YOU WILL SEE YOUR TEACHER

From Isaiah 30, CEB

Though the Lord gives you the bread of distress and the water of oppression, your teacher will no longer hide, but you will see your teacher. If you stray to the right or the left, you will hear a word that comes from behind you: “This is the way; walk in it.”

Fear is a terrible thing! It is especially fearful to be new at school as a child, and then have no parent to comfort. In war torn countries, sometimes children are given a crust of bread to hold for the night, so they would know there would be something to eat in the morning.

Imagine the experiences of the Israelites over the years when they were headed for the Promised Land. They often felt they had been abandoned. If this was true about the entire nation of several hundred thousand, how about the family, or individual?

What beautiful words to such a person or group, ". . . your teacher will no longer hide, but you will see your teacher." Jesus encounters the same when he tells the disciples, "It is I, be not afraid!"

I remember being left alone to care for my younger brother in Brakpan, Gauteng, South Africa, with a kerosene stove for warmth. My parents were working on official records of district churches. (We had no central heat.)

During the night, the wick began to smoke, and my baby brother's cough awakened me. I scrambled for light, and found the room and adjacent rooms filled with smoke. I was frightened. Thank God, by that time we had a reasonable telephone service, since we were near Johannesburg, and I was able to get in touch with my parents, who came immediately to help. "Your teacher will no longer hide, but you will see your teacher."

This is an amazing promise that came many years after the wandering of Israel in the desert. Things were beginning to make better sense to those who prophesied, as well as to those to whom they prophesied. But as is often the case - the darkest hour is just before the dawn.

This is a promise for every Christian that can be seen many places in scripture, especially the Psalms.

In distress - you will see your teacher! What a deal! What a promise!

Many that read this will recall seeing the emblem of a "serpent on a pole" on medical facilities, perhaps even their own doctor's office. That ancient emblem comes from the experience of ancient Israelites in the desert on their way to Canaan, when, after a victory in Hormah, (Numbers 21:6), they grumbled against God about the food they were eating. Grumbling like this was a constant problem with the Israelites. Finally God felt it was time for them to be taught in a way they could "see".

Repeatedly, Moses had complained about this grumbling, so God sent "fiery serpents" in discipline. Many died as a result. It did not take long for the Israelites to malign the character of God, as well as Moses, due to the discipline of snakes.

God's remedy was for Moses to make a pole, cast a bronze serpent for it, so that the Israelites could look at it.

When they started to do this, they were not only healed of snake bite, but it was no longer a problem to them . . . except when they began to worship this bronze serpent as an idol in Hezekiah's time.

Why is this significant? Throughout scripture God was training people for the time that Jesus Christ, God's Son would be sent for the sin and sin of the human race.

Once He came, all of the training "props" were taken away, and the principles began to shine through.

The idea that needed to be taught and re-taught was simply that the key to any discipline of the Lord, is to understand why He sent it, and then fix one's eyes on Him, and the things He tells us to keep our eyes upon. As Israel they looked at the bronze serpent on the pole, they would no longer fear the bite of the snakes.

Perhaps there is a parent reading this who told a child, "If you don't quit crying, I'll give you something to cry about!"

What about these emblems in the medical profession? Why are they placed in prominent places? As God taught Israel, very often diseases come because we look everywhere but to God for basic provision. When we look at the serpent on the pole - the serpent is dead, and made of brass. If God is the Provider, and discipline comes - there must be an offense. Looking at the pole reminds us of who Jesus Christ is, and what He came to do.

Looking at Christ, studying Him, studying His life, getting to know Him better, getting to know God his Father better, helps us to realize how much bigger He is than simply saying "yes" to a few questions, and going to church. Why? We are a dying human race, but this is our opportunity to see our lives as "seeds", to plant in fertile soil for time and eternity. (Matthew 13:37-38)

Is this fertile soil the brokenness that Christ was hinting about in Matthew 9:12-13?

Thus, it is the "reverse" of grumbling that must be practiced. We are sheep. We are broken as well as lost, due to sin. The basic design of a sheep is much like a cow - a ruminant animal. A pig doesn't do that. Farmers know this principle very well - especially those who have sheep.

As far as attending church doesn't "fix" a person any more than a hospital, clinic, or local doctor's office does. It is understanding another's definition of what could be wrong, and seeing that doctor or medical practitioner's perspective. It is then an agreed-upon remedy is brought alongside to facilitate healing. This also is the true function of the church. An old friend of mine once said, "Churches aren't for people that are healthy, they are hospitals for sick folk." Psalm 141:5. Hebrews 10:24.

Snakes are generally not aggressive, unless cornered. Thus, looking to Christ is the answer! It solves the problem.

