In the final part of our series on God’s “balance” and “imbalance”, let’s firstly look at yet another incident in the Master’s life, which brings to the fore, His perfect balance:
Commending but…
Scene one… Jesus is whole-heartedly appreciating the impulsive Simon Peter. Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matt 16:17-19)
Scene two…shortly afterwards…to the same Simon Peter are addressed these sharp reprimanding words… “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Matt 16:23)
Hey, what really happened?
Let’s hit the rewind button…Firstly, Jesus was all praise for Simon Peter when we came-up with an unequivocal, truthful declaration: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” In response to the Messiah’s poser to the disciples’ “Who do you say I am?” But this same Simon Peter when Jesus revealed the impending Divine redemption plan for mankind involving the Master’s crucifixion and resurrection, started playing the Devil’s advocate in dissuading the Master from going to the cross…and hence, the sharp rebuke.
Jesus’ way of handling us with “perfect balance” has not changed one bit (Heb 13:8), has it? Say Christian, doesn’t He fill your heart with heavenly joy, when you obey Him, and whenever you stray… well… invariably there is a “rap on the knuckles” (emotional or physical pain by way of discipline comes our way).
Now more on God’s disciplining ways and blessings…
GOD OF IMBALANCE???
The phrase “God of Imbalance”- is it not revolting, seemingly at direct odds with the tone and tenor of this series, so far?
BUT GIVE HIM A LOUD HALLELUJAH, FOR HE BECOMES IMBALANCED, ONLY AND ONLY WHEN OUR PERSONAL BENEFIT IS AT STAKE.
Consider this verse… “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.” (Psalm 103:10 NKJV) At a time, when our sins require a severe punishment, He chastises us just enough to bring us back to the track, as any loving Father would (Heb 12:5-11).
Then what about the “blessings being not in proportion to known sources of efforts for Him” (thanks IT Department*)? Consider this Scripture portion culled from the familiar parable of talents… “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ (Luke 19:15-17).
Now is there any co-relation (however remote) between minas and cities? For earning merely “10 minas”, we are who are faithful are being guaranteed a reward of oh boy, oh boy TEN CITIES! Even on this side of eternity, the Lord provides wondrously for us and in the other side of eternity, boy, the blessings and rewards He has in store for us are simply mind-boggling.
No wonder the Prophet Isaiah declares and Apostle Paul reaffirms bringing to light the true meaning of the OT Prophet’s declaration: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man. The things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (Isaiah 64:4/I Cor 2:9)!
Dear Child of God, even as you take inventory of your life so far, is not your experience similar to mine? Is it not both comforting and reassuring to know that we been punished far less for our sins of commission or omission and that our meager efforts (relatively speaking) for His Kingdom have fetched us rewards far beyond our expectations? The Good News to top it all is THE BEST IS YET TO COME…YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET…
Isn’t it time we shout out two loud Hallelujahs to our both balanced as well as “imbalanced” Heavenly Father?
I would say YES!
Suresh Manoharan
Hyderabad-India www.jandsmministries.com
* In India, the Income tax department usually brings under its scanner, those who have
“assets disproportionate to their known sources of income”. “Owning assets disproportionate to the known sources of income” is a technical term.
(To access the entire “God of Balance and Imbalance” mini-series, please click here.)