From Jim McGuiggan... Puddleglum

Puddleglum

Eustace, Jill and Puddleglum, the Marsh-wiggle, had travelled far together on an assignment from Aslan, C. S Lewis tells us (and Charlie Harrison reminded me), and now they find themselves in the Underland and in the presence of the witch-queen of that gloomy domain. They had found Prince Rilian and would have been pleased to go home immediately but it wasn’t that simple. "Home"? Where was that? The witch-queen had filled their hungry bellies and with sweet words she assured them that her dark and gloomy world was all there was. So she said, as she strummed her hypnotic music and threw a strange powder on the fire. The music and the aroma were stealing the memories and so were stealing the minds of the adventurers. There is no other world, there is no Narnia, there is no great lion called Aslan-—those are all dreams, figments of the imagination that a good dose of realism would cure. But great truths are stubborn things and Puddleglum was no wild dreamer. He knew the difference between gloom and pointlessness and knew how shabby the life the witch-queen of gloom, in her good Freudian fashion, was offering compared with a world he knew was real. He speaks for a host when he rises against the great seducer:

          "One word, Ma'am, he said, coming back from the fire; limping because of the pain. One word. All you've been saying is quite right, I shouldn't wonder. I'm a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won't deny any of what you said. But there's one thing more to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things—trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play-world. I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as ever I can even if there isn't any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we're leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for the Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that's a small loss if the world's as dull a place as you say."

Paul was realist enough to believe that if Christ hadn’t risen from the dead the Christian faith is false and the Christians were more pathetic than any others in the world. But he knew! Christ had risen. So without conceding anything, we’d say with Puddleglum that the world non-believers think is wishful nonsense is a better world and true to the best in humanity than the gloomy existence of which the atheist, H. J Blackham, said, "It’s too bad to be true!" He thought the greatest argument against unbelief was, "Its pointlessness...It’s too bad to be true." Christians, with Puddleglum, would sort of say about the Christian faith, "It’s too good not to be true."

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland.... Transformation By Beholding (2 Corinthians 3:18)

                "THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"

                   Transformation By Beholding (3:18)

INTRODUCTION

1. What is the goal of the Christian life? What is it we are to become?
   a. In Ro 8:29, we learn what is the ultimate goal of the Christian
      as predetermined by God
   b. It is simply this:  "...to be conformed to the image of His Son"
   -- To become like Christ is our ultimate goal!

2. But how does this take place? How does one become like Christ? Take
   a look at these words of Paul:

   "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the 
   glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from
   glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.  (2 Cor 3:18)

3. In this verse, with the help of its context, we learn how it is
   possible...
   a. To reach that ultimate goal as predestined by God
   b. To be  "...conformed to the image of His Son"

[The passage which serves as our text (2Co 3:18) is not an easy one,
but since it reveals important insights into the goal of the Christian
life, it is worth taking the effort to carefully consider what it says.
For example, we first observe that...]

I. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS ONE OF TRANSFORMATION

   A. "WE ALL...ARE BEING TRANSFORMED..."
      1. The word "transformed"...
         a. Comes from the Greek word metamorphoo {met-am-or-fo'-o}
         b. Which means "to change into another form, to transform, to
            transfigure"
         c. The word "metamorphosis" is derived from this word, which
            we use to describe the process of a caterpillar changing
            into a butterfly
         d. It's used to describe Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration
            - cf. Mt 17:1-2
            1) He was "transfigured before them."
            2) His face "shone like the sun" and His clothes "became
               as white as the light"
      2. Christians likewise are to undergo a transformation...
         a. Not only based upon our text (2Co 3:18)
         b. But also Ro 12:1-2, where our transformation is so we may
            "prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of
            God"
      3. Note in our text that Paul said "we all"
         a. Transformation is for ALL Christians
         b. Not just for a select few!
            
   B. "...TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE..."
      1. Here we learn the object of our transformation, which is to 
         become like Christ
      2. As we noticed in Ro 8:29, this is part of God's predetermined
         plan for those in Christ
      3. Jesus intimated as such in Lk 6:40 ("...everyone who is 
         perfectly trained will be like his teacher.")

