"The Very Image of the Good Things"

"For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect." (Hebrews 10:1)

But Jesus can, did, does.  Here is the basis for Wesley's theology of "Christian Perfection," not my works, efforts, amazing insights and giftedness,  "The Law [is] a shadow of the good things."  Jesus Christ is, "the very image of the things...."  And in Jesus Christ, we who, "approach," the Living Triune God are, yes, you read correctly, "perfect"------------------- just some, "of the good things to come...."

I could write today of debt crises, markets out of control, political philosophies which have destroyed and will continue to destroy men and nations, but I choose to speak of Him Who Is, "the very image of the things...."  I write and speak of Jesus Christ because while Jesus Christ, "is foolishness to those who are perishing,..to us who are being saved...[He is] the [very] power of God,..to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks (Gentiles) foolishness...."  This is never said in Scripture of Father and the Holy Spirit.  Jesus Christ dominates the ancient Creeds for this very reason.  Humanity has basically said, "We have no problem with Him Whom you Christians call "Father" or even the Holy Spirit.  It is this Jesus Who gives us problems."  Of course, because it is precisely This Jesus Who Is, "the very image of the things...,the good things to come," the, "good things," which came, and, "the good things," Who Is yet, "to come"------------- again!

To speak only of God is to perpetuate the illusion of God, vagaries, self made gods.  Speak only of God and we can make Him anything we desire.  The Bible says that, "No one has seen God at any time," and the same is true of the Holy Spirit.  Ah, but when, "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us," the world did see Jesus, the One Who claimed, "I and the Father are One," and, "no man comes to the Father except through (literally, "on account of, because of") Me."  Now all of a sudden the world was confronted with no more, "glass darkly," theology.  There He Was, standing in the Temple, going out of His journey to Nain to raise from the dead a widow's son, manifesting just What and Who David's, "my Shepherd," Was------------ and Is.

According to the, "God-Breathed," Word, you and I have a race to run today.  That race never ceases even when sleeping.  And the great cry from the "Throne Room" of Heaven is to run this race, "Looking unto Jesus," literally, "to look away from all else at."  It means, "Looking unto Jesus," and nothing and no one else.  It does not mean isolating ourselves in a cave somewhere, "forsaking the assembly," etc.  It means that in the race of life we have no other, "Author and Finisher," no other source of salvation, redemption, healing, deliverance, peace, joy, overcoming victory.  It means that if people know anything of me, they know of Jesus Christ, "the good things."  

Father, in Jesus' Name, I just thank You again today for Your Words, which are continually, "Life to," me.  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2