Unbreakable Joy: Meandering thoughts on Scripture and some words from an old dead guy

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Meandering thoughts on Scripture and some words from an old dead guy

Calvin’s great statement that our hearts our perpetual idol factories is undeniably true. I was thinking on this statement in relation to a verse I’ve been pondering on for quite a while:
2nd Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

I know it doesn’t seem that these two ideas belong together, but in considering powerful truths I’ve been contemplating the relationship between these two.

I’ve been wondering about the seeing of God (we all beholding… are being transformed) being an essential pursuit of Christianity. I recognize the truths of our not coming to God until He first draws us and would subscribe to the logical implications of that verse and many more like it. I would even add that the "unveiled face" is more evidence of God’s work here because the veil simply cannot be removed by us, but only by Him. But then it occurred to me that in reference to the fall of Satan (which seems somewhat clouded and only lightly covered in Scripture) he (Satan) clearly saw God. This seeing of God didn’t change him. Rather he had likely always (as long has he had been in existence) seen the Glory of God. But at some point his heart departed from loving primarily and worshipping primarily God to loving and worshipping self (pride).

Thus we all, having been born after the fall and thereby in sin, begin life with a broken introverted focus instead of a correct God-verted focus. The worship of self is something that does not have to be taught to children, rather it is something that needs desperately to be untaught.

So my ponderings on the implications of 2nd Cor. 3:18 have finally run into what appears to be some (if not the) major foundation stone of God being delighted in, desired, adored, loved, worshipped, and appreciated. It is absolutely true that seeing God changes you (by seeing I mean understanding with our God given faculties - to behold His character and beauty). But this truth has limits. It is possible to see the glory of God and then have your heart turn from God worship to self-worship (taken from the example of Satan’s fall as well as that of Adam and Eve).

Exodus 3:20 (the first commandment) “You shall have no other gods before me” is a powerful and profound verse which continually overflows with implications for our lives. God, in His all-knowing, all-seeing kindness and wisdom tells us frankly what is best for us and what we were made for. We were not made in order to be worshippers of anything except our maker. That was the issue in the fall and that is the issue today.

I’m very grateful for 2nd Cor. 3:18 and I believe it too has great implications for us. I do think we should pursue seeing Him. But I think this should be done with the focus on God in Christ in order that the only outcome would be that we know Him more and love Him more. To keep our focus on primarily and ultimately on delighting in God, desiring Him, worshipping Him, enjoying Him, adoring Him, and loving Him - will accomplish a great many things not the least of which is effectively combating pride.

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Noteworthy Quotes

Christianity preaches the infinite worth of that which is seemingly so worthless and the infinite worthlessness of that which is seemingly so valued.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord.
- George Mueller

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.
- C.S. Lewis

A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, a spiritual man is hard on himself and easy on others.
- A. W. Tozer

Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in Thee.
- Augustine

All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.
- Blaise Pascal

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
- Jim Elliot

Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
- C. S. Lewis

He loves Thee too little, who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake.
- Augustine

The men of this world are children. Offer a child an apple or a bank note, and he will doubtless choose the apple.
- John Newton

In the end the heart longs not for any of God's good gifts, but for God Himself. To see Him and know Him and be in His presence is the soul's final feast. Beyond this there is no quest. Words fail. We call it pleasure, joy, delight. But these are weak pointers to the unspeakable experience.
- John Piper

God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Him, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
- C.S. Lewis

It is well that we accept the hard truth now: The man who would know God must give time to Him. He must count no time wasted which is spent in the cultivation of His acquaintance. He must give himself to meditation and prayer hours on end. So did the saints of old, the glorious company of the apostles, the Godly fellowship of the prophets and the believing members of the holy church in all generations. And so must we if we would follow in their train.
- A.W. Tozer

If God contains the fullness of all good things in Himself like an inexhaustible fountain, nothing beyond him is to be sought by those who strike after the highest good and all the elements of happiness.
- John Calvin

God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him.
- John Piper

God glorifies Himself toward the creature in two ways; by appearing to their understanding, and in communicating Himself to thief hearts and their rejoicing in and delighting in Him, and enjoying manifestations He makes of Himself. God is Glorified not only by His glories being seen, but by it’s being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it God is more glorified than if they only see it. His glory is then received by the whole soul, both by the understanding and by the heart. God made the world that he might communicate and the creature receive His glory, and that it might be received both by the mind and the heart. He that testifies His idea of God’s glory doesn’t glorify God so much as he that testifies also his approbation of it and his delight in it.
- Jonathan Edwards