25 Jun 2013

Same old, same old

Submitted by theshovel

Dealing with many people on a daily basis, I hear different ways of expressing the idea that each day brings us nothing but more of the same old thing. Some of those expressions are a little cruder than others, but they all end up saying the same thing. Hey, I understand it. For there are times that it seems as if I’m on that mouse wheel, spinning around and around. Nevertheless, this is just another facet of the lie upon which this world is built. Solomon came to this same conclusion thousands of years ago, and he wrote it down for us so that we could share in his wisdom!

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” … What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:2; 1:9 (NIV)

But we really didn’t need a Bible to have learned this, did we? I don’t think so. Instead, I believe this perspective builds slowly but surely for every one who is defined by life under the sun. Meaninglessness is the bleak outlook of the natural mind of man. Solomon understood it because his mind, although filled with wisdom, was bound to the perception of living under the sun.

The religious wisdom of our own present world still struggles with living under the sun, and yet no one has found true freedom in this world. That’s because the freedom is not found under the sun, but only in the new creation, which is outside the confines of this world. We enter it not through our death, but only through the death of the one who rose again.

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Jim, I have read many of your writings over many months and I seem to walk away from your writings with the same conclusion: You speak as one from another realm (i.e. In Christ)and at the same time, I (and perhaps most/many others) wish, desire, struggle, pray, that the insight you have would be working in me. I realize this only occurs through the Spirit of Christ. Is there anything I can "do"? How do you posture yourself before Christ? Or, What would you say has most contributed to your (so-called) intuition? I am not asking for some fleshly exercise which not have contributed to what you write but how does one realize the freedom we have in Christ?

theshovel's picture

Hello my friend,

I do understand your desire to know what makes me tick … that is, how I can speak as one from another realm - especially in view of your seeming inability to understand it. I see what I see and write what I write because I believe it. I believe it, not because of any posturing I’ve done before Christ, but because I am constantly reminded of where that faith comes from.

If I have learned anything over the years regarding human nature, it is that the world around me has questioned me at every turn in the attempt to keep me from following up on my ideas. Sometimes it even comes disguised as help. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told that I couldn’t do what I knew I could. I got to the point that I stopped announcing my plans and just went ahead and did what I believed I could because I didn’t need the discouragement. I’ve realized that it’s the stuff that’s within you that unsettles those around you, and they will question you because they’ve also been taught to question everything within themselves.

I think God has worked within my life in such a way that I slowly began to disregard what others thought I couldn’t know or do. Believe me, I still know what it is to want others to approve of me and of what I come up with, and in a backwards way it is the recognition of this desire that keeps me from trusting in it. I already know that I would be talked out of what I have seen of this miraculous life of Christ.

How can you realize the freedom you have in Christ? I say that you will discover it, more times than not, in the midst of the bondage that still seems to hold you down. You see, the power of the gospel is not found merely in the words of its testimony of Jesus’ death and resurrection, it is found in the reality that has been brought about because of who he is and what he has done. That reality is that Christ is in you. He is there, and his life witnesses from within you … despite all the doubts that you think actually come from within you.

If you’re like I was (and still often am), then you’ve been disregarding the effect of God’s work within you. You may pass his wisdom off because you can’t back it up with a chapter and verse, and then if you can, you assume that you needed the scripture reference to have even considered it. Often, you question what God is speaking through you because others have told you that you can’t know what you really do know. You will question it out of fear that you are trying to become like God after the manner of Lucifer, when the truth is that God has already made you like Christ through this miraculous union.

Ah, but you will be pressed upon by the Christian religious mind to denounce your heresy in a million different ways. But that’s exactly where you need to stand. Sure, you may pursue certain lines of thought that end up needing to be disregarded, but by standing upon this freedom of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus you will find the wisdom of God coming out through you. And truthfully, it comes out having less to do with some theological position made up of words because the life shows itself primarily through life and love.

