Look! part 2
Once upon a time the people of Israel were "wandering" in the wilderness. Actually, God was leading them step by step in order to bring them fully and completely out of slavery and bondage, and teach them how to live. But I digress. While they were on this camping trip, there came a point where they got into some trouble. Well, over and over again they got themselves into trouble. But in this particular instance there were snakes involved. Numbers 21:4-8, "And they journeyed from mout Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. ANd the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live." There's a lot there. I don't have the time or space today to get into all of it. I want to focus on the idea of "Look and live." I want us to see that the serpent on the pole is a type and shadow of Jesus. That we spend so much time worrying about the snakes nipping at our heels, when our focus should be on the cross. The finished work. Remember in Hebrews? All things are under our feet--because all things are under HIS feet, we are overcomers because He has overcome--but we don't always see it that way. But we see Jesus. That's the key. What you see is what you be. Look to the Rock from which you were hewn. Look up at the serpent on the pole, not down at the snakes biting you. You don't have to fight every battle. The only fight left (since Jesus won the war to end all wars on the cross) is the good fight of faith. Laying hold of eternal life. Receiving the gift that we've been given. Receiving it... and releasing it. Seeing who we really are--which is who we are in Christ--and BEING who we really are by letting Him be Himself in us, and through us, and as us. What you see is what you be. I'm going to keep on saying it. So where you look is vitally important. Listen... you are not what people call you, but you are what you answer to. Where you find yourself, your identity, is so important. And here's the great part--you are dead and your life is hid with God in Christ Jesus. HE is our true identity! Jesus. God in the flesh. Love in a body. God in OUR flesh. Love in OUR body. When you look inside, you see Jesus. You see your true self. And when He appears (again, to you, and in you, and through you, and as you) that's when YOU appear. The "new" (TRUE) you. That's when you can stop trying to be someone you're not and you can be who you really are. That's when you can stop fighting every battle and you can truly begin to live. Look... and live. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Keep your focus on Spiritual things--mercy, forgiveness, grace... love--and you won't have to worry about earthly things. When you have things in Divine Order, they work themselves out. So be purposeful in your life. SET your affection. KEEP your focus. Garbage in... garbage out. Fill yourself with the goodness that is the love of God. See it... be it. Look... and live!