Caelum Infinitum

While Veritas Unum has remained dormant for the past seven months, its author has not... March 1, 2009, witnessed the launch of Recover Church, the fruition of a seed that Christ planted in my heart in 1996, then likewise planted within the heart of a colleague in 2007 (whom God used to make Recover a reality). Reflecting the church template as found in the book of Acts (specifically Acts 2:42-47) we and those supporting vessels around us purpose to encourage all "to recover identity, to recover relationships, and to recover life..." as we strive to be imitators of Christ Himself (1 Peter 2:21).

     Also, on September 6, 2009, I entered into the marriage covenant with my betrothed, a seriously devoted disciple of Christ and an illustrious helpmeet. Indeed, the Lord God knew I would need assistance in furthering His truth in this post-modern God-forsaking world! Moreover, the activity of transitioning into new ministry and living locations has assured the presence of frustrations that naturally adhere to such circumstances!

     But therein a season of establishing foundations and building upon such has arisen in my life and in the lives of many to whom I am connected. Both my wife and myself have received explicit revelation concerning the Lord God's will for us, separately and together. However, despite much clarity there remains a dimness when attempting to see beyond what He has revealed. Thus, past lessons learned and now applied are that faith and trust are requisite when discerning the direction and purpose Jesus Christ has provided. A sense of adventure, and quite possibly zealousness, would be lost if every facet of one's future were known to the individual, thereby negating "steps of faith" as well as the need for continual discernment and fellowship with our Creator who holds the future we so longingly wish to know and direct for ourselves.

     Often we receive glimpses, hints, or even outright evidence concerning God's direction and will for our lives. Confidence flourishes in that we have "heard from God" and "have a newfound sense of purpose." And while such divine revelation sets us straight and assists us in actually finding the right and true path Christ would have us follow, it is after those first several steps upon the True Path when many cease to uphold continual discernment and fellowship with Jesus Christ. Rather, human reason outpaces faith, and this breeds doubt, confusion, and emptiness. Assuming to know the mind of God based upon a few hints or evidences given to us is akin to assuming that we are in fact godlike. It is when one assumes overt control over one's life that God illuminates the reality of one's bearing to be the polar opposite of His own. Ultimately, the cost of true discipleship will result in more "unknowns" than most are willing to accept. Jesus states this plainly to Nicodemus when He says, "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8).

     So how does one combat the doubts, confusion, and emptiness that such "unknowns" may tempt one to fall into or that may be used as snares by the enemy? The answer is found in Matthew 16:21-23:

     "Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

     Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, 'Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!' But He turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.'"

     Peter meant well when he privately admonished Jesus that He would not suffer the ill things of which He spoke. And it must have startled Peter, and even hurt deeply, when his Teacher turned on him and identified him with the archenemy! Yet Jesus made His point sharply clear when He accused the enemy of clouding Peter's mind from that which is of God and bending it instead upon the temporal things of men, for Peter did not seem to recall the good news of Christ being raised the third day immediately following that which He was to suffer.

     The hard lesson here is to recall that we do not have the mind of God, though we have access to it. The harder lesson is to recall the Good News when we are ignorant of the endgame, ever being mindful of the things of God and not the things of men. In this the enemy is kept at bay and we are free to do and work further into His will and enjoy the meantime as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

     How much of God we receive is determined by how much of ourselves we give to God, and He has already given all of Himself through His Son's atonement upon the cross, making it possible to enter into Caelum Infinitum, i.e. "boundless/limitless heaven." Philippians 4:8 instructs and insists that with such grace and mercy offered freely, let us think always on these things.