"I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow."
---Jeremiah 31:13
Another video of the hymn. A beautiful rendition by Westover Church Choir. Also by courtesy of YouTube.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Horatio Spafford, Tragedy & Triumph
Here is a video of how the joyful lyrics of the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul" were written after a series of terrible events. Courtesy of YouTube.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
God’s Grace Notes
In a hushed moment, I listen to my audio tapes using my still reliable cassette recorder. In this age of digital recording, the tape is considered a relic from the so-called “good old days”. Indeed, my audio tapes capture the soundtrack of my life −the old songs that mattered most. These songs evoke the yesteryears. And the much maligned tape is a repository of our own neverlands and private Idahos. I still recall an AM station ID which blurts out the query: “Where were you when this song was number 1?” (in the record charts, that is).
And with the songs come the montage of memories. Images from the past appear grudgingly, but they come nonetheless. Listening to the Beatles’ Hello Goodbye and Penny Lane takes me back to the time when I was still a tot carried playfully around by my sisters. This was the late 60s or what the flower people, in their drug-addled minds, referred to as “the dawning of the age of Aquarius”, borrowing a line from a hit song by the 5th Dimension. It was supposed to be the beginning of “harmony and understanding” and brotherly love. But a few years later, on this side of the world, Martial Law tightened its grip on the fearful populace; and with it came the advent of a “New Society” era.
The age of disco heralded the late 70s. In the local scene, “namamasyal pa sa Luneta” became Manila Sound’s oft-repeated line. Parroting the soaring falsettos of the Bee Gees became fashionable in high school alongside John Travolta’s gabardine pants and elevator shoes. Soon afterwards, we had our brush with Nippongo when the theme songs from the animé series Voltes V became a hit.
Video killed the radio star in the 1980s. It was the era when MTV music videos killed the golden days of AM/FM radio. It marked a shift in the way my generation listened to music. Audio sounds, to be thoroughly enjoyed, had to be accompanied by slickly-produced videos. This New Wave sound invasion, coincidentally, also saw the passing of an old era with the downfall of the Marcos regime. Images become distinct as I listen to the music: Ninoy’s splattered body at the MIA tarmac; yellow confetti raining down from Ayala buildings; college graduation; my first travel abroad aboard a ship which was symbolic of the start of my voyage to the sea of life with the hope of blazing trails toward success and fulfillment.
The 90s and the early parts of the 21st century form a blur of images. It is a period replete with crossroads and alleyways not taken, and of shredded memories that were consigned to oblivion. And this is the point where my collection of audio tapes ends. I have not developed a liking for rap/hip-hop which is the music dominating this period. Its pessimistic mood reflects the time’s moral and spiritual decadence with the dominance of pop culture and postmodernism. It carries with it the weight of the realization that I am not a master of my own destiny. I am not the pilot of my own airwave.
And with the songs come the montage of memories. Images from the past appear grudgingly, but they come nonetheless. Listening to the Beatles’ Hello Goodbye and Penny Lane takes me back to the time when I was still a tot carried playfully around by my sisters. This was the late 60s or what the flower people, in their drug-addled minds, referred to as “the dawning of the age of Aquarius”, borrowing a line from a hit song by the 5th Dimension. It was supposed to be the beginning of “harmony and understanding” and brotherly love. But a few years later, on this side of the world, Martial Law tightened its grip on the fearful populace; and with it came the advent of a “New Society” era.
The age of disco heralded the late 70s. In the local scene, “namamasyal pa sa Luneta” became Manila Sound’s oft-repeated line. Parroting the soaring falsettos of the Bee Gees became fashionable in high school alongside John Travolta’s gabardine pants and elevator shoes. Soon afterwards, we had our brush with Nippongo when the theme songs from the animé series Voltes V became a hit.
Video killed the radio star in the 1980s. It was the era when MTV music videos killed the golden days of AM/FM radio. It marked a shift in the way my generation listened to music. Audio sounds, to be thoroughly enjoyed, had to be accompanied by slickly-produced videos. This New Wave sound invasion, coincidentally, also saw the passing of an old era with the downfall of the Marcos regime. Images become distinct as I listen to the music: Ninoy’s splattered body at the MIA tarmac; yellow confetti raining down from Ayala buildings; college graduation; my first travel abroad aboard a ship which was symbolic of the start of my voyage to the sea of life with the hope of blazing trails toward success and fulfillment.
The 90s and the early parts of the 21st century form a blur of images. It is a period replete with crossroads and alleyways not taken, and of shredded memories that were consigned to oblivion. And this is the point where my collection of audio tapes ends. I have not developed a liking for rap/hip-hop which is the music dominating this period. Its pessimistic mood reflects the time’s moral and spiritual decadence with the dominance of pop culture and postmodernism. It carries with it the weight of the realization that I am not a master of my own destiny. I am not the pilot of my own airwave.
At some point, I attempt to delete or back mask some audible memories that keep on flashing back, hoping to turn the table against the white noise of existential angst. Life, just like rhythm, seems to be always accompanied by the blues. This laugh is on me, so goes the line in a Bruce Springsteen song.
Despite the milestones, the occasional falls from grace, and catastrophes that have transpired, life still zealously guards its own matrices of meanings. I realize that this exercise of rewinding the storied past could not last. At the end, every memory becomes muffled; backing vocals from old faces remain muted; and only the hissing noise remains to be heard, like the tired scratching in a cassette tape’s loop. I finally see the folly of it all, just like the teacher in the Book of Ecclesiastes. “Life is nothing but a ‘gullible’s travel’ ” seems to be the main theme of my existence.
It is this realization that makes me decide to fast-forward this dry, bare-boned recital of my life’s soundtrack toward tuning in on God’s grace notes. In his book What's So Amazing About Grace, Philip Yancey says: "A composer of music may add grace notes to the score. Though not essential to the melody–they are gratuitous –these notes add a flourish whose presence would be missed. When I first attempt a piano sonata by Beethoven or Schubert, I play it through a few times without the grace notes. The sonata carries along, but oh what a difference it makes when I am able to add in the grace notes, which season the piece like savory spices."
