DON'T WORRY

     “Don't worry.” Easier said than done, right? What is worry? To me, it is fear of the unknown and what might lie ahead. It is something God has overcome in my life, not that I don't resort back at times to an unhealthy concern for the future. We are not to be ignorant or slack concerning anything in this life, but we do need a healthy perspective of what this life truly is.
      Fear and Faith are like two masters, and you can only serve one. Jesus says, "You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matt. 6:24) He goes on to say, "...Take no thought for your life.... [and] Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matt. 6: 25 & 34) His word "thought" has to do with anxiety, worry, etc. When we do become anxious, we are to take that anxiety to the Lord. If we don't submit it to Him, it can become our god, our guiding factor. Between verses 25 and 34, there are a number of things He speaks of that pertain to our daily living. He stresses that we are not to be overly anxious about things, and let them become our focus in life, but that we are to focus on "the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt. 6:33)
      When we are striving for success, driven with passion for things, that success and those things become our passions. This misdirection leads to a breakdown of all things in life. Workaholics are no different than Alcoholics, except for the hangovers. Everything in life revolves around the need to satisfy desire, but it is like an itch that cannot be soothed. Jesus is saying that we should reverse this process, repent of our wrong direction, and seek God with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our strength. When God becomes the focus, all the things we need fall into place, in their right places.
     I have seen some teachings to seek God first, so you can get things, many things, any thing you want; but that is the opposite of what Jesus is saying. God is delivering us from this addiction to get things, by assuring us of His knowledge of our needs. “Fear not, for I am with you” is the Blessed Assurance of all we need to know. When we seek the Kingdom, and His rule and reign in our lives, we come into communion with Him, as we deal with the struggles of today, and this helps us to walk stronger the next day, in dealing with new problems. As we get stronger in this exercise, (communion), our faith rises, regardless of the opposition. We are not alone during this time, for He is with us.
     While Jesus walked the earth, He was the Comforter, because the Spirit of God was within Him. He had to go away, so the Comforter could come back and reside within the believer. Just prior to this, Jesus, knowing the Cross was very near, says to His disciples that they "shall leave Me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." (John 16:32) By extension, this truth also applies to us, as we face our struggles in this life. Jesus goes on to say, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer [take courage, have confidence]; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Keep in mind that "the world" opposed and crucified Him, yet He walked in the Kingdom of God, was in communion with God, and was going back to be with God.
     "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again I leave the world, and go to the Father." (John 16: 28) Though He was not yet on the Cross where He finished the work He was sent to do, He, anticipating the finish line, says this: "I have glorified You on the earth: I have finished the work which You gave Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me with Your own self with the glory I had with You before the world was." (John 17:4-5) While He had laid aside this glory to come to earth and do the will of His Father, Jesus never lost sight of it, and I believe it was because of the communion He kept with the Father. When our communion with Him is broken, darkness encroaches and distorts our vision. I believe this is what is meant by the scripture: "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he." (Prov. 29:18) Please note that I quoted the whole verse. The happy person is the diligent one, whose eyes are stayed on Him.
     This “vision” is not a blueprint on the wall, which we pray to have come into existence, or a dream we want fulfilled; it literally means "divine communication," such as a prophecy from God. When we commune with God, "He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Heb. 11:6) And that reward is more of Himself: His reward is in His hand! When there is no communion, the people perish, which by definition implies neglect, letting loose, letting go. Hosea writes: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [knowing God]: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you…." (Hosea 4:6) Because the people rejected (despised) knowledge (discernment, perception, understanding and wisdom, which comes from intimacy), they were destroyed (cut off). According to balanced scripture, there is a joyful reward for communion, and there are consequences for the neglect of that relationship.
