Chapter 11
Invisible Kingdom
by
William Shiels
Pilot, steeped in roman finery, found the simple Palestinian way trivial and backward. He could not understand the petty issue of religion that moved these Jews to call for the crucifixion of such a humble man.. Why would someone so frail and quiet want to be the"King of the Jews"?
"Are you the King of the Jews"? Pilot had a momentary glimpse of the invisible kingdom. Jesus replied " it is as you say, but my kingdom is not of this world."
We are called to be master builders in an invisible kingdom. We place with perfect grace eternal stones that form the body of Christ, an everlasting fellowship of saints. Only the pure in heart can see its rising pillars, a temple of human sacrifice built on truth and obedience. Only those who have surrendered all earthly wealth and temporary honor can share in the invisible parade of Godly men and women who have spent a lifetime gathering broken people to serve as kings and priest, in that invisible land.
Invisible bricks are not heavy
Like mimes with white face and dressed in black they place their hands carefully around invisible bricks and walk against the wind to gently position them one upon the other forming a perfect wall. To the world a clown who can not see his hands are really empty. Those who watch are quite convinced that what he cannot see is empty space. Truth be told . Reality is a temporary dream and the invisible is eternal. For invisible bricks are not heavy. Works of faith are done in secret but last forever. That which appears foolish to the world is quite valuable to God. All works of faith are solid rock formations that will be revealed perfectly formed when His eternal kingdom appears.
Invisible builders are highly paid.
Although the work is demanding and calls for great sacrifice the pay is a hundred times a normal wage. The return on investment is sixty, eighty, even an hundred fold. The focus of the worker must be meticulous as mediocrity is not allowed. Much attention to detail is absolutely essential. There will be no impurity or fault in the eternal kingdom. The master builder adheres to the eternal model with patient careful steady hand. Placing every perfectly formed vessel into its divinely purposed position. People like individually crafted pieces of a puzzle, fit together to represent Christ. These foolish mimes placing invisible bricks will be transformed into kings and priest of a vast new world. The haughty rulers who laughed will watch from a distance as this kingdom of light appears.
A church of Stone knows only cold.
Some men are convinced that they are the master builders. They manage and manipulate crowds of folks who gather in celebration of earthly wood and stone. They party all night long and share in casual drunken ecstasy at plastic rituals filled with earthly pleasure and selfish joy. Their offerings are impure and consumption is their god. They themselves are convinced that they are the model of goodness and virtue. Yet in secret they hide from themselves haunted by lust and greed and selfish ambition. They want to rule the world, convinced that they know what is best for the people. Underneath they are as cold as stone, managing things and using people. A church built of wood and stone knows only cold.
Purity is the credential of a master builder.
There is one quality that is always true of a master builder. A pure heart. This worker in invisible bricks is drawn by an eternal cord to godliness. Driven by an divine urge to serve. His carnal nature is gone. Purity is his passport to the throne room of the master designer. Personal devotion and the Word of God are his perpetual guide. The invisible Savior ever by his side whispering detailed instructions.
That still small vice speaking words of challenge is God.
You know it is there. The message is clear. Your life is lost in activity that will not endure the test of fire. You are burdened by a load of earthly bricks which are self imposed. You know that plastic labor in a broken world bears no fruit and your soul cries to do work which will last.
God is calling.
Will you answer?
The price is full surrender.
Full disclosure.
Help wanted!
Invisible Bricklayers.
The proud need not apply.
1 Cor. 3:12-15
"If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, [13] his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. [14] If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. [15] If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."
Foolishness is always a reminder of eternal truth. God specializes in foolishness. As we seek out God's will we must remember that knowledge alone will not make us wise. We work not for the trinkets of this world. Our kingdom, like Christs', is not of this world.
Fearfully and wonderfully Made
By
Forrest Slone
I Cor.1:30 "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."
Jesus is the complete Savior; the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Paul here gives us the four definite acts that Jesus purchased on the cross to bring into the Edenic fellowship that Adam and Eve enjoyed with God, until their sin caused them to try to hide behind some bushes. It was this pathetic attempt to cover their sin that revealed what they had become by their disobedience.
