Do You Believe? Do You See?
Jesus, a complete stranger to Nathanael, told Nathanael that there was found nothing false in him as an Israelite. Who but God could make a statement like this about anyone? Nathanael answered, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Hum, I wonder what was going on between Nathanael and the Lord under that fig tree? Nathanael with faith declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Whatever went on under that fig tree obviously convinced Nathanael of who this man was in front of him. And then Jesus responded to his faith:
“’You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.’ He then added, ‘I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’” John 1:45-51
What comes out to me here is that if I am a person who seeks truth like Nathanael and desires to please God like Nathanael then nothing false can be found in me. I will believe the truth when I hear the truth, or in Nathanael’s case, when I see The Truth right in front of me. And, if I believe the truth then I will see what Jesus said His disciples will see. Faith in what the Lord says – opens things up to us; things that would ordinarily be closed, even invisible to the unbeliever.
Jesus states that “I saw you;” He completely sees each one of us from the inside out. Nothing is hidden from Him. If He has put His Spirit in you, then He will watch over you like hawk on prey; like a faithful husband watches over his helpmate (wife) and their children. The Lord watches over Israel and the Church because of the covenant He has with both.
What does the Lord see in you?
Is there anything false in you that Jesus can find?
It is our responsibility with the indwelling Spirit of God to become blameless/pure in His sight. Do you know what HE MEANS by “blameless and pure?” If not, I suggest you get to studying God’s Word so you will know.
Jesus inspired Nathanael when He told him what he would see because he believed in the Lord. Do you believe in the Lord; truly believe? Is the “truth” found by you? Does faithful instruction and godly encouragement flow from your mouth? Out of the heart – the mouth speaks! Is His Kingdom growing in you, filling every place so that worldliness and deception are being continually pushed out? God does not hold against us how we were raised; the culture we were born into, but He does hold us accountable with His indwelling Holy Spirit.
How do you see the things happening today in our world, and in your own nation? How do you see what’s happening to you personally, and to your children too?
I don’t really think we all understand the all-power of His Name; the Name the Father gave Him, and that He gives to His children that love Him. Why would we ever deny that Name?! Why would we ever doubt that the Name of Jesus Christ is the only Name under heaven by which anyone can be saved both physically and eternally? Jesus prayed to His Father:
“I protect them by the power of your name — the name you gave me — so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me.” (verses 11-12)
We use His Name in so many ways for our own advantage (in vain). We use His Name to express sarcasm (holy shit or holy cow, etc), to express frustration (Jesus Christ!), to express anger (God damn-it!) or to express surprise (OMG). Just for the record, the word “holy” is reserved for God alone. And, the word “awesome” rightfully belongs to God Almighty too. That movie you saw is not “awesome.” That dress you want is not “awesome.” That sports game you watched is not “awesome.” GOD IS AWESOME! We are fast approaching the Day when we will ALL be ‘convinced’ of this!
You better not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will NOT hold you guiltless – if you do. (Exodus 20:7) If you’re not calling on the Lord God in truth and spirit (holiness), then don’t use His Name. If you’re not telling someone about how wonderful He is by Name (as His truthful witness), then you have no right even mentioning the Name of Jesus Christ. If you’re not praying according to the truth and will of God our Father, then you have no right attaching the Name of Jesus Christ to your prayer. That prayer isn’t heard or honored by our Holy God.
I’m not going to get into secret immorality (or open immorality) that our God hates such as: idolatry, fornication, adultery, masturbation, pornography, homosexuality, prostitution, incest, lusting, crude joking, malicious gossip, false witnessing, prejudice favoring, greed, gluttony, drunkenness, envy, and all the rest. You can read it all in the Old and New Testament, if you dare to feel convicted. He will let you know what He thinks about all that and where it will take you if you keep allowing it master you. God does not change. His standard for purity has not changed either.
Isaiah still speaks today to God’s people that God has clearly found false worship in:
“Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have been false to me, and have neither remembered me nor pondered this in your hearts? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me? I will expose your (self) righteousness and your (own) works, and they will not benefit you. When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off; a mere breath will blow them away. But the man who makes me his refuge will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain. And it will be said: ‘Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.’” (57:11-14)
Obstacles prevent us from ‘seeing’ what is ahead that we are supposed to see as Spirit-filled truth-seeking God-honoring believers. Obstacles are not all evil. God’s people can be busy doing good things, but not necessarily doing the true works of God. I believe this is why so many of God’s servants fall into sexual sin, or become mentally and physically exhausted and sick/diseased, or become fearful of losing control (of whatever).
As we seek and live for His kingdom – we will be blessed in every way. Jesus promised us that because we put His kingdom first – all things will be added unto us. (Luke 12:31) He also told us that if we would come under HIS YOKE only, not our yoke, not man’s yoke, not the government’s yoke – that our burden would be light and the work easy. I am learning that what the Lord asks of me is quite simple; it’s what I enjoy doing because it’s how HE knitted me together in my mother’s womb, from conception on. He desires us to enjoy life, every part of it, but with holiness (self-discipline and true worship of God). We will all go through the testing and training of this inner and outer character – all throughout our lifetime. The earth (all creation) groans and eagerly waits for the “true” sons and daughters to be revealed and take back the control that Father God gave them in the beginning. (Genesis 1:28 and 2:15)
Jesus told Nathanael that he would see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51) Wow! What a privilege! That was with the Lord’s first coming. What have you been shown about the second coming of the Son of Man? Or, have you hardly believed in the “first” coming of Jesus Christ? Are you doubting like Thomas when he doubted that the Lord would do what He said He would do before Jesus left them (with His death on the cross)?
“Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. (This was after the Lord’s death – when they were hiding behind locked doors in fear of persecution from the Jews.) So the other disciples told Thomas, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ (They saw what unbelievers can’t see.) But Thomas said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.’
“A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” John 20:19-29
What see with our physical eye is not the same as what can be seen with our spiritual eyes. For what is seen of the physical is temporal. What we can only see with our spiritual eyes (insight from the Holy Spirit) is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18) We are told to “fix our eyes on the eternal.”
Do you believe it? If you believe it, you will see it!
And, don’t let Him find anything false in you. I for one have felt the shame of My Father’s displeasure. I don’t ever want to feel that again! I will keep to His narrow path; that good old ancient path that only few will walk with Him. (According to His own words in Matthew 7:13-14) For He warns:
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them…Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:15-27
What foundation do you have? What is your hope founded on? It determines whether you ‘see’ correctly or not. It determines how you see and treat the things (and people) that are around you; the things that happen to you. If you fear and doubt you will miss the opportunity God would have for you; His open door that no man can shut!
To His New Jerusalem church He says:
“These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name…..Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” Revelation 3:7-12
If we believe in the truth of the Lord, we will see what is most important to see. If we see, we will have hope and confidence. If we have hope and confidence, we will eagerly and joyfully finish the work of the Lord; the work that has been prepared for us to do in our generation. For, we (His faithful church) are His prepared body.
“Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.’ Then I said, ‘Here I am — it is written about me in the scroll — I have come to do your will, O God.’” Hebrews 10:5-7
If we don’t do His will – it won’t get done. Do you believe? Do you see?
May Christ Jesus not find anything false in me!