It is not about remixing or synthesizing the sounds through my own efforts and trying to blot out the persistence of memories. It is all about letting God’s overdub of grace to take its flight despite life’s discordant notes and its vicissitudes. To paraphrase the apostle Paul: It is by grace that I have been saved from eternal damnation, through faith-and I cannot take credit for this, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).
Despite the milestones, the occasional falls from grace, and catastrophes that have transpired, life still zealously guards its own matrices of meanings. I realize that this exercise of rewinding the storied past could not last. At the end, every memory becomes muffled; backing vocals from old faces remain muted; and only the hissing noise remains to be heard, like the tired scratching in a cassette tape’s loop. I finally see the folly of it all, just like the teacher in the Book of Ecclesiastes. “Life is nothing but a ‘gullible’s travel’ ” seems to be the main theme of my existence.
It is this realization that makes me decide to fast-forward this dry, bare-boned recital of my life’s soundtrack toward tuning in on God’s grace notes. In his book What's So Amazing About Grace, Philip Yancey says: "A composer of music may add grace notes to the score. Though not essential to the melody–they are gratuitous –these notes add a flourish whose presence would be missed. When I first attempt a piano sonata by Beethoven or Schubert, I play it through a few times without the grace notes. The sonata carries along, but oh what a difference it makes when I am able to add in the grace notes, which season the piece like savory spices."
It is not about remixing or synthesizing the sounds through my own efforts and trying to blot out the persistence of memories. It is all about letting God’s overdub of grace to take its flight despite life’s discordant notes and its vicissitudes. To paraphrase the apostle Paul: It is by grace that I have been saved from eternal damnation, through faith-and I cannot take credit for this, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).
Like music, a life with God acquires a new meaning, a heightened sense-surround of awareness of the Creator’s love and grand design for an inconsequential mortal like me. It is like being-born anew and digitally-enhanced for the eternity to come for “…neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39)”.
Now, the crackling of static is suddenly silenced at last, as though after the final act of discarding a worn-out vinyl alongside the cranky old phonograph.
Now, the crackling of static is suddenly silenced at last, as though after the final act of discarding a worn-out vinyl alongside the cranky old phonograph.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
A New Abundant Life by God's Grace 1/4
The Prodigal Son among the pigs, painting by William Etty“…this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.” Luke 15:11-16, New Living Translation.
Were It Not For Grace
Laranelle Harris
courtesy of YouTube
A New Abundant Life by God's Grace 2/4
The Prodigal Son, Rodin“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.’ So he returned home to his father.” Luke 15:17-20, New Living Translation.
All to Jesus, I Surrender
by the Vineyard
courtesy of YouTube
A New Abundant Life by God's Grace 3/4
Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt“We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.” Luke 15:23-24, New Living Translation.
“Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces;
now he will heal us.
He has injured us;
now he will bandage our wounds.
In just a short time he will restore us,
so that we may live in His presence.
Hosea 6:1-2, New Living Translation.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23, New Living Translation.
He has torn us to pieces;
now he will heal us.
He has injured us;
now he will bandage our wounds.
In just a short time he will restore us,
so that we may live in His presence.
Hosea 6:1-2, New Living Translation.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23, New Living Translation.
Oh, What A Savior!
Ernie Haas & the Signature Sound
courtesy of YouTube
A New Abundant Life by God's Grace 4/4
Turn and be reborn to a new, adundant life!"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16, New Living Translation.
Jesus, the Way, the Truth, the Life, is now knocking at the door of your heart, asking to be invited in and become your friend. Will you open and invite Him in? Then, from your heart, say this prayer.
“My Father in heaven, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”
What do you do now? Where do you go from here? Consider, and follow these steps;
- Tell someone else about your new personal relationship with, and faith in Christ, our Savior.
- Get baptized as commanded by Christ, our Lord.
- Spend time with God each day. It does not have to be a long period of time. Just develop the daily habit of praying to Him and reading His Word. Ask God to increase your faith and your understanding of the Bible.
- Seek fellowship with other followers of Jesus. Develop a group of believing friends to answer your questions and support you.
- Find a local church where you can worship God.
Welcome to the family of God!
"To God Be The Glory"
A. Crouch
courtesy of YouTube
A Benediction for You
Before leaving this blog, enjoy this Benediction from Numbers 6:24-26, courtesy of St. Paul's Cathedral and YouTube!
I Then Shall Live As One Who's Been Forgiven
"Though your sins are like scarlet,they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."--- Isaiah 1:18
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on His children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust." --- Psalm 103:11-14"I Then Shall Live As One Who's Been Forgiven"
Gaither Vocal Band & Signature Sound Quartet
Gaither Vocal Band & Signature Sound Quartet
courtesy of YouTube
A Puppy's Prayer
A Puppy’s Prayer
Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30
Of the tens of thousands encountered by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry only two were praised for demonstrating great faith in Him. At any rate, the four Gospels report only two. Both were non-Jews, one was the Roman centurion in Capernaum [Mt 8:5-10¸ Lk 7:1-10]. The other was a puppy!
Not a puppy with paws, fur and floppy ears. The puppy was the Syrophoenician mother who approached Jesus for help -- the healing of her severely demon-possessed daughter. Jesus rejoiced at her great faith, exclaiming, "Woman, you have great faith!" This praise singles her out for our emulation. What was the basis for Jesus’ joyful praise?
Jesus had withdrawn to a region of Tyre and Sidon, a heathen country, now in Lebanon, far northwest of Capernaum: His popularity had reached a very high point after the feeding of the five thousand men, not counting the women and children who may have accompanied them. Food for this vast number was produced in Jesus’ hands from a meager snack of five barley loaves and two small fishes donated by an anonymous, hungry boy.