I hope to continue this with you … or with anyone else who would like to jump in. :)

Jim

I'll jump-in, Jim :) Interesting question/thoughts by cp. A “thought” (aka insight, intuition) that may occur to me (I am somehow persuaded that it can only be from the Spirit of Christ) I sense that this “thought” is conclusive (nothing to add) and full of clarity (heart changing). The “thought” I am seeing is just the result (finish) of something that has always been in existence. It’s like an unveiling took place for the first time and it’s my time to receive understanding of this “thought”. The insight has nothing to do with me based on what I do, not do, or what I am going through at the time in my life when the “thought” is received. It is just a gift, real Life to me, it’s humbling and I am thankful. Again the “thought” has been around before creation. As a comparison to something here on earth, it’s like trying to explain or define the word metaphor or sarcasm to a 6 year old. The six year old is just not going to comprehend these terms yet. But when he/she does see then a new language and understanding is revealed. The writings of our brother Paul are rich with these “thoughts”. In Galatians it appears insights were so intense and overwhelming perhaps they Paul drove to move to Asia for 14 years. - nergo

theshovel's picture

I love the distinctions you’re making regarding the thoughts that turn out to be something much deeper, that is, something received from God himself. After all, his life does flow through us, so I think we should learn to expect that he would bring us such insights. This is all part of our deliverance in Christ. After all, what else did Paul mean when he wrote something like this:

For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, Ephesians 1:15-20 (NASB)

That the eyes of our heart to be enlightened so that we would KNOW…! Wow, eh? :)

Jim

i especially LOVED this~> “How can you realize the freedom you have in Christ? I say that you will discover it, more times than not, in the midst of the bondage that still seems to hold you down. You see, the power of the gospel is not found merely in the words of its testimony of Jesus’ death and resurrection, it is found in the reality that has been brought about because of who he is and what he has done. That reality is that Christ is in you. He is there, and his life witnesses from within you … despite all the doubts that you think actually come from within you.”

i loved the whole thing, but especially that.  :)  thank you for your words that always testify to us of the REALITY of Christ!  :)  Christ Who IS … our Life our Hope our ALL!   :)

theshovel's picture

You are welcome, my dear Sherri! By the way, I added the quote you highlighted to the Shovelquote mix that shows up on the top of the screen.
I love you more!

shucks and sighhhhh …. :) 

now you know the MORE is mine and mine alone!!  ;)

 

MORE!

Jim, my goodness! ... thank you again for your transparency. The sharing of your heart is unmatched by most these days. PERSONALLY, I sense a genuineness in you that I have not seen in most of all "ministers" that seem to have a hidden agenda either to build the numbers in their following or constantly seeking financial assistance or their message is one of principles, guilt, shame, or how-tos. You have had a steady secular job for the past two+ decades of your life that supported you and your family and then you have your heart "job" that means the most to you that you share with others the Life and freedom of Christ in the believer. Thank you for the shovel web site. The more time I spend reading your writings the more I see the real truth and freedom we have in Christ. Like many of your writings, I will be pondering your thoughtful response for some time time. Jim, thank you again for taking the time to share as you have to me. It really means alot. -cp

that was so full of all kinds of AWEsomeness!!  wonderful wonderful!  :)   :)   :)

theshovel's picture

My dear -cp,
It is my joy to witness the confidence that is building within you through the freedom of Christ. You are right, this is the real stuff of life to me. :)
Jim

“Solomon understood it because his mind, although filled with wisdom, was bound to the perception of living under the sun.”-Jim

Yep, and the Lord was gracious to him in that He sort of time warped Solomon so that he got ALL of this worldly wisdom up front. What many find out later on and at varying levels according to man's wisdom, it seems Solomon was given it as a young man.[all up front]

 

“All is vanity” IS the truth at the end of this world. It IS the truth at the end of the flesh and it's passing desire.

 

Adam

 

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