   C. "...FROM GLORY TO GLORY..."
      1. This phrase suggests that our transformation is progressive
         a. It does not happen all at once, but gradually
         b. As Paul said we are "being transformed" (present tense), 
            not "have been transformed" (past tense)
      2. Transformation therefore involves a growth process
         a. We expect those who have been Christians but a short time 
            to have made only some progress
         b. But we should also expect those who have been Christians a
            good while to have made much progress!
      3. The Christian life is not to be static, but a dynamic 
         process...
         a. In which changes are taking place
         b. In which a person is becoming more and more like their 
            Savior, Jesus Christ!
         -- Compare this with what Solomon wrote about the just - Pro
            4:18

[When transformation does not take place, something is wrong, and it 
may be a failure to appreciate and utilize our second point gleaned 
from this passage...]

II. TRANSFORMATION COMES BY BEHOLDING

   A. "WITH UNVEILED FACE, BEHOLDING AS IN A MIRROR..."
      1. We must remember the context of Paul's words to appreciate his
         point
         a. He had alluded to how Moses out of necessity put a veil on
            his face when speaking to the people - cf. 2Co 3:13
         b. For when Moses had gone to Mount Sinai to receive the 
            commandments of the Lord, being in the presence of God made
            his face shine brightly - cf. Ex 34:29-35
      2. In like manner our transformation takes place as we 
         "behold..."
         a. Note that we do it with "unveiled face"
            1) The Israelites were unable to behold any of the glory 
               that shone from Moses' face because his was veiled
            2) But Christians are able to look upon the Lord's glory 
               without impediment
         b. "Beholding as in a mirror" is actually just one word in 
            the Greek and has three possible ways to be translated:
            1) "beholding as in a mirror (or glass)"
            2) "reflecting as in mirror"
            3) "beholding" (with no necessary reference to a mirror)
            -- In view of the context and the comparison with Moses, 
               the main idea seems to be the "beholding", without any
               particular reference to a mirror
         c. "Beholding" suggests contemplation and meditation, not a 
            momentary glance
      3. Thus the Christian life is to be one of contemplation, if 
         transformation is to take place
         a. That Christians are to engage in contemplation is evident
            from several passages
         b. Such as Php 4:8; Col 3:1-2
         c. Sadly, our fast-paced lifestyles often discourage the kind
            of contemplation needed to adequately "behold"
         -- Without contemplation (beholding), however, there can be no
            transformation!

   B. "BEHOLDING...THE GLORY OF THE LORD"
      1. Here is the object of our contemplation:  the Lord's glory!
         a. It is not just the act of contemplation, but the object of
            our contemplation that transforms us!
         b. Just as it was the "glory of the Lord" that caused Moses'
            face to shine, so it is "the glory of the Lord" that 
            transforms us!
      2. What is "the glory of the Lord" we are to behold?
         a. It would involve the glory He manifested while on earth 
            - cf. Jn 1:14
         b. For the glory of the Lord is reflected in every aspect of 
            His birth, life, teaching, miracles, good deeds, death, 
            resurrection, ascension, and current reign as our king and
            high priest!
         -- Thus the Scriptures (especially the gospels) are the tools
            we use to "behold His glory", as we read on...

