Think of two lines, one beneath the other. The top one is architect straight, spot on. The lower one resembles a string of Christmas lights as they are taken out of the box each year, once again frustratingly knotted, kinked, and twisted. The first shows God’s pattern of thought, the lower one, ours. When God pulls out His Christmas lights, there’s nary a snarl in sight, or in His thoughts. (My take on Isaiah 55:8,9.) So, why do we suppose He would proceed as we would? Why are we distraught when He has a different solution to a problem?
From Genesis through Revelation, God displays His majestic perfection. He doesn’t change. He doesn’t worry, wringing His hands in desperation. His interventions are flawless. These statements are the truth. However, from the point of view of our tangled thoughts, we have question after question! Abram must wait until he’s 100 years old to begin his lineage? Really? There need to be 10 plagues before the release of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery? David must wait 17 years from anointing to being crowned? Jesus, the Messiah, the Hope of the Ages, is born in a barn, unannounced, then dies the ignoble death of a common criminal? Then, risen again, he entrusts the future of his Church in the hands of his 12 guys? Later still, he anoints us as his ambassadors? What?? And, all the while, God smiles with infinite satisfaction as He looks on the exquisite, finished work of His tapestry.
Jesus calls us his little children, but we tend to be more like an adolescent inquisition team. Must. Question. Every. Decision. As followers of Jesus, we disassociate from other followers of Jesus on extraneous, non-essentials, sometimes writing hate literature to express our disdain. We’re divided between candle lighters and non-candle lighters, dunkers and sprinklers, drums and organs, icons and no icons, carpet and no carpet, and so on, ad infinitum. All this, with Jesus’ John 17 prayer still resonating in the background: “I pray for them to be joined together as one . . . so that they will experience perfect unity.” John 17: 21b, 23b. TPT.
Much to our amazement, God’s thought process has brought His Church, alive and well and growing, into the 21st Century. He has Plan ‘A’ and is currently at work accomplishing all that He has in His heart to accomplish. As we mature enough (not just get old enough) to receive His revelation knowledge, piece after piece of His plan becomes clearer. Or maybe, we perceive His Plan more and more through wisdom gained from walking with Him.
Once again, looking forward to meeting with all you maturing, sometimes still struggling, infinitely loved disciples tomorrow 10 AM, 4 PM FR. PD
Don graduated from Regent University in 1988 and moved to France for seven years, coming back to the US briefly to marry Sue in 1990. The work in France included working in a Christian School and helping plant a church before returning in 1995. He’s been pastor of Peninsula Vineyard since 1999. He enjoys counseling, especially married couples, traveling back to France (with Sue), reading, doing Sudoku puzzles and sleuthing out good, dark chocolate. Don serves as the senior pastor of the Vineyard Church Peninsula, in Newport News, Virginia.