Ephesians 4:11-32

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Until the dawn, til the clouds part and our savior sets foot upon the Mount of Olives, for this we wait in patience.  Lord I see Your plan unfolding by the dark spirits that travel openly seeking to raise Your Creation.  Until Your Grace is withdrawn, they shall plunder, divide, diminish and deceive.  Until then Judgment will wait, but not for Your Glory, for it all points somehow providing insight to Your Majesty.  Until the sounds of battle, silence, I will stand with the shield of my faith, protecting my Brothers and Family as You have said that it would.  Until the sky is rolled up, falling stars littering the cosmos, I will gaze upon creation knowing it is but a clue to Your Sovereign Awesomeness.

What shall we wait upon if not for “until”.  For none of this is glory, but only tests, reflections, meanderings, diversions and wonders, set to capture our attention, while providing opportunities to rise above.  Until the moment we look into those fiery eyes and know that home for us is everlasting relationship.  Will I carry the cross made especially for me to wherever my God leads me?  I won’t know until I have succeeded.  What are we working toward, waiting upon, looking forward to?  What is that thing for you that makes you do whatever you must, stand what must be withstood, go where you should never be able?  Isn’t it simply “life” through Christ, with Christ, living in peace, contentment and service to each other to pleasure of Good Glory?  We humans crave this, paradise, this freedom, from the chaos, violence, wickedness, illness, poverty and pain of this existence.  Our disagreement and subsequently our purpose lie in the pathway to this paradise.  Where deceivers would have the bulk of humanity fooled by their own rebellion into believing that it can be collectively achieved by works, meditation, science, mysticism or cleverness, when there is but one path to Glory.

Jesus is the only way to God.  There is no tolerant way to speak the truth, for it cuts away obfuscation, deceit and flowery encumbrances.  We as Christians are left with only one stance.  It is not popular, just as warning of coming danger, whether fiscal, natural or war, our charge is to explain the need for salvation from coming judgment.  It is not my judgment, it is not up for discussion and this immovable truth, just as the commandments, leaves no room for wiggle.  God is waiting so that all who will come to salvation through belief in Jesus have had ample time to do so, for that is how much He loves us, all of us.  I cannot soften, water down, change, modify or adjust God’s Truth to make people feel better about its clarity.  That is beyond my station, my capacity or my will.  I do not want the ability to rewrite God’s Word, for it is already perfect in every way.  It demonstrates the love of the creator of every universe in that He would die for His own creation, so that we might be returned to good standing with Him.  It is man who allowed sin into the world, it is God who provided the way for us to be free, cleansed and removed from the power of our own sin.  It is therefore God who provides the door, the path, the avenue, the process.  That path is solely through trust in Jesus Christ, as God was named when He came to Earth.

I love people, I wish I had the ability to express how much I love people.  But in my humanity I want to scream at them for the things they consciously, daily and unabashedly do to each other, in the name of self service or preservation.  God’s Spirit, living within me bids me be eternally patient, understanding, kind, gentle and loving.  These are not my inherent qualities, but the characteristics of God He has grown within me.  For I often do not wish to forgive, yet I do, because God would have it so.  Until I become more like Him, I will not be able to understand the blind, irrational and frankly terminal behaviors of man.  Until I had a relationship with God, I was incapable of such compassionate understanding.  Lord, until You take me out of here or You come to set things right, I will be standing my ground, speaking Your Word, telling of Your Glorious Truth of salvation, judgment and coming Kingdom.  Give me all things that I will need to do the work you’ve set before me, until such my time is done.