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
That shadows a dry thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of his love,
And covers me there with his hand,
And covers me there with his hand.
Its inspiration comes from an incident recorded in Exodus 33: 21-23 where God wants to encourage Moses that his presence would be with him and the people he was leading. He shows him a rock which is nearby, and which has an opening or cleft. God places Moses there and covers him with his hand to prevent him seeing the face of God, yet still able to see his glorious presence pass by.

God our Heavenly Father wants us to see that there is a special rock he has placed close to each one of us. Of course, that ‘ROCK’ is none other than Jesus Christ. There is a space in that rock where we can stand and whilst we may not see God, his hand will still be there revealing himself to us through his Son!

We buy a potted plant from our local nursery, a native species or maybe an exotic plant; and often all we see is green growth, no flowers! Then, something wonderful occurs; a flower unique to that species begins to emerge, displaying all that amazing character of its imbedded DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).

‘In the centre of every plant cell, from algae to orchids- and in the centre of every animal cell, from jelly fish to you and me- there’s a copy of the organism’s genetic material. This DNA carries a complete blueprint of the organism. It’s what transfers characteristics from one generation to the next’ Ref. earthsky.

I find it most reassuring to know that as a Christian, God has passed on to us the nature of his Son the Lord Jesus Christ. When we took that step of faith in receiving Jesus, we became a new creation. Everyone that has experienced this spiritual rebirth knows they are not the same; an inner change has occurred!

Sometimes we see the Christian conversion experience as just dealing with the power and consequences of sin. Indeed, our Saviour did just that, when taking our fallen nature to the cross; he destroyed sin’s potency and consequence in our lives.

But God doesn’t leave a job half finished! God doesn’t just take sin out of our lives and leave it at that. No! he replaces it with righteousness. A vibrant and dynamic change takes place in the human spirit. There is now a spiritual seed of life operating within us, it is a seed that has God’s nature… like a spiritual DNA.

Ref. 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:9. NIV.

We live in a world of business; companies are formed, and partnerships are created. Some succeed and some don’t; companies go bankrupt, but others are successful. Of course, you can start up a business by yourself, but there is something particularly exciting about a partnership. It is where two people share an idea, sharing their capital and sharing their particular expertise. One may run the sales, marketing side of the business; whilst the other might handle production. But a partnership is happening, a business adventure has begun!

In living our lives there can be a lack of partnership with Jesus. We can exist as Christians in a perfunctory sort of way; there is no enthusiasm, no joie de vivre! Having a joyful relationship with Christ is important for personal fulfilment.

The secret is to discover that the Lord wants us to be his friends; if you like, we can be like business partners, sharing life together. To make this clear to his disciples Jesus said they were FRIENDS! not servants. A servant does not know the more confidential aspects of his master’s business. Ref. John 15:15 NIV.

To be a FRIEND of the Lord Jesus Christ is a special relationship. It is one where he sees us as an associate, taking us into his confidence to reveal his Father’s Kingdom business. When we team up with him amazing things will happen!

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There’s nothing more restrictive than being put in a box! You can’t move for a start, and your freedom and individuality has seemingly been taken away. In life it is important to not allow others to determine who you are or what you should be. Society and people in general are quick to stereotype us; we must conform, fit in, to be what they think we should be. Then we realize, I’m not being myself, I’m living a life according to what others expect me to be… BREAK FREE!

Putting this in a Christian context, have we put God and his Son in a box. We go to church, say a prayer and leave it at that, or maybe a brief daily reading of the Bible. But we have put confines around God, just to suit our own priorities. The result is this, He cannot release us into our true freedom and potential.

We need to let God move in our lives; this is why he has called us into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ. The Greek word koinonia, gives the idea of being in partnership with him, we are an associate, a companion of Jesus.

This fellowship with Christ is so much more than just a relationship. It is meant to be a dynamic unity where Jesus lifts us out of a life of mediocrity. The last thing he would want for us, is to feel boxed in, unable to flex our individuality.
He has exciting plans for our individual lives, a future which is uniquely us!

Ref. Jer. 29:11, 1 Cor. 1:9. NIV.

Are you in the pursuit of knowledge? Have you emersed yourself in the world of academia? The reward at the end of those periods of intensive study is a Graduation. That Degree or Diploma is now your proof that you are qualified in a specific field and enables you to commence work in your chosen profession.

Our qualifications and training in different areas of study are important and become the doorway into so many different careers. We find personal fulfilment in our own lives and at the same time serving the generation in which we are living.

No matter what area of work we are involved in, the wisdom and knowledge of God is also available, to enhance and further improve our abilities. It gives us the potential to be better at what we do, be it Teacher, Doctor, Engineer, Tradesmen or whatever.

It does depend on your degree of conviction about Jesus Christ! I have discovered, that the more deeply we believe God’s fulness dwells in Him; our faith to receive His ability increases.

If you believe He can, He will… He is an unlimited resource!

Ref. John 14:8-11, Col. 2:2-3, James 1:5 NIV.

Everyone likes a present. There is something special about gifts we receive from other people. It touches our emotions reminding us that we are special and loved. God wants to give us gifts too!

But there are some gifts we sometimes take for granted. The most precious gift is the gift of life, we are all alive, living on planet earth, what a precious gift is that! Then we have a soul mate, a partner, husband, wife… that is extra special is it not?
Then there is family and friends, all gifts in their own way. Even our vocational skills are gifts to be appreciated and valued.

From a Christian viewpoint, our most important gift is the Gift of Salvation… to be forgiven and made righteous in God’s sight. Then God says he has another gift to give, the Gift of the Holy Spirit. This in turn opens the door to a variety of specific spiritual gifts which Jesus wants to give by his Spirit that dwells within us.

It is encouraging to remember that our Lord ascended into heaven that he might give us personal gifts. Sometimes we have GIFTS that need to be activated; like a new item of clothing that sits in the cupboard with tags still attached… but never worn.

Ref. Eph. 4:8, 1 Cor. 12:4-11.

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God has a throne in Heaven, it is real and majestic. God is seated there in all His Holiness and Power. The Lord Jesus Christ is also there, seated at the right hand of his Father… HE IS THE WAY!

As believers we are seated there too! When Jesus ascended into heaven after dying in our place, he positionally took us with him!
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ” Ephesians 2:6 NIV.

Now it is wonderful to be seated there, but we are there for a reason. This means we can share the same relationship that he has with God. Remember those words the Lord spoke after his resurrection from the dead, “I AM RETURNING TO MY FATHER AND YOUR FATHER, TO MY GOD AND YOUR GOD.” John 20:17 NIV.

As Christians it is important to remind ourselves that we are in constant fellowship with God our heavenly Father, it is a constant, it does not change! This also means our access to God in prayer remains the same too; we are constantly in HIS PRESENCE!

Rev. 3:21, 4:2-3 NIV.