The Two Temples
(A Christian Workbook)
Section 1: Chapter 5 – Mortar: Eyes To See
ut nobody
is perfect!” This is one of the most common objections that evangelists of the
Victory message meet when dealing with those who have accepted a compromised
form of the Gospel. If the Scriptures tell us that all things are possible for
those who believe, (Mark 9:23) and that it is the Father’s desire that we be
free from sin, (1 Corinthians 15:34, 2 Peter 3:9) and that whatsoever we ask of
the Creator with full confidence and faith is ours, (John 11:22, Mark 11:23)
how can we fail to receive the character of Christ?
Is it
true that nobody is regarded as perfect in the Scriptures? Or that “Christ is
the only one who was perfect?” The answer is no, and the reason is because the
word “perfect” in the Bible is not always used to describe a state of being to
which no improvements can be made. The Messiah was the only one who maintained
perfection from birth to death, and in that sense He is unique, and thus
qualified as a Sacrifice for all mankind. As we examined in previous chapters,
for the rest of us it is true that “all have sinned,” and thus required the
atoning blood of Yahshua to restore, or atone, us to the Divine standard. We
enter into His experience, becoming “partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust,” (2 Peter 1:4) when
we are born again.
Christ’s
perfection of character was such that no “improvements” could be made, yet we
are told that He did grow in grace and knowledge. (Luke 2:40; Hebrews 5:8, 9)
He was the “last Adam,” (1 Corinthians 15:45) who succeeded where the first had
failed.
Those
described in the language of Scripture as being “perfect,” though they likewise
required growth in grace and knowledge, include Noah, (Genesis 6:9) Job, (Job
1:1) the Israelite kings David (2 Samuel 22:31), Asa (1 Kings 15:14), Hezekiah
(Isaiah 38:3) and others. Those who trust and obey the Messiah, receiving His
life as their own (Galatians 2:20) and turning away from all known evil (Job
8:20) are also considered to be perfect in this particular way. (Colossians
1:28, 2 Timothy 3:17, Psalm 101:6) They may not know everything, and thus make
errors in judgment, (Isaiah 1:17; James 5:19, 20) but if their “hearts” are perfect,
(2 Chronicles 16:9) indicating true conversion, their characters are considered
perfect in the Biblical sense, through the grace of the Son of Yahweh. They
will naturally turn from all that is revealed to them as “sin.”
The
Savior described Christian perfection in a parable. “And He said, ‘So is the
kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep,
and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not
how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the
ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth,
immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” (Mark
4:26-29) When we are born again, of “incorruptible seed,” (1 Peter 1:23) we are
as those crops. There needs to be growth before the plant is ready for the
harvest, but there is no stage of development at which the corn is less than
perfect. “First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear;”
but growth makes the plant “mature,” not perfect – it began as a perfect seed.
The
question is how we judge perfection, and indeed all things. With whose eyes do
we view ourselves and the world? In his distress Job asked the Almighty, “Hast thou
eyes of flesh? Or seest thou as man seeth?” (Job 10:4) His meaning was that the
Creator may not be adequately able to judge the suffering of man, having never
experienced humanity. A few centuries later, Job’s answer came. “We have not an
High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but
was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) By
His suffering the Son became the captain of our Salvation, (Hebrews 2:10)
experiencing the world as a man, yet He was able to maintain his condition
“without sin;” and this was because of His eyes.
It was
because the Almighty did not have “eyes of flesh” that He permitted Job
to come to trial. To human eyes and minds, this was a course of action both
unfair and harsh, for Job was described as being “a perfect man” even before
his trial. Ultimately, however, Job’s suffering was of the greatest benefit to
himself, (Job 42:12) his friends, (verses 9, 10) and to countless generations
who have been comforted by the record of his life. (James 5:11) Yahweh is
capable of judging rightly, for He knows all, and sent His Son to experience
all, yet the vision of the Godhead is made with the “eyes of the Spirit.” We,
His children, are invited to see the world through the eyes of our God.
