Hey, Cobblestone,
In this “Apprenticeship” series of letters, I’ve
intentionally mixed academic and vocational terms: course monikers like 101,
201, etc., with “journeyman’s card.” In serving our apprenticeship to the
Father, and cooperating in being conformed to the image of his Son, we’ll be
getting a more well-rounded education than either category of terms can
describe on its own, so I’ve wanted us to get used to seeing them together. Our
work in this walk-around world is designed to produce something in the world – and in us – which begs the
question…
Where, exactly, is the Father going with our apprenticeship?
In his letters to the Corinthian Christians, the apostle Paul
made some statements that may have startled even himself. Here’s a sampling
from the sixth chapter of (what we call) the first letter: Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? (verse 2) Do you not know that we are to judge angels?
(verse 3). It’s not hard to imagine the wide-eyed Corinthians responding,
“Nope, sure didn’t.”
Our first-century forbears hadn’t got used to being
blood-bought daughters and sons of God Most High – and neither had their
apostle, quite – which is one reason their exchange of letters at times sounds
so contentious: “When are you going to get
it, people?” “What the heck are you even talking about, Paul?” The high calling in Christ Jesus was higher
and better than any of them had imagined up to that point.
Which brings us to the twenty-first
century, and a whole new batch of Corinthians (Cobblestonians?), learning moment
by moment what their calling involves. Paul didn’t ask those questions of his
own accord. God breathed them out, and Paul made sure they got put down on
parchment, to be circulated throughout the family of God. Being God-breathed,
they’re not the least bit imaginary. We may bank on them as if what they
describe has already happened. The saints will judge the world. We who are
saved will judge angels. Ready? Go.
Oops, not ready? Yeah, me neither. Which is why it’s so
important to know where this apprenticeship is going – and how far we’ve yet to
go.
In (what we call) Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians,
the Father calls his children ambassadors
for Christ, given the ministry of
reconciliation (5:18, 20). That’s what he has made us now. Our titles don’t change when God’s plan comes to fruition; the
change is that our work becomes altogether effective and unfailing. How good
does that sound to a soul weary with the world’s troubles? Fully animated by
the Holy Spirit and unwaveringly obedient to the Master, we can’t miss the
intended mark.
The unsaved world would get mighty grumpy if the Church
started putting up billboards now, saying, “Hey, Y’all, betcha can’t wait to be
judged by us Christians!” So, as I’ve said earlier in this series, the unsaved
world doesn’t need to see us as better, only different. I’ve heard Andrew
Holzworth say, “When a Christian walks into the room, the room should change.”
I agree. A peace merchant just showed up. A minister of reconciliation is at
work. Someone, finally, is practicing mercy on the Master’s behalf. This is our
work in the here-and-now.
When we receive our caps and gowns – or as the Revelation
puts it, the white robes and a new name (2:13, 7:9) – we’ll know what
to do with them. Meanwhile, the very best thing we can do is acknowledge our
dependence on the Father, and lean fully into him – Behold, as the eyes of servants
look to the hand of
their master, as the eyes
of a maidservant to the hand of
her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy
upon us (Psalm 123:2).
On your very last day you will be most like Jesus. Same for
me. I’m happy to wear the apprentice’s cap, happy to cooperate with the Master
for as long as it takes. Same for you, I hope. Beloved, we are God's children now,
and what we will be has
not yet appeared; but we know
that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is (1John 3:2).
Grace and Peace (from the Master himself),
John
No comments:
Post a Comment