The Life of the Passage is Sealed
Something special happens to us when we experience beauty or when we are touched by joy. When we are awed by magnificent architecture, smile at a playful child smothered in ice cream, examine the colors of a tiger lily or feel the trill of cicada wings trembling through us we are breathing in the texture, happiness, brilliance and excitement of life. It can take time to "smell the roses", to pause long enough to absorb the colors, sounds, and feeling of what is happening around us. Our eyes must be opened. Our ears must catch the tune. Our senses must be trained again to embrace the novelty that outside discovery brings. We must actually humble ourselves. We must dismantle the thought that we are above it all, don't have time for it, that the "IT" is not necessary. We must fight the nagging voice of familiarity that says, "I've seen that a million times". I am certain that we have never truly "seen" anything. Not to its innermost depth. Georgia O'Keefe spent many years of her artistic career and life exploring the worlds within flowers. We think we know bird song. But when was the last time you heard birds singing, chirp, and warble at the impressive sun yawning into the day? The Creator has set us right in the center of this elaborately flavored universe. And within it He has made worlds within worlds. Run your hand along the birch bark as it peels. Stick your toes in the cool creek that could be photographed six trillion times but never identically from one frame to the next. There is a passage of Scripture that invites us into this framework.
"By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible."
This passage is found in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 3. Some translations say, "By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed..." This forming, this framing of worlds within worlds is evidenced in a peculiarly magnificent life around us. But in the same way that such artistic beauty, such birdsong can be overlooked or haughtily labeled as insignificant, so it is with the highest of all truths found within the Holy Bible. It is strange that such life-giving dynamic truth can be veiled from our internal senses. It is bizarre that we can become so dull to such flourishing life; that we can see it is familiar and pridefully walk past it and see it as "known" or "discovered". We barely know our spouses. There are things occurring on our jobs right now that we simply don't know even as I write this. Our own bodies surprise us with their changes, particularly as we age.
The passage is sealed.
The life-giving truth in all that God says, through Creation and through His very own words, is often sealed to our carnal ears and eyes. We do not perceive true life. We are not looking for it. We rarely recognize it. I told someone one day that I saw a shooting star the night before. They said dismissively, "It happens more than we realize". I was speechless. I shook my head. The beauty around us is staggering. Yet, we walk so critically already knowing all there is to know. Does the knowledge we gain lead us to greater awe and further discovery or is it simply puffing us up?
The passage is sealed.
The passage is sealed until the Spirit of the Living God unseals it. THEN, in amazing fashion, the eyes of our hearts are opened. Our spiritual ears are unplugged. The mountain that we walked by so many times is truly seen and seen and seen again.
Makoto Fujimura, one of my favorite painters and catalysts for change has been encouraging us on Facebook and Instagram to "listen" to his new paintings - The Blueberry series. To LISTEN to them.
Jesus, my Master, frequently stated, "He who has ears let him hear". To the one whose spiritual ears are open, brilliant truth will come to her or him. Who is it that the Creator receives and reveals His wonders to? Those who tremble at what He says (Isaiah 66:2).
It takes humility to truly see. The passage of life that is sealed becomes open to the humble and hungry heart.
Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). When the Holy Ghost breathes on a passage of Scripture that some would see as so familiar. It may be words that they have heard quoted in their favorite movie. They may have gone to church and heard that verse. Whatever the case is, it seems so familiar and known to a heart that is not hungry, to the heart that has been hardened over time to its brilliant truth. "For God so loved the world.." Yes. I know. I've got it. But to the humble heart. To the hungry heart. To the heart with eyes filled with illuminating light there are explosions of life that go off and scatter like confetti within the cavity of the soul. Shards of color slice through the darkness of one's day. Brilliance thunders. Power punches monotony senseless. Truth reigns within the core of our being like an Everlasting King. Righteousness wraps round like a royal coat, keeping us warm from the disappointing dreary days of deception. Life happens. True life. Everlasting life. It blasts us with effervescent freshness. Life is highlighted in every word and rejuvenation floods us. We become instantly refreshed. We can see. We can hear. The passage of life that we could not open, the mysteries and secrets of life, are now unveiled, unlocked and given as warm baked bread for us to breathe in and eat. Humble your heart. Look all around you.
The Master is giving daily bread. Listen to the paintings. Examine the architecture. Run your hands along the rough bark. Splash the river water again. Read and reread the passage. Hear how those birds sing. Watch the clouds dance and metamorphosize. He is giving us daily bread. Taste and see that the Lord is good.
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse," - Romans 1:20 (NKJV)