“I
counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and
white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest
see.” (Revelation 3:18) Do we wish to judge situations in the correct way? We
must have the right eyes. An “ungodly witness” is one who wishes to avoid the
less pleasant aspects of true Christian growth, (Proverbs 19:28) and will often
quote the Savior’s partial statement, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
(Matthew 7:1) Unfortunately, they neglect to read or acknowledge the entire
passage, which runs all the way down to verse 5. The heart of the matter is not
that we should not judge at all, but that we should not rush into judgment
without a clear view of the circumstances. The conclusion of the teaching is
this: “first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see
clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5)
When we
can see clearly our judgment is righteous, and then the Bible actually
encourages us to judge – not the ultimate end of any human being, but the state
of affairs at any given time. “It is joy to the just to do judgment: but
destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. But truly I am full of power
by the Spirit of Yahweh, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob
his transgression, and to Israel his sin.” (Proverbs 21:15, Micah 3:8) In
truth, it is not we who judge, but Christ, and we merely repeat His judgments,
having seen all with His eyes. “Judge not according to the appearance [that is,
with the eyes of flesh], but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24) We may say
with Him, “my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will
of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30)
The
Savior had perfect trust in the Father. This caused Him to have a perfectly
accurate worldview. He was not concerned with fame, with fortune, with
acquiring possessions for this world. He was not distressed at the political
situation of the time, although the Romans’ lordship over His people was a
constant topic of discussion by those in Palestine. His eyes, the eyes of the
Spirit, were fixed on eternal things and, having seen Himself in the Scriptures
with those eyes, He knew His role and walked in the path that had been laid out
in the plan of Salvation from the foundations of the world. (Hebrews 9:26)
Is
His worldview our own? Do we have the eyes of the Spirit, walking by faith and
not by earthly sight? (2 Corinthians 6:7) Do we process all that our senses
tell us through the knowledge and vision of the Spirit, having the “mind of
Christ,” (1 Corinthians 2:16) and “bringing into captivity every thought to the
obedience of Christ?” (2 Corinthians 10:5) Paul’s letters to the Corinthians
were largely calculated to teach them about having the right kind of eyes.
How
does our experience correspond to that which has been promised to us? Christ
claimed the promises of the Father, for it was written of Him, “He shall not
fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth: and the isles
shall wait for His Law.” (Isaiah 42:4) Believing this, He did not fail. King
David claimed the promises of Heaven, saying, “Thy word have I hid in mine
heart, that I might not sin [Heb: lo echatah – “I will not sin”] against
thee.” (Psalm 119:11) Believing this, he did not fail, being named “a man after
[Yah’s] own heart.” (Acts 13:22)
The
view of the world that shapes our experiences, or the atmosphere in which we
live, forms the framework into which we fit all we know and can know. It is the
mortar that holds together the elements of our lives, and this atmosphere may
take on many forms:
If we
believe that we cannot succeed, we are seeing with the eyes of flesh and living
in an Atmosphere of Failure – if this be so we will naturally fail. Yet
the Scriptures tell us, “add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And
to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity; for if
ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” (2 Peter 1:5-7, 10b) We are invited
to come to the place from which we shall never fall.
If we
believe that “self” is the most important thing in the universe, we are seeing
with the eyes of flesh and living in an Atmosphere of Selfishness – if
this be so we will naturally fail. Yet the Scriptures tell us, “Then said
Yahshua unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) And, “Let us
not therefore judge [that is, to condemn or belittle] one another any more: but
judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in
his brother’s way.” (Romans 14:13) And also, “Let nothing be done through
strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better
than themselves.” (Philippians 2:3) We are invited to experience the benefits
of true humility.
If we
believe that we will be allowed to suffer unnecessarily, whether physically,
mentally or emotionally, we are seeing with the eyes of flesh and living in an Atmosphere
of Fear – if this be so we will naturally fail. Yet the Scriptures tell us,
“Yah hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a
sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) And, “I, Yahweh thy Almighty One, will hold thy
right hand, saying unto thee, ‘Fear not; I will help thee.’” (Isaiah 41:13) And
also, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear
hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18) We
are invited to be made perfect in love.
If we
believe that others do not like us, and have an irrational conviction that they
will turn us away, we are seeing with the eyes of flesh and living in an Atmosphere
of Rejection – if this be so we will naturally fail. Yet the Scriptures
tell us, “In every nation he that feareth [Yah], and worketh righteousness, is
accepted with Him.” (Acts 10:35) And, “By this shall all men know that ye are
my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35) And also, “That
which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have
fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His
Son Yahshua the Messiah.” (1 John 1:3) Ultimately, because of our faith we will
be “hated by all men” anyway, (Mark 13:13) but we are invited to live in an
assurance of true acceptance nonetheless.
If we
believe that we never have enough of what we need, we are seeing with the eyes
of flesh and living in the all-too-common Atmosphere of Want – if this
be so we will naturally fail. Yet the Scripture tells us, “Grace and peace be
multiplied unto you through the knowledge of Yah, and of Yahshua our Lord,
According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto
life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory
and virtue.” (2 Peter 1:2, 3) And, “when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as
the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much
speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them, for your Father knoweth what
things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.” (Mark 6:7, 8) And also, “I am come
that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John
10:10) We are invited to withdraw from this condition, very much like the
Atmosphere of Failure, and live the abundant, contented life.