Because of this crowds eagerly pursued Him, to be fed, to be healed of diseases, to be guided by the word of God from His lips. He taught them that “the work of God is to believe the One He has sent”, that He is “the bread of life that came down from heaven”, that they must ‘eat His flesh’ and ‘drink His blood’ to be assured of resurrection at the ‘last day’ [John 6:22-70]. Perhaps these truths were too profound [‘hard teaching’] for the crowd: a majority doubted, disagreed with Him and deserted. Only a few remained. In addition, He was challenged by a delegation of Pharisees and teachers of the law [Scribes] sent from Jerusalem; they questioned why He does not teach compliance with the tradition of the elders -- such as the ritual washing of hands before eating, traditional restrictions on the Sabbath day, non-association with tax-collectors, sinners, and Gentiles – who are considered as ‘dogs’ by these devout Jews. This criticism, deflected to the disciples, was really a hostile critique against Jesus’ teaching.
His uncompromising response to the Pharisees, heard the by crowd around them, alarmed the disciples. "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?" they warned.
Previous to this was the incident of Peter’s failed attempt to walk on water towards Jesus as He walked to them on the lake. Also previous to this was the beheading of John the Baptist, who had sent Him emissaries to ask, "Are you the One who was to come [the Messiah, the son of David], or should we expect someone else?" [Mt 11:3] In many past and future occasions, Jesus had to chide the disciples for having ‘little faith’. For their part, the disciples had been through a series of emotionally charged experiences enough to make twelve grown men fall in a faint.
It was at this time that Jesus, together with His disciples, went to this region bordering Tyre and Sidon. It was a time for respite and recovery, not so much for Jesus but more for the twelve weary disciples. It was a time for Jesus to cultivate the ‘little faith’ of these men and nurture it to growth.
“He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet.” We may infer from this that [a] the visit was to avoid the ever pursuing crowds of Jews, and [b] the visit was more than an overnight or protracted stay, and [c] the house belonged to a countryman living in a primarily foreign country. The desperate mother was described by Matthew as a ‘Canaanite’, by ethnicity, and by Mark as a ‘Greek’, by religion. The region Syro-Phoenicia differentiates it from Lybo-Phoenicia, a province in North Africa. At any rate, they were the strangers here, not the mother.
Little else is known about her. Was she a leading citizen of the area or one of the poor with no status in the community? How did her child [like so many other youth in the 1st century] become demon-possessed? By dabbling in occult practices like palm reading, fortune-telling, astrology, casting spells, brewing love potions and channeling spirits of the dead? How far did she travel as soon as she heard about Jesus? How did she hear about Him, came to have faith in Him?
We know this however: “The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, 'What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey Him.' News about Him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.” [Mk 1:27-28] “News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them.” [Mt 4:24] Word of mouth had broadcast Jesus’ miracles even beyond Galilee’s borders.
So it was that this desperate mother begged Jesus to heal her daughter, calling Him ‘Lord, Son of David’. She, a Syrophoenician had no doubt the Jesus was Israel’s promised Messiah. “But, He answered her not a word.”
Undeterred, she sought and followed Him, appealing so importunately that “His disciples came and urged Him, saying, 'Send her away, for she cries out after us.’ ” This may have been said from within the house where Jesus and the disciples were lodging as mentioned in Mark’s account. She must have kept on knocking on that closed door, crying, clamoring “Lord, help me!” When at last the door was opened, the disciples, confronting her, trying to persuade her to go away as politely as the could, may have informed her of Jesus’ reply to their suggestion to send her away, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Still that did not stop her. She came and knelt at His feet. It was then that Jesus compared her to a puppy.
Matthew, an eyewitness, relates Jesus’ reply to the woman: "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." Mark, as Apostle Peter remembered the incident, states the reply in this way: "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs."
To be sure, Jesus was not being unkind, insensitive, insulting or politically incorrect [the post-modern label for any kind of intolerance] as the archetypal Pharisee or Scribe at that time would have been to a Gentile, especially a woman. The Greek translation of Aramaic or Hebrew word that Jesus used was ‘kunarion’. This is more accurately translated as ‘little dog’, ‘puppy’ or ‘pet dog’. That pet is meant is obvious from the context of the phrase, ‘children’s bread and their dogs’. Pet dogs are cherished members of the household: unlike the wild, masterless dogs [kuon], which roam the city streets, feed on garbage, snarling and tearing their prey to pieces. Kuon is used in these New Testament passages: "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." [Mt 7:6]; "At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores." [Lk 16:20-21; "Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh." [Phil 3:2]; "Of them the proverbs are true: ‘A dog returns to its vomit,’ and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud." [2 Pet 2:22]; "Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." [Rev 22:15]
Jesus was characteristically expressing deep affection in using the diminutive kunarion. After all, if those who are already saved are called ‘sheep’ [“My sheep know My voice”], unsaved souls predestined by God to salvation may very well be called ‘puppies’. Both children [the heirs of God’s covenant with Abraham] and their puppies are beloved members of His household. Only, as Jesus said, children should be fed first; fed with the bread of life. Now let’s see what made this puppy’s faith so great.
First, she came to Jesus because she knew, firmly believed, and had unshakeable faith in Him: that He was the only answer to her need – the deliverance of her daughter.
Second, she had faith that leaped into action. Faith without works is dead. Faith is made perfect by works. [James 2:20, 22] By His seeming initial denials of her pleas, Jesus drew out and perfected her faith. She never directly heard Jesus teaching in Lk 11:9-10 or, she may have heard by word of mouth; but she literally kept on asking, kept on seeking, kept on knocking until the door was opened, she found and received God’s gift of grace. Her persistent labor was an illustrative lesson the disciples had to observe directly; they had to see for themselves what Jesus taught them when they asked Him to teach them how to pray.
Her singled minded focus on Jesus was a living example to Peter, who sank in the water he was trying to walk on when he became distracted by the wind and the waves. The puppy refused to be distracted or be dissuaded by apparent obstacles. This was a lesson on faith for those whose faith Jesus often described as “little”.