This now becomes the basis of Christian meditation. In your private time with the Lord in prayer and faithful study of the Word, you see a verse or two that hit sore areas of your life. You look intensely for Christ in that passage, and in others like it that you can read, study, memorize, and study. Perhaps the problem has become more than you can bear. Search His Word prayerfully, looking for scriptures that draw you in, and attract you. Treat them like Moses' burning bush in the desert. (Exodus 3:5)

Write down these thoughts, "look at them often"! Look at them and "chew on them". Meditate on them. Study word meanings. Apply the truths directly, and write out insights. Speak about them among those you trust.

It is Christ who keeps His people from snake-bite! Now you can truly "see" your teacher, as illustrated above.

An old song says, "I've a message from the Lord, Hallelujah, it is only that you Look and Live!" The song was based on Christ's explanation of this story. John 3:14-16. 

THE EMPTY HEART

By Paul Wilson, July 4, 2017

Is it not interesting that the “Jesus around us today, the body of the living Jesus Christ” treats things differently than we often do, when encountering someone who has lost their way. And, looking around, it appears that everything but God is the “thing to do”, to get us back on track

A certain man asked Jesus about these kinds of things one day, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good--except God alone. You know the commandments: “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.” Luke 18:13-30 (NIV)

I am sure you, too, have an assessment of some kind. I know I do. God has led me to a lot of wonderful writers over the years. You will hear of one of them at the end of this article.

I find it interesting that Jesus does not accept the compliment that was offered the wealthy man. This means he is still searching eternal life after he had become wealthy enough to turn down a personal invitation by the Christ Himself to follow Him! Do we want eternal life? Do we realize that we have temporal life as an opportunity to do something about the nature of this priceless Gift.

Here is one small example that a businessman taught me: When you borrow something, always return it better than you found it! (This dear friend had borrowed a car to loan me, and it gave him 20x20 vision as to how I treated borrowed goods! I also learned that if I did not practice that I would find it would be required anyway!) (Luke 17:10) (Matthew 25:25)

The knowledge that you are living your life well, and doing what you know you should be doing – the true contentment and/or peace that comes from God by the sacrifice of Christ, (Romans 8), confirms your spirit as nothing else c.

Why would this rich young ruler feel short-changed?

Is not the answer found in these words, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

What is this One Thing?

1. Recognizing the ownership factor – everyone has something to sell;
2. Recognizing the profit factor – selling all of what you truly have, actually profits you as well as another;
3. Recognizing what hinders truly following Christ, and what actually lays up treasure in Heaven

I have been in ministry of various types for more than a half of a century. I have been a musician; missionary in South Africa; and pastor of four churches in the US. I have also worked in the Funeral Business part time, as well as a Coordinator in an Automotive company mailroom.

The temporal reward of these pictures of my life’s calling fade as my tenure on earth comes to a close – but this scripture says to me as well as to everyone else:

1. We all have something to sell to someone. It is probably not what you think it is right off hand;
2. We all have something that will profit someone. You may not want what I have that will really profit you;
3. What I have to sell; what profits you; and what must be recognized as such, helps us all to comprehend what it means to follow Christ.

James said it well, “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” James 5:17-20 (NIV)

Recently I wanted to encourage someone to care for the property they had just acquired. So, one day when he was polishing his automobile, I complimented him, telling him that I loved keeping my cars spotless as a young person. I recommended that he learn more about character, and look up an old recorded series by Earl Nightingale, online, “Lead the Field”, and do just that with his care of things like automobiles and property.

Since it was good, but without adequate mention of the Christian Faith, I felt a twinge of condemnation in my heart that told me I had not thought of surrounding his life with prayer, asking the Lord to sell my experience with this His profit, when I felt I had not treated the truth that well. After all, every good and perfect gift comes from above – the Father of all Lights.” (James 1:17)

As I prayed for him, I sensed that the Lord wanted me clean the alley side of that same property while praying for him forgivingly, since I felt it was a problem to me and others. 

I was amazed at what happened. First, a friend helped him put up brand new fencing without a word from me, and Detroit Energy decided to do a massive clean-up of the trees that had overgrown power lines in that entire area . . . which also included another neighbor’s tree that had overgrown our property! Was this an accident? No, it was profit on my investment of what was already mine, because of Christ, but what Christ wanted to belong to all, which also encompasses a lot of what Earl Nightingale had to say with the series, “Lead the Field”. There is an mp3 recording of the original records available on Amazon! Find it for yourself if you wish, and you may like it enough to buy it.

I was blessed by having it in my possession for a few years, and eventually gave it away, because Christ is the Greatest Treasure of all!