FREEDOM IN THE PARAMETERS

There truly is nothing new under the sun; in the beginning God…in the end God; the Alpha and the Omega.  I find comfort in those parameters.  I feel a great deal of creative freedom in the space in between them.  Knowing the beginning and the end gives me the plumb line that is true that I can build my life upon and have it be pleasing to God and to myself.

For me the “vanity, vanity, all is vanity” that Solomon talks about in Ecclesiastes comes when I try to do things without the vision of eternity clear in my thinking and in my living; the vision that God put in my heart when he created me.  I find parameters and plumb lines helpful rather than being hindrances to my freedom to be me, the best me that is most helpful rather than harmful to others.  The fruit of the Spirit of God is grown within me, but it is produced to give away to others, all others, at all times.

Nature is most true in wilderness, untouched by human intervention, invention, or intrusiveness.  But in that natural wildness there is a natural law and order, pattern, and purpose.  It’s those things that make it seem so free.  Human law and order, pattern and purpose, tends to be restrictive and constrictive, which speaks to control more than freedom.

 People who live close to the land seem to live with a sense of rhythm rather than restriction.  It seems that the more civilized we become, the more we lose that sense of natural rhythm, and then we learn to depend on the artificial restrictions of time and space.  We lose the overall bigger picture of eternity and restrict ourselves to the now.  The over all natural parameters become artificial boundary lines, man made laws, and restrictive rules that put some in control and others under control.  With that comes an artificial illusion of power that humans use in forceful ways against one another.

When we lose the vision of eternity we become narrowly focused in the present and a sense of fear overtakes our sense of freedom.  It seems to me that the responsibility of those who know God is to keep that vision of eternity alive in the hearts of all people.  That is what Jesus did for all those he came in contact with.

There is much more beyond this present moment, beyond these present circumstances, beyond this present world, and beyond this present life.  The kingdom of God is the vision of eternity that God put in our hearts.  It is above and beyond anything we can imagine and it is beautiful, whole, and true.  It is the true power and majesty of a God who is pure love, life, and all that is good.  Without that vision people perish, frantically running around looking for something they know is there within them, but can’t find. It is clearly visible all around us in creation and it is available to all who seek after it. Seek it and you will find it.  Knock for it and it will be opened to you.  Ask for it and it will become known to you.  God has put the vision eternity in our hearts.  It’s already there, waiting for you to see, hear, and know.