The disciples, who were concerned about the displeasure of the Scribes and Pharisees, learned a lesson on how God loves His puppies equally well as His children. They are no longer to consider unclean or common anyone whom God has called according to His purpose. It will still take them many more lessons in the future [Peter and Cornelius; the Jerusalem church and the Gentile converts in Antioch, Ephesus, Galatia, etc] before this principle became fully integrated in their consciousness. Jesus is building One church, composed of Jew and Gentile, with no distinction. This Church is His Body, His bride, His Beloved..
Finally, what made this puppy’s faith great was the perfect alignment of her prayer with Jesus’ will. Her appeal was passionate, persistent, but made with complete and absolute humility. She agreed with Jesus’ explanation about the children, the bread and their little dogs. Rather than taking offense at the comparison kunarion; she discovered instead confident hope in the words “Let the children be filled first…” Meaning, salvation is offered to children first, then to the puppies! In an orderly sequence of events. In fact, she turned a seeming obstacle into a great opportunity. This was her humble and respectful reply: "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table" [in Matthew] and "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs." [in Mark] She saw her situation exactly as God saw it. She fully agreed with His will. She teaches us how to be bold, tenacious and in proper submission to God in our prayers.
Note that the simile Jesus and the mother used recalls the story of Lazarus longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table [but presumably was denied by the rich man, who allowed the dogs to lick his sores]. Crumbs falling from the table speak of God’s superabundant blessing! “I have come that they [the sheep] may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” [John 10:7-10] This echoes the psalm, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.” [Ps 23:5]
The woman, without being a Jewess, without being counted as one of Israel’s sheep, knew all these intuitively in her heart! No wonder Jesus praised her with "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire."
“For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.
“I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” [Mt 11:11] Even if this least one is a woman. Or a puppy.
- End-
Jonseb, Saturday, May 17, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
'Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin’
“Do not forsake me oh my darlin’/ On this our wedding day…/ Wait, wait along!”
So goes the first verse of Tex Ritter’s award wining song for the 1952 black-and-white film ‘High Noon’ featuring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelley, considered by most film critics as the all-time definitive Western movie. This is neither about westerns nor movies; this is about faithfulness -- as the song invokes -- to Christ the King with Whom we have a wedding appointment, either as invited guests [Mt 22:1, Rev 19:9] or as part of the Church, His Bride. [Rev 19:7-8, Rev 21:10]
Apostle Paul tenderly foretells of this day in 2 Cor 11:1-2. “I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.’ [NIV] The NKJV phrases the same passage with more romanticism. “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
We are enjoined to be faithful betrothed to the Bridegroom of the Church! ‘Virgin’ refers spiritually to all believers [men and women] who have not been seduced by false doctrines or adulterated ‘gospels’ about Christ.
Here, Paul spoke as a 1st century Friend of the Bridegroom; today we call the Friend as the ‘Best Man’. In another epistle [Eph 5:22-32], Paul made an analogy between the marital union of man and wife and the loving union of Christ and His Church.
The Bridegroom has made this betrothal vow [more binding than our present day ‘engagement’] in Heb 13:5. "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." This Divine promise is stated a total of three times through the Bible, making it triply binding. His beautiful promise is comforting, encouraging and exhorting. Consider the contexts when God made this statement.
In Deut 31:6-8, Moses, as a spokesman for God, speaks to the embryonic nation of Israel about to enter the Promised Land. In Josh 1:5, God made this promise to Joshua personally, when He called him to continue in Moses’ place as the leader and general of His people; Joshua was encouraged to be strong and courageous, cross the Jordan and conquer a hostile territory, sustained by His constant presence and great faithfulness. In Hebrews, the promise is set in exhortations against sexual immorality, greed and envy of others. God should be the faithful believer’s paramount desire and yearning.
In our happy moments, we often forget Who made our happiness possible. Nevertheless, He is there, rejoicing with us. In our dark moments, when we are sick, writhing in pain, or overwhelmed with problems or frustrations, He is with us, ready to comfort and help. In our dangerous moments, when tempted by or fallen in sin – because we are weak and easily deceived – He is there, to convict us and restore us to repentance. His tender mercies never end. In moments of desolation and loneliness –as we grow old and waste away, neglected and forgotten - He is there, because He loves us to the uttermost, to the end. [John 13:1]; we abide in Him as a branch abides in the Vine. His love endures forever!
At the moment of death, He will be there. If we have been faithful and fruitful with the gifts He entrusted to us, He will say with the gentlest of smiles, ‘Well done!” and invite us to enter His joy.
Family members may forsake us. There are fathers and husbands who abandon wife and children. There are mothers who kill their babies. There are friends or relatives who betray. They may even be us! But Prov 18:24 speaks of only One exception: “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” He is Jesus the Lord, faithful and true! Lover of the believer’s soul!
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (written by Jonseb)
So goes the first verse of Tex Ritter’s award wining song for the 1952 black-and-white film ‘High Noon’ featuring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelley, considered by most film critics as the all-time definitive Western movie. This is neither about westerns nor movies; this is about faithfulness -- as the song invokes -- to Christ the King with Whom we have a wedding appointment, either as invited guests [Mt 22:1, Rev 19:9] or as part of the Church, His Bride. [Rev 19:7-8, Rev 21:10]
Apostle Paul tenderly foretells of this day in 2 Cor 11:1-2. “I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.’ [NIV] The NKJV phrases the same passage with more romanticism. “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
We are enjoined to be faithful betrothed to the Bridegroom of the Church! ‘Virgin’ refers spiritually to all believers [men and women] who have not been seduced by false doctrines or adulterated ‘gospels’ about Christ.
Here, Paul spoke as a 1st century Friend of the Bridegroom; today we call the Friend as the ‘Best Man’. In another epistle [Eph 5:22-32], Paul made an analogy between the marital union of man and wife and the loving union of Christ and His Church.
