Beautiful Things

"But I want to know the Man who thought I was that valuable."

DID YOU hear about that …? This question is fired at me, regularly, and the answer is always “no.” Government news, weird sci-fi news, strange social media posts, I’m always in the dark. Frankly, if it were left up to me, news media would be out of a job. I don’t have space for that. The one asking me is usually nonplussed, disbelieving I’d be so out-of-the-loop. I don’t know why, within myself. If you knew me, if you thought like me, you’d find yourself separated from it, like I am. People say there’s a space for it in society, in the church, that we have to be on top of what’s going on. But most of what I see are endless debates and arguments that God is not involved in.

I passed a comment I made online a few years ago, something I’ve repeated much since then. It was that you can say what you want, and I’ll let you say it. No matter how much I disagree with it, I’ll simply nod to avoid any argument. It’s more than being my being reserved, though. I’m actually not bothered by people’s differences from me. Within my immediate family, there are things I am not inclined toward that I listen to them talk about, perfectly willingly. I’m not, however, going to pick up a paint brush and copy them. So you spit at me some weird piece of news. I raise my brow and return to my inner contemplation, always of Jesus.

You can pause here and reflect that all I think about is Him. It’s true, and there’s a reason. He’s the most beautiful King. I saw Him in a vision. I’ve said this. I’ve mentioned my Grandfather’s vision as well. But it’s more than physical beauty, though that will sit anyone down. Trust me on this. It’s beauty of character. He’s holy, set apart from all the arguments and strange facts and whirling of society. He’s perfect in justice, in kindness, in love. He’s like His Father, our Abba, who is the most patient, gentle God. Philippians 4:8 gives us His character. Here, we are told to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, with any virtue and any praise. But when we define the words individually, a picture emerges.

True, G227, truth
Honest, G4586, reverend, from G4576, to worship
Just, G1342, righteous
Pure, G53, sacred, pure
Lovely, G4375, acceptable, pleasing, from G5368, phileo, to love
Good report, G2163, well spoken of, reputable
Virtue, G703, more excellence as modesty, purity
Praise, G1868, laudation, from G134, to extol, to sing praises in honour to God

Colossians 1:15 tells us Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Verse 19 then says in Jesus all the fullness of God does dwell. The Remedy Translation puts it this way: “For it was God’s pleasure to have his entire identity, character—the fullness of his essence—live in Christ.” How beautiful that is and what it grows in me, when I seek His face, when I desire to be like Him, is such peace. We find Him described in the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. We find Him pictured in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, for He is love.

The Father’s desire for us when He sent Jesus to earth was to lift us up to heaven where we can stand forever above the fray of this world. He wanted us to see from His perspective and to grow so close, so near, to know Him so well that earth is strangely dim. That while people are milling around over chaoses, we are as secure in our identity in Christ as He is. Secure and “like Him” in our thoughts and actions, not striving anymore, not fighting some battle in our head, not worried about our lives or the people which surround us. “Is that possible?” you ask. It is when you choose what you dwell on.

A phone game I play has an “adventure mode.” Seeing it, I always say that I’ve had enough adventure. You may not be like me, but I’ve no need to hang off a cliff to see if I can or to “Red Bull” things to any extreme. Just today, I watched a man climb out of a flying plane and crawl around the outside of its frame in midair, and he was thrilled to do so, feeling accomplished afterward. Considering this in the physical world is a spiritual truth. Jesus lifted the weight of sin and sickness off of me (Isaiah 53:4). What is adventure to some, to involve themselves in controversy and debate, looks like discontent to me. Like a performance. But I want to know the Man who thought I was that valuable, who would give up His ability for a time, relinquish His knowledge and wisdom, to walk here like I do. To see from His Father’s perspective, man’s hatred and violence, and yet remain true to those words in Philippians 4:6. He wore no repentance sign. We pin these to our churches with images of hell, thinking we’ll frighten some into forgiveness, when what Jesus came to show us was good news, was the glorious kingdom of Almighty God.

“Kingdom”, a word we gloss over. It means royalty and the authority of Him. How many will come to Jesus when there is His love in our eyes, His goodness in our nature, and the authority of God’s Presence beckoning them in? How many, when our goal is to show Him to them, for them to hear His Voice, and we’ve never considered our buildings and electronics and cushy pews? When they become people, instead of numbers? A blind man at the side of the road who dared to cry out for healing. A woman from Greece who took no offense at Jesus’ words but sought her daughter’s deliverance. A soldier who had more understanding of the nature of God than the Jews did. Names and faces who have lived and loved and just want happiness.

We should sound like heaven and the King who so generously opened its goodness to us. Frankly, all our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), and our striving, pointless dances on a floor to nowhere. Here shines the Light. Let us turn loose of news headlines as an entrance to endless arguments, from using our words to make our point, and instead choose them to reflect Him. Let’s speak of Beautiful Things and seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11). That is His nature. It should now be ours.

“For the Scriptures tell us: Whoever wants to embrace true life and find beauty in each day must stop speaking evil, hurtful words and never deceive in what they say. Always turn from what is wrong and cultivate what is good; eagerly pursue peace in every relationship, making it your prize.” (1 Peter 3:10-11 TPT)

Image by Anna from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com