     Now, through the scriptures (from John, quoted above, and all through the four Gospels) we see that Jesus had an uninterrupted communion with the Father. He came to do, and did, the will of the Father, and the Father was well pleased with Him. Why, then, on the Cross, did Jesus feel forsaken? Unlike us or the people referred to in Proverbs 29:18 and Hosea 4:6, Jesus did not neglect or despise God, yet His communion with God appears to have been broken on that Cross. I trust what I am about to write is not simply my own opinion, or my own agenda, because I believe God will never abandon you. In fact, He goes after you, pursues you. Many examples throughout the Bible show God’s faithfulness to His people, Abraham bringing Lot back from captivity and delivering him from Sodom & Gomorrah, the Good Shepherd going after the lost sheep, and others; but the one most important is that God sent His Son to reconcile the descendants of Adam. What was impossible for those descendants, was not impossible for God.
     "For He has made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21) This was the Ministry of Reconciliation that Jesus was doing, and that we are to be testifying of, to others. It is a Ministry of Acceptance in the Beloved, for those who know the love of God, through the work of the Cross, and have a relationship that is strengthened by communion with God. Paul prayed, speaking of this righteousness, "which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I might know Him, and the power of His resurrection." (Phil. 3: 9-10) Notice that it is “through the faith of Christ,” so there can be no boasting of self. But what is “the power of His resurrection?” Was that the power to raise Him from the dead? Or is that the power of eternal security, that we receive by the knowledge of His being able to defeat death? In regard to this imputed righteousness, it is "for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him Who raised our Lord from the dead: Who was delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification." (Rom. 4:24-25) This encompasses the gift of faith that empowers us to believe. It is the very substance of things hoped for (salvation), the evidence (already imparted to me by The Spirit of God on my day of Pentecost) of things not seen. What, or rather, Who, we haven't seen, is God, but we know that He is! This connects to God being a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. (See Heb. 11:1 and 6.)
     We need to examine just what it was that Jesus did on the Cross. Why, when Jesus was doing this great work for both us and His Father, did He feel forsaken? I trust this is not just my opinion or my agenda, but I don't hesitate to write or speak of it because I'm impressed throughout my communion with God that the Body of Christ needs to know this Truth: God did not forsake Jesus on the Cross! When Jesus cries out, what is taking place on the Cross? The best description and the answer to my statement about it is in Isaiah 53.
     "He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised and we esteemed Him not." (Isa. 53:3) While on the Cross He was taunted about saving others and not Himself. "Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrow: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him [His taking our chastisement brought us peace]; and with His stripes we are healed." (Isa. 53: 4-5) Often omitted in the reading of this text is the next verse, which Peter later explains more fully, but this is where I am saying that God goes after us, like the Good Shepherd. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isa. 53:6) That statement is a continuation of "with His stripes we are healed," and it reveals that God has restored us, or rescued the lost sheep.
     Peter writes: "Who His own self bare our sins in His own Body on the Tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (1 Pet. 2: 24-25) I don't think I've ever seen this as clearly; this is speaking directly of the Adamic man who was separated from God through sin, but by the stripes of the second Adam, man was reconciled to God. "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He lives, He lives unto God. Likewise reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6: 9-11)
     Back to Isaiah 53: though Jesus was an innocent man, "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief…." (Isa. 53:10) Wow! What a statement. And I thought it was unfair for honorable Joseph to be thrown into jail, because he was a man of integrity and would not sleep with Potiphar's wife. Here is Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, in obedience to His Father, taking upon Himself the sins of the world, so that God could restore those in it to Himself. John 3:16 means a bit more to me at this moment. While all this is taking place, "…when You [God] shall make his soul an offering for sin,.... He [God] shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My Righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities." (Isa. 53: 10-11) God did see the travail of Jesus' soul on that Cross, yet for the first time in all eternity, the Son lost sight of His Father. God did not forsake Him even when a great darkness encompassed Him. Jesus can and does relate to our struggles.
