The Fierce Urgency of Now The Wayfarer
The Fierce Urgency of Now
2 Corinthians 6:2King James Version (KJV)2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
There appears to be an ever increasing urgency, an ever increasing ferocity of that urgency that bombards us constantly within the relations and relationships of men, of nations, and of an entire planet held in the thrall of that ferocity and urgency of those thinking themselves in control of it, either in portions or in whole.
That urgency is magnified by the division of opinion and fierce denial of opinions of all but the select group that consider themselves superior to the masses, whom they attempt to convince of that superiority despite the proof that that superiority exists only in the past mistakes made by so many others of the same ilk .... and opinions.
Reliance on the ferocity of that urgency that would take precedence in all the affairs of men is reliance on the same fallibility of the same urgency of control that has existed since Cain slew Abel, with the same measure of superiority in his own mind, that proved most inferior indeed.
Why did Christ choose the time chosen to come to us, the time to begin His ministry and the simple message He brought throughout that ministry that remains equally pertinent and urgent today?
He did so because of the fierce urgency brought about by mankind, and particularly by the "leaders" that professed their superiority over the masses, not recognizing that they were equally inferior before God, and were equally guilty within His judgment.
He came because a Savior was fiercely and urgently needed to return them to the grace of God, and no other savior was adequate.
Jesus did not live his life in the style of those thinking themselves far superior to him, but chose, instead, to live among and as one of those inferiors held in such disdain.
His superiority was not that of those daily making the important decisions, nor was it in rebellion against those holding the offices allowed them to hold by the Creator.
Jesus faced the fierce urgency of NOW every day, both the urgency to reach those inferior masses, and those thinking themselves superior as well.
He faced the urgency of a world in need, a need both physical and spiritual in nature.
Miracles performed, parables taught, each decision made was made in the fierce urgency of NOW, that went beyond the confines of mere days, years, decades or centuries, all of which fell within that urgency that could be filled only through His message, and consummated through his sacrifice.
The message brought is obfuscated even by those celebrating Christmas, the birth of that Messenger and King as the message is sublimated by the ideas and concepts of men doing the celebrating.
The celebration of Easter, which should be celebration both of the message and the Messenger is also all too often sublimated by the celebrants who seem to have forgotten the very reason for celebration.
Each day draws each of us closer to a far fiercer urgency than the immediacy of a tentative now, to a NOW that is in fact eternal.
Along with the miracles performed, parables and lessons taught, prophecy was given of a time when that urgency would, and will expire, as its time shall have passed leaving each with the choice made of what is fiercely urgent.
Each moment brings us closer to the completion of what has been prophesied, what has been preordained to occur, what will occur as God exercises HIS superiority and defines HIS fierce urgency that is so easily forgotten by those still attempting to equal his superiority.
As we consider the fierce urgency of NOW, let us remember who first considered that urgency, filling the needs of that urgency with Christ Jesus.
Let us also consider the message delivered in that urgency that remains as fiercely urgent now as it was then, and whose place of urgency must not be forgotten when those bringing the warm fuzzies forget to include the thorns that made up his crown, forget that the purple raiment was stripped from His body as that body was nailed to a cross to attempt to silence that urgent message.
Let us remember that He also rose from the grave in which he was placed in the fierce urgency of providing proof of the resurrection to be faced by all, and to return to intercede on the behalf of those still reachable and teachable through the message that refuses to be silenced despite the intervening years and concepts taught by this inferior creature called man.
"Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand"
Amen and Amen
The Wayfarer
There appears to be an ever increasing urgency, an ever increasing ferocity of that urgency that bombards us constantly within the relations and relationships of men, of nations, and of an entire planet held in the thrall of that ferocity and urgency of those thinking themselves in control of it, either in portions or in whole.
That urgency is magnified by the division of opinion and fierce denial of opinions of all but the select group that consider themselves superior to the masses, whom they attempt to convince of that superiority despite the proof that that superiority exists only in the past mistakes made by so many others of the same ilk .... and opinions.
Reliance on the ferocity of that urgency that would take precedence in all the affairs of men is reliance on the same fallibility of the same urgency of control that has existed since Cain slew Abel, with the same measure of superiority in his own mind, that proved most inferior indeed.
Why did Christ choose the time chosen to come to us, the time to begin His ministry and the simple message He brought throughout that ministry that remains equally pertinent and urgent today?
He did so because of the fierce urgency brought about by mankind, and particularly by the "leaders" that professed their superiority over the masses, not recognizing that they were equally inferior before God, and were equally guilty within His judgment.
He came because a Savior was fiercely and urgently needed to return them to the grace of God, and no other savior was adequate.
Jesus did not live his life in the style of those thinking themselves far superior to him, but chose, instead, to live among and as one of those inferiors held in such disdain.
His superiority was not that of those daily making the important decisions, nor was it in rebellion against those holding the offices allowed them to hold by the Creator.
Jesus faced the fierce urgency of NOW every day, both the urgency to reach those inferior masses, and those thinking themselves superior as well.
He faced the urgency of a world in need, a need both physical and spiritual in nature.
Miracles performed, parables taught, each decision made was made in the fierce urgency of NOW, that went beyond the confines of mere days, years, decades or centuries, all of which fell within that urgency that could be filled only through His message, and consummated through his sacrifice.
The message brought is obfuscated even by those celebrating Christmas, the birth of that Messenger and King as the message is sublimated by the ideas and concepts of men doing the celebrating.
The celebration of Easter, which should be celebration both of the message and the Messenger is also all too often sublimated by the celebrants who seem to have forgotten the very reason for celebration.
Each day draws each of us closer to a far fiercer urgency than the immediacy of a tentative now, to a NOW that is in fact eternal.
Along with the miracles performed, parables and lessons taught, prophecy was given of a time when that urgency would, and will expire, as its time shall have passed leaving each with the choice made of what is fiercely urgent.
Each moment brings us closer to the completion of what has been prophesied, what has been preordained to occur, what will occur as God exercises HIS superiority and defines HIS fierce urgency that is so easily forgotten by those still attempting to equal his superiority.
Revelation 22
King James Version (KJV)
22 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Let us also consider the message delivered in that urgency that remains as fiercely urgent now as it was then, and whose place of urgency must not be forgotten when those bringing the warm fuzzies forget to include the thorns that made up his crown, forget that the purple raiment was stripped from His body as that body was nailed to a cross to attempt to silence that urgent message.
Let us remember that He also rose from the grave in which he was placed in the fierce urgency of providing proof of the resurrection to be faced by all, and to return to intercede on the behalf of those still reachable and teachable through the message that refuses to be silenced despite the intervening years and concepts taught by this inferior creature called man.
"Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand"
Amen and Amen
The Wayfarer
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