   C. "...JUST AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD"
      1. This phrase reminds us of the role the Spirit has in our 
         "beholding"
         a. What we know of Jesus came through the ministry of the 
            Spirit
            1) The Spirit's ministry was to glorify Jesus - Jn 16:12-14
            2) He reminded the apostles, and inspired their writings 
               - cf. Jn 14:26; 1Co 2:12-13
         b. So as we contemplate upon the Word, we are able to behold 
            the glory of the Lord by virtue of what the Spirit has 
            done!
      2. Indeed, this may explain what Paul meant in saying "Now the 
         Lord is the Spirit..." - 2Co 3:17
         a. In verse 16, he had said "...when one turns to the Lord,
            the veil is taken away"
         b. But how can one "turn to the Lord" today?
            1) Only through the Spirit Whom the Lord Jesus sent to 
               continue His work
            2) Paul had already spoken of "the new covenant...of the 
               Spirit" which "gives life" - 2Co 3:6
               a) One finds "liberty" (from sin, the Old Law, death)
                  where "the Spirit of the Lord" is found - 2Co 3:17
               b) For it is the new covenant of the Spirit that offers
                  such things
         c. In this context, the Spirit is therefore "the Lord" (verse
            17) before Whom we must stand with "unveiled face" in 
            order to be transformed
         d. Of course, the "ministers" of this "new covenant...of the
            Spirit" were the apostles and inspired writers of the New
            Testament - 2Co 3:5-6
            1) Thus when we turn to their writings, we are turning to
               the Spirit!
            2) And when we turn to the Spirit, we are turning to the 
               Lord!
            3) And when we turn to the Lord, we behold Him in all His
               glory!
            4) And when we behold His glory, we are gradually changed 
               "into the same image from glory to glory"!

CONCLUSION

1. In Col 3:9-11 we are told...

   "Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man 
   with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in
   knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where
   there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised,
   barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all."

2. This verse by Paul is yet another reminder that the Christian life
   is one that involves a transformation...
   a. In which we are being "renewed"
   b. And that the object of our "renewal" is to become like Jesus!

3. From our study, I hope that we been impressed with the importance of
   "beholding" the glory of the Lord if we wish to be transformed
   a. The Christian life must include contemplation and meditation upon
      the glory of the Lord as revealed by the Spirit through the 
      apostles and writers of the New Testament
   b. We cannot be transformed by infrequent and casual glimpses of the
      Lord's glory!

Are you "beholding...the glory of the Lord"? Do you take the time to 
contemplate upon the glory of our Lord as revealed by the Spirit of God
in the Holy Scriptures?  

Consider what time you spend in studying the Bible as you seek to
answer these questions...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

From Gary... Love, interdimensional rainbows and the revelation of God

Somewhere over the rainbow- 

Katherine McPhee

(click on the link above to listen)

I have heard Judy Garland sing this song many, many times, but Katherine McPhee puts an entirely new spin on it.  Perhaps it is the slight change in the lyrics, or the intonation of her voice, but somehow the song came alive for me today.  Like the picture of the rainbow in the picture, I saw an old concept in a new light.  I had always thought of "over the rainbow" as arriving at the other end of it, not above it.  So, both the song and the picture enthralled me and are the highlight of my morning.  I just don't understand it- I thought when you became a senior citizen that nothing would be new; I was wrong!!!  I can see now that untold horizons lay before me- and as long as there is life and breath in this old body of mine, wonder awaits.  Even after I have put off this mortal coil, I will still be in for splendor beyond my imagination.  And the questions I have for the Almighty will take me a thousand years to ask.  Things that have been enigmas to me all my life will be revealed on that day, I will feel like those Ephesians must have felt when Paul wrote his letter to them...

Ephesians, Chapter 3

1 For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles,  2 if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you;  3 how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words,  4 by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;  5 which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;  6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News,  7 of which I was made a servant, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power. 8 To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,  9 and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ;  10 to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places,  11 according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord;  12 in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him. 

God seemed to be only for the Jews.  He had guided, corrected and helped them for many centuries and the unveiling of his plan for all men put a different "spin" on things.  Imagine, God loves ALL MEN, NOT JUST JEWS!!!   So, no matter what your lineage or prior status in this world, you can KNOW THAT GOD LOVES YOU.  That the mysteries of heaven have been revealed and you and I have a blessing awaiting you.  We are at the "over the rainbow" place in our lives RIGHT NOW and that rainbow will morph interdimensionally into wonders that can't even dreamed of.  Today, right now, realize that you have the rest of your life ahead of you- and that the best is yet to come; in this life and the following one as well!!!!  Got to go.... I should start writing my question list right away-before I forget what I am doing...