Wisdom.
The first step back to enjoying God's Presence is wisdom. Men confuse wisdom with knowledge. Wisdom, as used here, has the same sense as it does in the first four chapters of Proverbs. In Chapter 9, verse 10, we read: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Jesus said in Luke 7:35: "Wisdom is justified in all her children." We say the same thing in different words when we say: "Pretty is as pretty does." Man, without the help of God, is hopelessly confused to understand what sin really is, and what damage it will do our souls, both now and forever. Saul of Tarsus thought that he was doing God a favor in killing Christians. Although he was a brilliant man, he thought his sin of murder was "service" unto God. It was only when he was struck down on the road near Damascus, that he recognized that his actions were displeasing to God. Wisdom starts with conviction. The rich man Jesus told us of was in Hell, not because he did not know that repentance was an absolute necessity, but he knew it and did not act upon that knowledge.
Jesus also told us of two men who went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, the other a publican. The Pharisee did not recognize himself as a sinner. The tax-collector, on the other hand, prayed with bowed head and smiting himself in agony, "God be merciful to me the sinner." Both men got what they prayed for. The Pharisee asked for nothing, and that is what he got - nothing. The publican prayed for mercy and he "went down to his house justified rather than the other."
Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to "reprove the world of sin...." Peter's hearers at Pentecost "were pricked in their heart," as was Saul on the Damascus road. They showed that they had "wised up" by repenting of their sins. However, the hearers of a later sermon "took counsel to slay them" when they were "cut to the heart." True wisdom is found in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Righteousness
The second step that we take by the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ is called "righteousness." This comes by justification, upon our truly repenting of our sins and turning from them. Jesus came to save us from our sins - not in them.
God does more than pronounce us "just." Then He says: "Go, and sin no more." Sin and righteousness are mutually exclusive. Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar: "Break off their sins by righteousness." I John 3:6 "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not...." V.7 "...He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous." V.8 "He that committeth sin is of the devil...." V.9 "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." V.10 "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God...." Away with that damnable heresy that God counts us righteous, even while we continue to sin. Jeremiah declares that "He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Galatians 2:l7 "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? GOD FORBID! " Rom.6:20 "For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness."
Sanctification
The next step to Heaven is sanctification. Men probably deny this experience more than any other biblical doctrine. They say that they do not need an experience of being made holy. Yet, here it is plainly taught after justification. "Be ye holy, even as I am holy." Some say we will be made holy in the resurrection, but the Bible teaches that we are made holy by faith. (Acts 26:l8). Others say that we grow into holiness. These theories are heresy. Paul prayed for the Church at Thessalonica, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." (I Thes.5:23-4). Even after we are converted we have trouble with "the old man," which is also called "the carnal mind." It will bring rebellion, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither, indeed, can it be. The verb tenses in the Greek are the same in speaking of sanctification as in speaking of justification. Therefore, if justification is an act of God by faith, so is sanctification. Hebrews 12:10 says that God chastens us, "that we might be partakers of His holiness." II Peter 1:4 says, "By which are given unto us exceedingly great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
Redemption
The fourth, and final thing that St. Paul mentions in the verse we are considering is redemption. Ps.130:7 says: "Let Israel hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption." Romans 8:23 "And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of our body." We must be careful to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:30 "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by Whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." In 1:l3 we read, "In Whom ye also trusted, after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in Whom also after ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." This promise is given in Acts 2:39 and 40. Jesus told His disciples of the things that will come to pass immediately before His coming to receive His Church unto Himself. Luke 21:28 "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth near." This is the time of the rapture and of our being restored to our place with Him in Heaven.
Be sure to follow the steps that Jesus made for us - so that we will be ready for Heaven, and will hear the blessed words: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joys of thy Lord. We must be faithful to hear these words. If we are not faithful, we hear the words "Depart from Me, ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Obey Jesus! He will take you through to your mansion in the sky.
Send your comments to Forrest Slone Box 1112 Marion Il. 62959
Email bshiels@midwest.net