What Happens When...

Fellow Pilgrims...

What happens when you or i sense God speaking to us, and it seems like we are the only ones hearing the news, the message, or the direction? What happens? Do most people stare at us, not blinking, doubting our sanity? Perhaps an example is needed.

In the history of Christianity, one of the monumental moments was Constantine becoming Emperor of the Roman Empire. His mother had coverted to Christianity, and he saw what was once a powerful empire showing signs of distress and weakness. One day, perhaps he prayed we don't know, he heard Jesus' voice describe how Constantine would conquer the known world. In the dream, Constantine saw what is called the Chi Rho: first two Greek letters in Christ. And then the infamous "hearing." Constantine heard, (paraphrase) "Under this sign you will conquer."

And he did.

Now did Jesus, the Prince of Peace, really illuminate a sword and shield and call Constantine to conquer in Jesus' Name? Some might say yes. Some would argue that Constantine's success illustrates the Divine's hand in the process. Others, like myself, would hesitate to embrace such a theology. We argue that it seems so Un Christlike to instruct someone to get up and conquer, go to war, with so many people, in Jesus' Name. As i rehearse the story, i still find myself shaking my head, wondering, if Constantine just duped us and fed into our desire to become that religion, or if he really did "see" and "hear."

But his story reminds me of how hard it is to prove God's revelation, right? Especially when the revelation carries political, global, spiritual, and eternal ramifications. Constantine's dream changes the narrative of Christianity, perhaps forever, but his dream pales in comparison to another revelation: Peter's.

Peter, as he often does, speaks before thinking. Peter, always wanting to please Jesus, like the eager know it all in grade school, sits in his chair shaking his hand wildly, hoping to get called on, because Peter always seems to have the answer. This time he did. When asked who the disciples say Jesus is, Peter replies, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

We read this and applaud Peter's attestation of faith, but there is a huge issue with just patting Peter on the back. Peter has just announced that Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One, the One who was to come to restore Israel. Peter's statement is more than a matter of fact understanding; Peter has just unhinged the entire political scene of first century Palestine.

If Jesus is the Messiah, then all that is going on in the world, with all its injustices, will soon end. God is going to throw the Romans out, disperse the corrupt Jewish leaders, and restore God's Kingdom through a new Zion/Jerusalem. Peter, a fisherman by trade, makes the boldest statement yet: Jesus is here. The Messiah is here. And God is about to do some crazy stuff, like build a new kingdom through Jesus.

It makes sense, when examined through this, that Jesus would praise Peter, because only someone touched by the Divine could see through the muck and mire and know that Jesus was all that the Anointed needed to be. As amazing as Peter's proclamation may be, i wonder what the others were thinking. Were they scratching their heads, wondering if Peter had lost mind? Or did they, like Peter, have a deep sense, a true Godly sense that Jesus was the Messiah, and Peter was simply, because he always spoke first, the first to speak?

Whatever. It doesn't matter. What matters is that Peter makes a huge faith statement and now Jesus is overcome with joy, because Peter can see, truly see. For those of us in ministry, i can say that when someone gets it, truly gets it, it becomes a powerful God moment. At that instant, regardless of whether they fall back or not, at that moment, God's Spirit is more alive and real in that person, and we witness the maturation and growth of that sister or brother. Jesus looks at Peter, who has just made this bold claim, and Jesus sees the last three years of hard work pay off.

Peter finally gets it.

And when God opens our eyes and shows us the power of His truth, we will get it too. And that, my friends is all God wants. God wants us to get it. Truly get it. Because once we get it; we exist for a different reason. No longer do we serve selfish desires, but we, like Jesus, seek the good of the other, which is why i doubt Constantine's dream. Constantine cared only about furthering his power and agenda, while not caring a great deal about honoring the Jesus that found His way on the front of every shield.

And that's how we know when someone speaks from God's revelation or selfish motivation. That and if the statement matches Scripture. If someone speaks truth that makes the other's life more wholistic, chances are it is of Jesus. If someone speaks truth and their statement injures or does little to help the suffering of the less than; chances are they speak falsely. Not only do we seek those who truly hear God, but we must weed out those who speak falsely.

It is not an easy job, but it is a vital one if we are to become all that we were created to be. Amen.

Shalom,
jerry