The Bridegroom has made this betrothal vow [more binding than our present day ‘engagement’] in Heb 13:5. "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." This Divine promise is stated a total of three times through the Bible, making it triply binding. His beautiful promise is comforting, encouraging and exhorting. Consider the contexts when God made this statement.
In Deut 31:6-8, Moses, as a spokesman for God, speaks to the embryonic nation of Israel about to enter the Promised Land. In Josh 1:5, God made this promise to Joshua personally, when He called him to continue in Moses’ place as the leader and general of His people; Joshua was encouraged to be strong and courageous, cross the Jordan and conquer a hostile territory, sustained by His constant presence and great faithfulness. In Hebrews, the promise is set in exhortations against sexual immorality, greed and envy of others. God should be the faithful believer’s paramount desire and yearning.
In our happy moments, we often forget Who made our happiness possible. Nevertheless, He is there, rejoicing with us. In our dark moments, when we are sick, writhing in pain, or overwhelmed with problems or frustrations, He is with us, ready to comfort and help. In our dangerous moments, when tempted by or fallen in sin – because we are weak and easily deceived – He is there, to convict us and restore us to repentance. His tender mercies never end. In moments of desolation and loneliness –as we grow old and waste away, neglected and forgotten - He is there, because He loves us to the uttermost, to the end. [John 13:1]; we abide in Him as a branch abides in the Vine. His love endures forever!
At the moment of death, He will be there. If we have been faithful and fruitful with the gifts He entrusted to us, He will say with the gentlest of smiles, ‘Well done!” and invite us to enter His joy.
Family members may forsake us. There are fathers and husbands who abandon wife and children. There are mothers who kill their babies. There are friends or relatives who betray. They may even be us! But Prov 18:24 speaks of only One exception: “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” He is Jesus the Lord, faithful and true! Lover of the believer’s soul!
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (written by Jonseb)
Michaelangelo da Caravaggio's CONVERSION ON THE WAY TO DAMASCUS
On this canvas, Saul is an epileptic and fractured figure, flattened by the divine flash, flinging his arms upward in a funnel. There are three figures in the painting. The commanding muscular horse dominates the canvas, yet it is oblivious to the divine light that defeated his rider's gravity. The aged groom is human, but gazes earthward, also ignorant of the moment of where God intervenes in human traffic. Only Saul, whose gravity and world has been overturned lies supine on the ground, but facing heaven, arms supplicating rescue. The groom can see his shuffling feet, and the horse can plod its hooves, measuring its steps; but both are blind to the miracle and way. They inhabit the unilluminated gloom of the upper canvas. Saul, physically blinded by the event for three days, suddenly sees the Christian message. For once, his soul can hear the voice of Jesus, asking, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" His sword and his youthful sinews are powerless against this illuminating bolt of faith. - from WIKIPEDIA
My own “Damascus road” moment
In my childhood, I learned about God’s saving grace through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. However, I thought then that doing good works counted a lot since the emphasis on a Catholic environment was on following the Law (i.e., the 10 Commandments). With this mindset, I was not fully able to comprehend God’s love and plan for my life and how in His infinite mercy and wisdom, He wants me to be reconciled with Him through Christ. Soon, I began to rely on my own ability and capacity although I could already sense how God has been guiding me through difficult times. Still, I headed off toward the roads which, I thought, would lead me to success and fulfillment. In the process, I was like the Israelites who wandered aimlessly in the desert without solid theological groundings and spiritual anchor. I realized that there was more to life than what ephemeral measures of success could offer. As stated in the Bible, I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit (Ecclesiastes 1:14). But somehow, I kept on toiling and trying (and repeatedly failing) to measure up with God’s standards. These eventually led me to spiritual blindness.
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior during a leadership seminar way back in 1983. Although I attended a few Bible studies from then on, I was still in the world and its false promise of glory and security. My old self could not be reconciled with the fact that I should totally and completely rely on Christ on a moment to moment basis. There was a constant struggle between trying to be a master of my own destiny and trusting God completely. I just did not follow up on having fellowship with other dedicated Christians and finding a church that could help me grow in my relationship with God. Hence, I became a nominal Christian. My spiritual growth was stunted in the process, and reached a plateau in my relationship with the Lord. My priorities were my studies, and then my job. God was not the center of my life then.
I continued to be spiritually blind and not trusting God enough to supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Throughout those years, I realized that God has been watching over me. By God’s grace and His constant tugging in my heart, I decided to return home to God’s loving and forgiving arms like the prodigal son. I knew that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
My life and interests have changed. Before, I was obsessed with playing badminton and trying to be at the top of the game. Now, my priority is walking with the Lord and my family. I am still a work-in-progress but everyday, I savor the feeling of tasting God’s grace and mercy. I have realized how true the words of Paul when he wrote that “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being…” (Acts 17:28). And like the scales that fell from Paul’s eyes, the blinders that contributed to my spiritual blindness have since been removed. It is my prayer that God would sustain me in my walk with Christ and that me and my household would serve the Lord forever (Joshua 24:15).
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior during a leadership seminar way back in 1983. Although I attended a few Bible studies from then on, I was still in the world and its false promise of glory and security. My old self could not be reconciled with the fact that I should totally and completely rely on Christ on a moment to moment basis. There was a constant struggle between trying to be a master of my own destiny and trusting God completely. I just did not follow up on having fellowship with other dedicated Christians and finding a church that could help me grow in my relationship with God. Hence, I became a nominal Christian. My spiritual growth was stunted in the process, and reached a plateau in my relationship with the Lord. My priorities were my studies, and then my job. God was not the center of my life then.
