Natural Forces - Which Way To Go?
Watching the powerful, highly devastating impact of Hurricane Heline on the Florida Panhandle and in other places, brought to mind the strong natural forces that are present in our world. Reflecting more on this, from the perspective of my work as a Corporate Coach, Chaplain and Consultant, strong parallels came to mind with our Human Existence, life choices and directions, which I'd like to share with you here (albeit I'm NOT a Scientist and may need to be corrected about the science of some of this?).
UP Forces -
In our Natural World, this includes the rising of Heat and Gas, which demonstrates itself in the strong force of a Volcanic Eruption. (e.g. recently visiting ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy, we observed firsthand the devasting impact caused by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. (after Christ's death), today threatening to erupt again).
In our Human Existence, created in the Image of God, we have a natural, innate inclination to "look up to the divine" for direction and meaning in our life.
IN Forces -
In our Natural World, this includes the strong "Pull" of Vacuum and Positive Magnetic Pull, demonstrating itself in the powerful "sucking" power of a Tornado and Hurricane.
In our Human Existence, we have a strong tendency to "look out for # 1", to be selfish and seek our own interests, too often, at the hurt and expense of others.
OUT Forces -
In our Natural World, this includes the strong "pushing" impact of Tides and Negative Magnetic Impact, which demonstrates itself in the power of a Tidal Wave.
In our Human Existence, we have a natural tendency to form relational support bonds with other people knowing "we need each other" (it takes a community) and having a natural inclination to "do unto others as we would have them do unto us."
DOWN Forces -
In our Natural World, as Sir Isaac Newton discovered and named in the 17th century, Force of Gravity, demonstrates itself in an Avalanche, Earthquake, and other natural events resulting in the falling of mighty trees and buildings, burying what lies beneath.
In our Human Existence, we're aware of a strong downward force (evil, corruption) in our world that "pulls us down" leaving some (many) feeling "bottomed out" in addiction, pain, depression, relational struggles, etc.
In the midst of such strong forces in our world, how do we make sense of it all and chart a path and direction for our lives that results in security, joy, contentment and hope?
The BIBLE has answers to these basic human/life existence questions, which Jesus made clear through both his teaching and the example of his human life, these three (3) passages in scripture coming to mind:
A. The Great Command - Matthew 22:34-40, The Message
34-36 When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: “Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?”
37-40 Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list (UP). But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others (OUT) as well as you love yourself (IN).’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”
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B. The Lord's Prayer - Matthew 6:7-18, The Message
7-13 “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you're dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:
"Our Father in heaven, reveal who you are (UP). Set the world right; Do what’s best—as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals (IN). Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others (OUT). Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil (DOWN). You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! (UP) Yes. Yes. Yes.
14-15 “In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
16-18 “When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t make you a saint. If you ‘go into training’ inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn’t require attention-getting devices. He won’t overlook what you are doing; he’ll reward you well.
C. "What Would Jesus Do (WWJD)"? - Philippians 2:1-11, The Message
1-4 If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. (OUT)
5-8 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. (IN)
9-11 Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father. (UP)
Quite Honestly (The Truth) - There's simply no other or better means to find your way (path) in this world than this!!
Inviting your contacts, feedback or questions, read this for additional reflection and direction.
What does it mean for Jesus to be your "True North"?
On a compass rose, there is north at the top, east at the right, south at the bottom, and west at the left. Every compass in the world is oriented to the magnetic field of the North Pole. That is what draws the tiny compass needle north. It cannot help but always be pulled in that direction. "True north" is not exactly the same as magnetic north. True north is oriented to the geographic North Pole, which does not change, while the magnetic North Pole does vary.
When we say that Jesus is our true north, we are saying that we have decided to orient our lives to Him and His truth, according to the Bible (John 17:17). He is unchanging (Hebrews 13:8) and "the word of the Lord remains forever" (1 Peter 1:25). Just as people use a compass to orient themselves to their location and point them in the direction they need to go, Jesus is our point of orientation. He is the standard by which we understand and navigate our world.
When Jesus is our true north, we also look to point others toward Him and His saving grace through His work on the cross and His resurrection (Matthew 28:18–20; Ephesians 2:8–9; 2 Timothy 4:1–3). Making Jesus one's true north is a conscious choice that is made possible by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus is our true north, we regularly look to God's Word (the Bible) to know Him and to know truth (2 Timothy 3:16–17). We believe what He says and we act on it, obeying what He commands (John 15:1–17). We trust that His ways are right, and we arrange our lives to live in fellowship with Him and in accordance with His will. Philippians 2:12–13 puts it this way, "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
Ephesians 4:11–16 talks about the body of Christ being built up and maturing in part, "so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and from by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine." When Jesus is our true north, we aren't easily sent adrift. Paul exhorted Timothy to "Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching" (1 Timothy 4:16; cf. 2 Timothy 3). John warned his readers, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God" (1 John 4:1–2).
Jesus is the "true north" by which teaching is evaluated. For centuries, humans have tried many things as their true north, such as money, power, politics, doing good, social reform, sex, and drugs. They orient their lives around one or more of these, and they will always find them lacking and destructive (James 1:13–18).
King Solomon was the wealthiest, wisest human on the planet, and even he said: "Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, 'See, this is new'? It has been already in the ages before us. There is no remembrance of former things nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after" (Ecclesiastes 1:1–11).
Solomon tried and did everything there was and found them lacking. He learned his true north could only be God. The narrator of Ecclesiastes concludes, "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14). It is only from God's Word that we will find what is worth seeking and building our lives around—and that is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Be Blessed!