While
it is true that the powers of darkness are arrayed against the believer, if we
begin to jump at shadows and become paranoid without practical reasons, we are
seeing with the eyes of flesh and have fallen into the subtle trap of the Atmosphere
of Victimization – if this be so we will naturally fail. Yet the Scripture
tells us, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions,
and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
(Luke 10:19) And, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through
Him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37) And also, “These things I have spoken unto
you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation;
but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) There is often a
fine line between recognizing the wily devices of the enemy and creating our
own personal demons, but we are invited to see with the eyes of the Spirit, and
to perceive the strait and narrow path to victory.
In all
these, we see an application of the principle, “According to your faith be it
unto you; for as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Matthew 9:29,
Proverbs 23:7a) We create the environment, or atmosphere, in which we live
based upon what we truly believe. We are spiritually defined by what we
truly believe. If we believe we are going to be rejected, we may “strike first”
by rejecting others. If we believe that others are unwilling to help us, we may
respond by withdrawing from the very ones we were meant to serve, and be of no
help to anyone. If we are living in fear of someone or something, we will never
experience the joy of loving – for love and fear cannot coexist – and suffer
eternal loss.
If we
believe we do not have enough to accomplish our goals, real and imaginary
obstacles will assuredly keep us from them. If we believe that the interests of
the “self” are most important, we will come to believe others feel the same
way; we will pervert the principle of true Christian individuality, never being
able to join ourselves in loving communion with any fellowship or group of
people – even the Body of Christ.
But we
have a choice; we may believe the promises of Yah, and accept them as true, or
we may reject them and live a defeated life. One of the areas in which Job’s
trials caused him to grow was to expose and have him overcome the Atmosphere of
Fear. Job lamented, “The thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that
which I was afraid of is come unto me,” (Job 3:25) and by his experiences he
was able to put a more firm trust in the omnipotent hands of the Almighty. (Job
42:2) We must choose to exist in either an atmosphere of Light, in which love,
life and righteousness exist – or an atmosphere of gross spiritual Darkness, in
which ignorance, discouragement and sin thrive. The true believer lives in the
former: an atmosphere of Success, Humble Service, Confidence,
Acceptance, Abundance and Victory… the very atmosphere of
Heaven.
There
may be many “works of the flesh,” (Galatians 5:29) just as there are many
unhealthy atmospheres in which one may live. There is, however, only one “fruit
of the spirit” of which love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness and temperance are interconnected attributes. (Galatians 5:22,
23) Likewise, there is only one atmosphere of Heaven, of which the “good”
virtues, such as acceptance and abundance, are parts of the unified whole.
Something
that must not be forgotten is the other principle that the Messiah brings out
in Matthew 7:1-5. The “sins” we so easily see in others may be a reflection of
flaws in our own personality, projected outward, and seen with the “eyes of
flesh” as coming from others. When you are approaching others in an attempt to
help them discern a flaw, you must “first cast out the beam out of thine
own eye.” If we are not always examining ourselves to better understand who we
are in Christ, we will fail to develop those positive attributes of character
designed to bless ourselves and others. “He that lacketh these things is blind,
and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old
sins.” (2 Peter 1:9)
We have
cause for concern if we begin to ascribe negative characteristics to
“everybody,” seeing these things in even those who are in Christ, and in those
for which we have no reasonable cause for suspicion. For example, if we begin
to feel that “everybody is against me,” especially if that includes members of
the Church, that is a reflection on the way our spiritual eyes work. If we
accept the statement that “Nobody likes me,” we have forgotten the love of both
Yah and His people. If we think that, “everybody deliberately sins from time to
time,” that is reflection on our faith, for we are told that “whosoever is born
of Yah doth not commit sin.” (1 John 3:9) It must be remembered that
temptations will come, and they will often be subtle, but if we hold fast to
those precious promises we have been given in the Bible, we will overcome.
If we
allow the Word of Yah to define our reality, we can quickly come to the place
where we are able to discern what is not true. The promptings of the flesh, the
whispers of demons, these will be recognized for what they are, and they will
be rebuked by the heart led by the Spirit. In the Messiah we have clear eyes,
able to see the truth as it is defined by the Creator, and what we see, we will
speak in right judgment. As John wrote, “That which we have seen and heard
declare we unto you.” (1 John 1:3a) Our words will be right, our judgment will
be right, and all because we have the right eyes to see.