I continued to be spiritually blind and not trusting God enough to supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Throughout those years, I realized that God has been watching over me. By God’s grace and His constant tugging in my heart, I decided to return home to God’s loving and forgiving arms like the prodigal son. I knew that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
My life and interests have changed. Before, I was obsessed with playing badminton and trying to be at the top of the game. Now, my priority is walking with the Lord and my family. I am still a work-in-progress but everyday, I savor the feeling of tasting God’s grace and mercy. I have realized how true the words of Paul when he wrote that “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being…” (Acts 17:28). And like the scales that fell from Paul’s eyes, the blinders that contributed to my spiritual blindness have since been removed. It is my prayer that God would sustain me in my walk with Christ and that me and my household would serve the Lord forever (Joshua 24:15).
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Pastor Tanchi meets RJC DGroup
Peter Tanchi, Senior Pastor of Christ’s Commission Fellowship (CCF), met members of the Rejoice in Jesus discipleship group (DGroup) at CCF’s worship hall in St. Francis Square, Ortigas on April 25, 2008.
The meeting is part of ongoing efforts of the CCF elders to touch base with the various DGroups at the pastoral area level. Pastor Tanchi, accompanied by his wife Deonna, showed his appreciation for what he termed as a “well-organized” DGroup. He commended RJC DGroup leaders Richard and Linda Jara for coming up with their very own DGroup pin buttons and this newsletter’s maiden issue. Pastor Tan-chi has even requested for his own RJC pin button.
In his keynote address, Pastor Tanchi reminded the various DGroups to uphold the major thrusts of CCF, especially the need to strengthen current evangelism efforts. Pastors Ito De Jesus, Roy Felipe and Bert Vila—RJC’s area pastor—were also present during the meeting.
The meeting is part of ongoing efforts of the CCF elders to touch base with the various DGroups at the pastoral area level. Pastor Tanchi, accompanied by his wife Deonna, showed his appreciation for what he termed as a “well-organized” DGroup. He commended RJC DGroup leaders Richard and Linda Jara for coming up with their very own DGroup pin buttons and this newsletter’s maiden issue. Pastor Tan-chi has even requested for his own RJC pin button.
In his keynote address, Pastor Tanchi reminded the various DGroups to uphold the major thrusts of CCF, especially the need to strengthen current evangelism efforts. Pastors Ito De Jesus, Roy Felipe and Bert Vila—RJC’s area pastor—were also present during the meeting.
Finding God in the Most Unexpected, Joyful Moments
At the advent of the new millennium, my friends and I set out to conquer Mt. Pinatubo. The effort involved a fast-paced hike across vast stretches of lahar canyons resembling the lunar landscape. After negotiating a short but steep final ascent, we reached the volcanic crater in 6 hours. What awaited us was a spectacular view of a crater lake. The still water, turquoise-blue in the crater’s nooks, shimmered in the hazy light. The next day, after dismantling our tents and the obligatory kodakan, my companions and I stood together in silence to have a final look at the crater lake. Then we began our descent. Some of my companions, however, still took a last, lingering gaze at the scenery. Joy was etched on their faces and, at the same time, I recognized a momentary look of deep longing. And then it was all over. We headed back to the city to resume our busy, mundane existence.
We met a few days later to swap photos from the climb. Conversation drifted to the vision on that mountain. We soon realized that what we saw became a haunting memory on everyone’s mind. Not a few expressed the desire to return to Pinatubo again, including myself. Yet it dawned on me that even if we reprise our Pinatubo climb, we would fail to recapture that particular joyful moment.
And this seems to be the prevailing norm in life. Philip Yancey, in his book The Bible Jesus Read, writes: “An encounter with beauty of intense joy may cause for a time to forget our true mortal state — but not for long”. In most cases, this feeling of joy[1] is fleeting — even though memories of it hound our everyday existence and would not easily die despite our daily struggles with life.
Joy, I believe, takes on various forms. I, for instance, have a particular fascination with mythology and fantasy which gives me a great amount of joy. While I do not see myself as a knight in shining armor or a toad waiting for a princess’ kiss, I do have this longing to be with Aslan the Lion in Narnia, to travel with the elves in Middle Earth, or to fly like Peter Pan over the skies of Neverland. I have this certainty that I would enjoy living in these magical places. If only these places exist. And like these tales, I also believe that we, humans, want our lives to have “happy endings” in this earthly existence. This is probably why the expressions “live happily ever after” and “ride off into the sunset” are so ingrained in pop culture. Again, if only we could live happily ever after.
Dreaming the Impossible Dream?
We have this longing to be filled with joy: a joyful feeling that would never leave us despite all the troubles and problems that this life brings. But would such a joyful feeling be possibly sustained? Would such expectation or longing be that realistic? We have to search the Scriptures for guidance. The Bible says that “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31, NIV). Joy suggests goodness. It implies our desire to experience the goodness that once existed but we have never fully known.
Joy also is man’s response to God’s creative spark. This is especially true in inspired music where one could get a sense of a divine presence and handiwork. Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus in Messiah, for instance, is considered as one of the most jubilant passages of music ever composed. When he wrote the Hallelujah Chorus, Handel was said to have exclaimed, "I do believe I have seen all of Heaven before me, and the great God Himself.” His statement echoes the psalmist’s reverent awe in Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (NKJV). Handel’s Messiah was first performed with the King of England in attendance. When the first Hallelujah notes rang through the hall, he was so deeply moved that he rose to his feet and remained standing until the last note was played. Even a powerful king at that time acknowledged that he was a mere subject to the King of Kings[2].
But at the fall, even the creation that God had perfectly created was made subject to the bondage of sin. Death, destruction, pain, suffering, sickness – these are the consequences when “sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12 NIV) when humankind took the bait of temptation. "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you… for dust you are, and to dust you will return” (Genesis 3:17-19, NIV). And so we find that the blessings, such as the enjoyment of nature which God bestowed on humankind before the fall, became tainted by this curse. This has brought about hard toil, tears, despair, disease, struggle, and eventual death.
Eternity in our Hearts
In my mind, I sometimes ask myself if this longing for joy’s “permanence” is somehow connected to mortal man’s unconscious quest to repair his broken relationship with God, the Creator of all, both seen and unseen.
