For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)
In the chapter titled “Singularity” the infinite difference between us and God in the above verse is bridged by noting that just as we were created to live in His universe with those heavens above us, so also we were created to know Him. He has revealed Himself both in His creation of the universe and in the Scriptures, which are the record of His revelation of Himself in His Son, Jesus Christ.
One implication of the difference between us and God is that our earthly ways of thinking tend to be wrong, we have to learn God’s way of thinking. Sometimes this means that what we think to be very important, isn’t so important to God. Or it may mean that what we want to do isn’t what God wants us to do. That also applies to the way we go about doing things, there is our way, and then there is God’s way. Often enough then, our thinking is contrary to God’s thinking. And that is just why Paul told us to put on the mind of Christ
(Philippians 2:5Philippians 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:…),
and to renew our minds
(Romans 12:2Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.).
Examples of the difference between our thinking and God’s thinking are easy to find, especially in the New Testament. When the disciples worried about food, clothes, and a home, Jesus said,
… seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)
This has been explained as the theology of reversal by some. Others have philosophized about the indirect approach. The practical meaning of this is that our earthly thinking tends to be wrong, and that we have to learn God’s way of thinking. What ever you want to call it is really unimportant. But this idea is valuable to meditate upon, it will condition our thinking about God, and lead us to begin to think about things the way God has shown us he wants us to.
The New Testament is full of such reversals, strength in weakness
(II Corinthians 12:9II Corinthians 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.);
the foolishness of preaching
(I Corinthians 1:18I Corinthians 1:18
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.);
Jesus, a precious stone yet the rock of offense
(1 Peter 2:6-81 Peter 2:6-8
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.);
the righteous One, Jesus, made sin for us
(II Corinthians 5:21II Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. );
Jesus’ victory over death through death
(Colossians 1:22Colossians 1:22
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:…).
The direct statement that the first shall be last
(Mark 9:35Mark 9:35
And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.)
was in answer to His disciples dispute over who would be the greatest amongst themselves. Jesus taught that the way of salvation is narrow and small (as in the NASB), or as the KJV puts it, “strait” and “narrow”
(Matthew 7:13-14Matthew 7:13-14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.)
and that way is through the name of Jesus,
… there is no other name under heaven by which ye must be saved … (Acts 14:12)
But that small and narrow way opens to the largest place of all where we will be truly free
(John 8:36John 8:36
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.).
Jesus also said that in losing our life we will find it
(Luke 9:24Luke 9:24
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.).
And not only will we find it, but we will have it abundantly
(John 10:10John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.).
And speaking of abundance, giving not keeping is the surest way to true riches as it were,
Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return. (Luke 6:38 NASB).
Consider Romans 11:35,
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
In the overall context of talking about the Lord’s Supper and worship, the conclusion we can draw from the idea of reversal is that the surest path to a richer and more fulfilling worship experience is seeking to serve God with what He considers to be richer and more fulfilling worship to Himself, not seeking it for ourselves. We should see that worship that is intended to satisfy God, done in the way He has disposed of it to us, rather than for and by ourselves, is ultimately the most satisfactory to ourselves. We should see that the worship which satisfies God is that worship which He has devised. And we should see that though worship is what we owe to God, when we give what is due Him we reap superlative benefit to ourselves from such worship.
God’s great purpose is that Jesus Christ shall have the preeminence in all things
(Colossians 1:18Colossians 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.).
As part of that purpose He is building the Church
(Matthew 16:18Matthew 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.,
Ephesians 2:20-22Ephesians 2:20-22
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.).
We are God’s building. It is as precious stones that we are to be built up in the Lord
(1 Corinthians 3:9-12a1 Corinthians 3:9-12a
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. …),
being conformed to His likeness
(Romans 8:29Romans 8:29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.).
The value and place of the Lord’s Supper is pertinent to this by directing our attentions in worship to the mystery of our Faith: Christ died; Christ has risen; Christ will return. When our attentions are so directed, worship takes on new vitality by being focused upon Jesus, and that vitality will in turn give vitality to our lives. Plainly said, the path to the richest worship experience is the path of a close walk with the Lord in our daily lives. As Coleridge said, “Forget thyself and strive to know thy God”.
©FH 2012