Of Time and a Season Part 10

[HKHaugan]

Of Time and a Season Part 10

 “…a time to embrace (Heb. chabaq) and a time to refrain (Heb. rachaq)

 All through the stories of Israel’s early history there is the intimacy of family continually expressed. From Abraham and Sarah to Jacob and the progeny that became the 12 tribes of Israel, the word ‘embrace’ had both a physical meaning and an emotional tying. Underneath both were seen as the spiritual hand of God building a people. The very fact that He created man and woman to have an intimate relationship that was cushioned by God’s love brings the immediate picture of the vertical relationship with God that was to be shared horizontally. In Jesus we see the balance of those two dimensions on the Cross. He died to show the intimacy He had with the Father was the way they were to share that love with each other. The Cross showed us that Jesus gave His life loving His Father and that was through faith. Faith is the way the Father embraces us, and we embrace Him. Letting Jesus be Lord is letting the Father embrace us through Him.

 When Jesus said that there were two great commandments, love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself, it again points us to the Cross, the vertical and horizontal dimensions, the two beams of the Cross. The Cross is the symbol of God’s love, His intentional embrace of our humanity was for us to embrace Him spiritually, the deepest embrace there is. Everything flows from that juncture. “There is a time for everything” and the season is faith in every next moment.

 There is nothing that is not covered by God’s embrace of us. That means every moment of our personal existence is a time when an activity of some kind is taking place. It may be a meeting, a relational set of moments, a lonely pondering where choice and decision carry us through a valley or up a mountain. There are times when belief is challenged, trust is broken, faith needs to replace fear. Those are moments we run for cover; the cover of grace and seek intimacy with the Lord and allow the Spirit to recharge us. We open His Word to let the Spirit bring that intimacy within,

Embrace brings grace to face whatever takes place in our personal space. Grace is the lace of God’s embrace and sin leaves no trace.

 If we specify the kinds of embracing, they run the gamut from physical to spiritual and the images of each have a place and a time. From the intimacy that produces children, their growth in the family and maintaining contact through the years to that of friends and friendship, spiritual brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ and seeking to bring spiritual reality to others. Personally, we embrace truth as found in Scripture, embrace ideas that build our life and help others, embrace the world around us as Jesus did. Embrace the idea that everyone we meet, friend or stranger, is an image of God. Embrace the idea of empathy. Embrace looking forward to what the Lord will do next in our lives. Embrace the idea that we were made for eternity with God. Embrace where we are, why we are there, with whom we are talking, being spiritually aware.

 There’s an overall embrace that comes when we lean into our self-centeredness, realize it, repent and seek forgiveness.   The classic picture of that move is seen when Jesus tells the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Lost in his desire to be on his own, the younger son in a well-to-do family leaves home and “wastes his substance in riotous living.” Finally, reaching the bottom he decides to go home and face his father and say he’s sorry. On his way home his father spots him and runs out to meet him, embraces him and kisses him. The father forgives him, rejoices that his lost son has returned and gives a celebration to share his joy with everyone. I never read that story without a tear arising reminding me how all us prodigals are forgiven. Forgiveness is the Lord’s embrace.

 a time to refrain (Heb. rachaq)

 It follows that everything and anything that keeps us from loving God and one another is that from which we need to refrain. Those are the things that keep us apart, separate us and finally destroy us. We apply the word ‘refrain’ to three specific words: rationalization, self-justification and defensiveness. Their guiding spirit is fear. They are the fear driven self-isolating obstacles that discourage relational unity with God and others. Whether it’s thoughts, emotions or behavior, there is this self-protective missile of fear that attacks us the moment we feel threatened intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.

 Outside of God, we are always ready to defend ourselves, to come out looking like the winner, the good guy, the one in the know. That processes us into a position of aloneness, the opposite of the openness we have spiritually in Christ. If it is a question of defending our belief, we need to take a step back and remember this one cardinal principle. God doesn’t need defending. Jesus showed that on the Cross. People can say what they want about God and us. Sometimes, it’s true, we need to stand on our belief not because we are right but because it doesn’t help the dignity others if they operate from a negative attitude. Some people need confrontation in order to get their head straight. The Lord can use Spiritude to neutralize attitude. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 to stand and when we have stood, continue to stand. That standing is called having a patient, sound mind with a loving and compassionate heart (Gal.5). If you’re facing a rant, let them rant. The witness of an unflappable Spiritude is far stronger. Let the Spirit lead.

 One cautionary note here. The idea floating around that if you just use ‘common sense’ everything will turn out all right.   That’s a no-no. Common sense implies that everyone has it. It also implies if you live long enough, are old enough you’ll tend to make the right choices. It is true that there are actions and reactions that you can learn to handle some situations over time. But the most reliable way is Spiritude through Scripture. Starting with the risen Jesus whose teachings ground you in the Spirit, the books of Ecclesiastes and Proverbs have those instantaneous responsive moments that set your mind on a spiritual path. The whole of Scripture is a proactive training ground for action and reaction.

 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1Cor.10:13).”

 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Gal.5:16).”

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, …(Eph.6:10-18).”