     This was all done so that man could have the relationship that he lost, at the time of Adam's fall. In sin, without hope, man was doomed to isolation and fear. He could not draw near to God, because of the wretchedness of his condition. Adam and Eve knew this, which is why they tried to hide behind fig leaves. Fig leaves today come in many forms, mostly religious, but they are no longer needed, because we can have confidence in being acceptable to God, as evidenced by the Spirit of God within us. That Holy Spirit of God (The Comforter) convicted us of sin, assures us of salvation through Christ, and drives away the fear that has to do with judgment. All worry is rooted in this fear. It has to do with an incompleteness, a disassociation from God, that causes us to hide from God. But now, In Christ, we have "boldness [confidence] to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,... And having an High Priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience...." (Heb. 10: 19, 21-22) The word, "conscience," is very important.
      John writes it this way: "… God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness [confidence] in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment [our conscience knows of the judgment to come because of our sin]. He that fears [the judgment to come] is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4: 16-18) I've purposely underlined the word "in," because it has to do with where we place our faith. The fear of judgment is at war with the faith that has been given to you in Christ by the Holy Spirit. He calls you to draw near to God, while fear causes you to hide from God.
     When we become secure in the love God has for us, all fears retreat to their rightful places. Could a lion eat a Christian in the arena? Could nuclear threats lead to the annihilation of mankind, and medical reports tell of death? Yes, they, and many other things like them, can actually happen; but these things should not rule and reign over us. When we seek first the Kingdom of God, the kingdoms of this world grow strangely dim, as they lose their attraction and fade from our affection.
     Even when we lose sight of this precious gift, the gift itself keeps on working within us. By grace we are saved through faith, and that not our own, it is the gift of God. (Eph. 2: 8) As we draw near to our time of closing this chapter in our lives, we are told to "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (Jude 21)
     Peter begins and ends with this same admonition concerning judgment: because of God's abundant mercy through Jesus Christ, we have a living hope that calls us "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ...Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (1 Pet. 1:4-5, 9) "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation [manner of life, conduct] and godliness [respect, piety], Looking for and hasting unto [earnestly desiring and driving after] the coming of the day of God...?" (2 Pet. 3: 11-12)
     God foretold this day of judgment, as well as the Day of Atonement, in which Christ was crucified for our sins (see again Isaiah 53 for The Atonement). This speaks of The Messiah being provided for a way of escape from the judgment to come: "Hearken [give attention] unto Me, My people; and give ear [be obedient, respond] unto Me, O My nation: for a law [instruction, prophetic (Messianic) teaching] shall proceed from Me, and I will make my judgment [righteous decision] to rest [quiet the turmoil] for a light [illumination] of the people." (Isa. 51: 4) My interpretations in brackets might not be exact definitions of those words, but they are all indicative of what God was doing for His creation, through Christ. God was preparing His people for The Messiah. The verses in Isaiah 51: 5-8, speak of the heavens vanishing away, but His righteousness and salvation shall be forever, and we are not to fear what men shall do.
     I will conclude with what I see as Jesus explaining this very law (or revelation of God, which I am writing about in another word called THE LAW OF LIBERTY). While it is sinful men who "bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers," it is Jesus Who says, "Come unto Me, all you that labor [toil, grow weary] and are heavy laden [burdened with rites and unwarranted precepts], and I will give you rest [relief from this oppression]. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. [Much of our oppression comes from our consciences which look to our faults and not to our Savior] For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." (Matt. 23: 4, and 11: 28-30) We are constantly being tempted and dealing with sin, yet Jesus is saying that though no others will help you, He will. He is in that yoke, dealing with that battle, and His promise is "I am with you alway[s], even unto the end of the world." (Matt. 28:20) Seeing that He is with us even unto the end, we should look to Him on the journey, through whatever life throws at us.
     For it is written, "I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU. So that we may boldly say, THE LORD IS MY HELPER, AND I WILL NOT FEAR WHAT MAN SHALL DO UNTO ME." (Heb: 13: 5-6) God did not forsake Jesus on the Cross, nor will He forsake you in your times of need.
     

With much love, Joe (with Mercy)