C.S. Lewis sensed in these “longings” what he called “advance echoes” of heaven or the original design of creation that was untainted by disobedience and sin. “We all feel that longing sometimes: in music, in beauty, in love, and in nature. Flashes of beauty and pangs of aching sweetness”, he said, “are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard.” (C.S Lewis: Collected Works).
Lewis believed that this feeling of discontent for the present state we are in is actually a hint, a way of reminding us of what we lost and what it is we hope to regain. He explained it this way: “Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well there is such thing as water… If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world….probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity).
We can conclude, therefore, that joy points to something better, sweeter, and more lasting. God, in His infinite grace, has built in us a restless yearning for the kind of perfect world that can only be found in his perfect rule. He has given us a glimpse of a perfect creation when we experience joy or gladness in our hearts. Indeed as the anonymous author of the Ecclesiastes, after his long pondering on existential despair, declared that God “has set eternity in the hearts of men” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV). He has never meant life to be this way. We can state then that fleeting feelings of joy are previews of what would happen in the future when “…creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom…” as Paul declared in the Book of Romans (Romans 8:21, NIV). A joy-filled moment is therefore a summation of what God intended this life to be.
From Here to Eternity
A good and loving God would want his creatures to experience joy, delight, and personal fulfillment (P. Yancey, The Bible Jesus Read). Isaiah prophesied that the day will come when the curse will be lifted: “…the wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them (Isaiah 11:6, NIV). Nature will be redeemed. We will enjoy all nature without fear of danger since there will be no more destructive vengeance in nature like, for example, a volcanic eruption. The wrong will be made right. The relationship with God will be restored. The sick will be healed. “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4, NIV). Joy, then, gives us hope that in God’s economy, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV).
While I was writing this piece, my wife and I found ourselves discussing if there was a specific incident in the Gospels that I could cite to show the Son of God in a joyful mood. We failed to find one. I recalled Isaiah’s description of Jesus as “…a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering” (Isaiah 53:3,NIV). Then my wife came across Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) which could be the missing piece of the puzzle: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (emphasis added).” We came to understand that Jesus’ joy was not in this world. His joy lies in the knowledge of man’s eventual redemption and reconciliation with God, even if it meant His suffering and death.
As these thoughts were sinking in, a film I watched several years ago came to my mind. Immortal Beloved, a film that depicted the life and loves of Ludwig Beethoven, left a lasting impression on me that lasted till now if only for one of the final scenes that to me was an inspired vision of film-making. Beethoven, completely deaf at that time, was standing in front of an orchestra as it played the final movement of the Ninth Symphony — the Ode to Joy. Images flashbacked on his mind: he was a boy escaping from his drunk, abusive father, running through a forest toward a placid lake that seemed to kiss the night sky.
Perhaps, the young Ludwig was in pain at that time. When he swam into the lake, he was probably talking to God. Did God hear him? Slowly, the camera pulls back to reveal the reflection of stars that keeps company to the young boy. That, in my view, was divine perspective – the loving Father, dwelling above the starry canopy, compassionately gazing down at His puny, hapless creation. Watching this scene, I realized that the world may let us down, but our unseen, heavenly Father would never fail us. To me that is enough. In fact, it is more than enough cause for rejoicing.
Reflection: Joy in its fullness can only be experienced in Christ’s promised return when God will wipe every tear from our eyes. John the Baptist said: “The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice.”(John 3:29, NIV)
References:
Bruner, K. and J. Ware. 2001. Finding God in the Lord of the Rings. Tyndale. USA.
Lewis, C.S. 1996. Mere Christianity. Touchstone. New York.
_________.2004. The Collected Works of C.S. Lewis. Thomas Nelson.
_________.1955. Surprised by Joy. HarperCollins. London.
Towns, E. 1982. Bible Answers for Almost All Your Questions. Nashville, Tennessee.
Yancey, P. 1999. The Bible Jesus Read. Zondervan. Michigan.
Zacharias, R. 2003. Recapture the Wonder. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, Tennessee.
[1] One has to distinguish between happiness and joy. Happiness, according to the dictionary, is based on luck or good fortune. Joy on the other hand, is described as a vivid emotion of pleasure. While happiness depends on circumstance, joy hinges on one’s emotional well-being.
[2] Royal protocol demanded that whenever the monarch stands, so does everyone in his presence. Thus, the entire
audience stood too, initiating a tradition that has lasted more than two centuries.
We met a few days later to swap photos from the climb. Conversation drifted to the vision on that mountain. We soon realized that what we saw became a haunting memory on everyone’s mind. Not a few expressed the desire to return to Pinatubo again, including myself. Yet it dawned on me that even if we reprise our Pinatubo climb, we would fail to recapture that particular joyful moment.
And this seems to be the prevailing norm in life. Philip Yancey, in his book The Bible Jesus Read, writes: “An encounter with beauty of intense joy may cause for a time to forget our true mortal state — but not for long”. In most cases, this feeling of joy[1] is fleeting — even though memories of it hound our everyday existence and would not easily die despite our daily struggles with life.
Joy, I believe, takes on various forms. I, for instance, have a particular fascination with mythology and fantasy which gives me a great amount of joy. While I do not see myself as a knight in shining armor or a toad waiting for a princess’ kiss, I do have this longing to be with Aslan the Lion in Narnia, to travel with the elves in Middle Earth, or to fly like Peter Pan over the skies of Neverland. I have this certainty that I would enjoy living in these magical places. If only these places exist. And like these tales, I also believe that we, humans, want our lives to have “happy endings” in this earthly existence. This is probably why the expressions “live happily ever after” and “ride off into the sunset” are so ingrained in pop culture. Again, if only we could live happily ever after.
Dreaming the Impossible Dream?