Quotations:
Men are significantly influenced by their view of Yah, themselves and the
world:
“Let us put away every idol. Let us seek God earnestly, and with the spirit of
a little child take hold of our long-neglected work, and redeem the time. When
we have less of self, and more of Jesus, we shall view these things in the
right light. Let selfishness be uprooted, let the love of Jesus reign in the
heart, and many souls will be saved as the result.” [The Present Truth,
January 26, 1893]
“There
are many invalids today who will ever remain so because they cannot be
convinced that their experience is not reliable.” [3 Testimonies, page
69]
“The
less you meditate upon Christ and His matchless love and the less you are
assimilated to His image, the better will you appear in your own eyes, and the
more self-confidence and self-complacency will you possess. A correct knowledge
of Christ, a constant looking unto the Author and Finisher of our faith, will
give you such a view of the character of a true Christian that you cannot fail
to make a right estimate of your own life and character in contrast with those
of the great Exemplar.” [Testimonies for the Church Volume Four, page
375]
“In His
light shall we see light, until mind and heart and soul are transformed into
the image of His holiness.” [Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 1,
page 335]
Our eyes
must be fixed on the things of Heaven, not of earth:
“God’s people are now to have their eyes fixed on the heavenly sanctuary, where
[…] our great High Priest […] is interceding for His people.” [The Faith I
Live By, page 209]
“A
company I then saw pressing through the crowds of people with their eyes
intently fixed upon the heavenly crown. As they earnestly urged their way
through the disorderly crowd, angels attended them, and made room through the
dense throng for them to advance. As they neared the heavenly crown, the light
emanating from it shone upon them, and around them, dispelling their darkness,
and growing clearer and brighter, until they seemed to be transformed, and
resembled the angels.” [Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4B, page 108]
“Christ
has made every provision for us to be strong. He has given us his Holy Spirit,
whose office is to bring to our remembrance all the promises that Christ has
made, that we may have peace and a sweet sense of forgiveness. If we will but
keep our eyes fixed on the Saviour, and trust in his power, we shall be filled
with a sense of security; for the righteousness of Christ will become our
righteousness.” [Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, October 1, 1908]
The
atmosphere of Heaven contains no room for doubt:
“Satan is at hand to suggest a variety of doubts; but if you will open your
eyes in faith, you will find sufficient evidence for belief.” [Manuscript
Releases Volume Nine, page 204]
“Men
are influenced by their own words. Often under a momentary impulse, prompted by
Satan, they give utterance to jealousy or evil surmising, expressing that which
they do not really believe; but the expression reacts on the thoughts. They are
deceived by their words, and come to believe that true which was spoken at
Satan’s instigation. Having once expressed an opinion or decision, they are
often too proud to retract it, and try to prove themselves in the right, until
they come to believe that they are. It is dangerous to utter a word of doubt,
dangerous to question and criticize divine light.” [Desire of Ages, page
323]
“Those
who are perpetually talking doubts and demanding additional evidence to banish
their cloud of unbelief do not build on the Word. Their faith rests on
circumstances; it is founded in feeling. But feeling, be it ever so pleasing,
is not faith. God’s Word is the foundation upon which our hopes of heaven must
be built.” [In Heavenly Places, page 106]
The
atmosphere of Heaven begins here on earth: “The faces of men and women who walk and work with God
express the peace of heaven. They are surrounded with the atmosphere of heaven.
For these souls the kingdom of God has begun.” [God’s Amazing Grace,
page 32]
“Communing
thus with God, Enoch came more and more to reflect the divine image. His face
was radiant with a holy light, even the light that shineth in the face of
Jesus. As he came forth from these divine communings, even the ungodly beheld
with awe the impress of heaven upon his countenance. His faith waxed stronger,
his love became more ardent, with the lapse of centuries. To him prayer was as
the breath of the soul. He lived in the atmosphere of heaven.” [Gospel
Workers (1915), page 52]
“Seek
God with a broken and contrite spirit, and you will be melted with compassion
toward your brethren. You will be prepared to add to brotherly kindness,
charity, or love. It will bring heaven nearer to us. We may have the sweet
peace and consolation of God in doing this work. These steps will take us into
the atmosphere of heaven.” [My Life Today, page 98]
“He who
receives Christ by living faith has a living connection with God. . . . He
carries with him the atmosphere of heaven, which is the grace of God, a
treasure that the world cannot buy.” [Sons and Daughters of God, page
112]
Questions:
1) Do I understand the way in which the word “perfection” is used in the
Scriptures?
2) Do I
acknowledge the significance of Christ’s life within me as the replacement of
my old character with the new?
3) Have
I accepted the testimony of Scripture as that which is “true,” and judge all
things by that standard?
4) What
are some significant differences between the eyes of flesh and the eyes of the
Spirit?
5) Do I
view even my most difficult experiences as opportunities, rather than setbacks?
6) Do I
always seek to learn something about myself and Yahweh by the trials in my
life?
7) Do I
give thanks always that I have what I need to succeed in life?
8) Have
I had a tendency to blame others for my misfortunes?
9) Have
I claimed the acceptance of both Yahshua and His people, living in the joy of
that fellowship?
10) Can
I think of other negative atmospheres I have seen in people?
11)
Have I examined myself to ensure that I am clean of those imperfections?
12) Are
there things about my body, mind or spirit that I wish were different? If so,
why aren’t they different?
Exercise:
After contemplating and, if possible, discussing with others the above
questions, find a verse or passage of the Bible that gives a promise or an
answer for each.