We have this longing to be filled with joy: a joyful feeling that would never leave us despite all the troubles and problems that this life brings. But would such a joyful feeling be possibly sustained? Would such expectation or longing be that realistic? We have to search the Scriptures for guidance. The Bible says that “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31, NIV). Joy suggests goodness. It implies our desire to experience the goodness that once existed but we have never fully known.
Joy also is man’s response to God’s creative spark. This is especially true in inspired music where one could get a sense of a divine presence and handiwork. Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus in Messiah, for instance, is considered as one of the most jubilant passages of music ever composed. When he wrote the Hallelujah Chorus, Handel was said to have exclaimed, "I do believe I have seen all of Heaven before me, and the great God Himself.” His statement echoes the psalmist’s reverent awe in Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (NKJV). Handel’s Messiah was first performed with the King of England in attendance. When the first Hallelujah notes rang through the hall, he was so deeply moved that he rose to his feet and remained standing until the last note was played. Even a powerful king at that time acknowledged that he was a mere subject to the King of Kings[2].
But at the fall, even the creation that God had perfectly created was made subject to the bondage of sin. Death, destruction, pain, suffering, sickness – these are the consequences when “sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12 NIV) when humankind took the bait of temptation. "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you… for dust you are, and to dust you will return” (Genesis 3:17-19, NIV). And so we find that the blessings, such as the enjoyment of nature which God bestowed on humankind before the fall, became tainted by this curse. This has brought about hard toil, tears, despair, disease, struggle, and eventual death.
Eternity in our Hearts
In my mind, I sometimes ask myself if this longing for joy’s “permanence” is somehow connected to mortal man’s unconscious quest to repair his broken relationship with God, the Creator of all, both seen and unseen.
C.S. Lewis sensed in these “longings” what he called “advance echoes” of heaven or the original design of creation that was untainted by disobedience and sin. “We all feel that longing sometimes: in music, in beauty, in love, and in nature. Flashes of beauty and pangs of aching sweetness”, he said, “are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard.” (C.S Lewis: Collected Works).
Lewis believed that this feeling of discontent for the present state we are in is actually a hint, a way of reminding us of what we lost and what it is we hope to regain. He explained it this way: “Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well there is such thing as water… If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world….probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity).
We can conclude, therefore, that joy points to something better, sweeter, and more lasting. God, in His infinite grace, has built in us a restless yearning for the kind of perfect world that can only be found in his perfect rule. He has given us a glimpse of a perfect creation when we experience joy or gladness in our hearts. Indeed as the anonymous author of the Ecclesiastes, after his long pondering on existential despair, declared that God “has set eternity in the hearts of men” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV). He has never meant life to be this way. We can state then that fleeting feelings of joy are previews of what would happen in the future when “…creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom…” as Paul declared in the Book of Romans (Romans 8:21, NIV). A joy-filled moment is therefore a summation of what God intended this life to be.
From Here to Eternity
A good and loving God would want his creatures to experience joy, delight, and personal fulfillment (P. Yancey, The Bible Jesus Read). Isaiah prophesied that the day will come when the curse will be lifted: “…the wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them (Isaiah 11:6, NIV). Nature will be redeemed. We will enjoy all nature without fear of danger since there will be no more destructive vengeance in nature like, for example, a volcanic eruption. The wrong will be made right. The relationship with God will be restored. The sick will be healed. “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4, NIV). Joy, then, gives us hope that in God’s economy, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV).
While I was writing this piece, my wife and I found ourselves discussing if there was a specific incident in the Gospels that I could cite to show the Son of God in a joyful mood. We failed to find one. I recalled Isaiah’s description of Jesus as “…a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering” (Isaiah 53:3,NIV). Then my wife came across Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) which could be the missing piece of the puzzle: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (emphasis added).” We came to understand that Jesus’ joy was not in this world. His joy lies in the knowledge of man’s eventual redemption and reconciliation with God, even if it meant His suffering and death.
As these thoughts were sinking in, a film I watched several years ago came to my mind. Immortal Beloved, a film that depicted the life and loves of Ludwig Beethoven, left a lasting impression on me that lasted till now if only for one of the final scenes that to me was an inspired vision of film-making. Beethoven, completely deaf at that time, was standing in front of an orchestra as it played the final movement of the Ninth Symphony — the Ode to Joy. Images flashbacked on his mind: he was a boy escaping from his drunk, abusive father, running through a forest toward a placid lake that seemed to kiss the night sky.
Perhaps, the young Ludwig was in pain at that time. When he swam into the lake, he was probably talking to God. Did God hear him? Slowly, the camera pulls back to reveal the reflection of stars that keeps company to the young boy. That, in my view, was divine perspective – the loving Father, dwelling above the starry canopy, compassionately gazing down at His puny, hapless creation. Watching this scene, I realized that the world may let us down, but our unseen, heavenly Father would never fail us. To me that is enough. In fact, it is more than enough cause for rejoicing.
Reflection: Joy in its fullness can only be experienced in Christ’s promised return when God will wipe every tear from our eyes. John the Baptist said: “The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice.”(John 3:29, NIV)
References:
Bruner, K. and J. Ware. 2001. Finding God in the Lord of the Rings. Tyndale. USA.
Lewis, C.S. 1996. Mere Christianity. Touchstone. New York.
_________.2004. The Collected Works of C.S. Lewis. Thomas Nelson.
_________.1955. Surprised by Joy. HarperCollins. London.
Towns, E. 1982. Bible Answers for Almost All Your Questions. Nashville, Tennessee.
Yancey, P. 1999. The Bible Jesus Read. Zondervan. Michigan.
Zacharias, R. 2003. Recapture the Wonder. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, Tennessee.
[1] One has to distinguish between happiness and joy. Happiness, according to the dictionary, is based on luck or good fortune. Joy on the other hand, is described as a vivid emotion of pleasure. While happiness depends on circumstance, joy hinges on one’s emotional well-being.
[2] Royal protocol demanded that whenever the monarch stands, so does everyone in his presence. Thus, the entire
audience stood too, initiating a tradition that has lasted more than two centuries.
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