above reproach

Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach. 1 Timothy 3:2

I attended a study the other day that focused on this verse, specifically centering on being "above reproach". To be above reproach means to be undeserving of criticism; the main point of the study was that as Christians we must guard our reputations. We must avoid giving others cause for criticism, and instead let our reputations shine with the love of God. Job had this down... he was blameless and upright, and was well known for this and for his prosperity. (Job 1:1-3) For better or worse, our reputation represents God to those around us, and thus we should strive to bring Him glory and avoid dishonoring His name.

For part of the study, I couldn't help but be a bit concerned with the external nature of being focused on our reputation. Matthew 23:27-28 comes to mind:

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

While it is true that our reputations are important for the reasons described above, our main focus must be internal; then reputation takes care of itself. In our study we went on to discuss how to best assess our reputation and identify where we are lacking, and it was pointed out that we should look to those closest to us for an accurate appraisal. Anyone who is married knows the truth in this - our spouses see behind the façade that hides our flaws from most others. Getting the opinion of those who know us most intimately will help us see what others don't, and what we may have a tendency to accept or conveniently ignore about ourselves.

Ever notice how after smelling something for a while you don't really notice it as much, but someone else who hasn't been acclimated to it can be overcome? The verse from Matthew paints a vivid picture - we're so used to the rotting corpse smell of sin in our lives that sometimes we hardly notice it. Those closest to us usually do, however, and if we can be humble and vulnerable enough enough to enlist their aid, we can start to get the carrion cleaned up.

trials

In the book of Job, chapter 1, we are introduced to a man named Job, who was "blameless and upright" and "feared God and shunned evil." He was blessed with a large family, great wealth, and fame throughout the region. Then one day, it all comes crashing down - his fortune and ten children torn from him in a rapid barrage of bad news from out-of-breath messengers who narrowly escaped the sword and two natural disasters. Job's response? He fell to the ground and worshipped.

Many times in my own life I feel like Job. Not that I'm anywhere near being blameless, or have experienced immense tragedy and grief... but I feel like I have been blessed so richly and have been guarded from so much of the anguish I see others stricken with that Satan must see me as a very ripe target like he did Job.

"... Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" Job 1:10-11 (Satan speaking to God about Job)

Lately I've been reminded of how close to the precipice our lives and the things we hold dear truly are. A friend of mine was killed in a car accident in January; he was born two and a half months after I was, was married just a few short years, and left behind a wife who is now burdened with a crushing grief that I can only begin to fathom. If I was faced with the same situation she now is, I'm sure I'd be falling to the ground, but I don't know about worshipping.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been greived by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-7

If I was to be tested by such a fire, would my faith be found genuine, or would I curse God and fall back into a sinful and frivolous life? I know what I want my answer to be, but I can't imagine where my mind would be after such a jarring loss.

The book of Job makes clear that God is firmly in control of the situation; He sets strict limits on what Satan may use to afflict Job. Job was not privy to this information at the time, but God has revealed this to us that we may be encouraged when we face similar struggles. We may not know God's purposes, but we do know Satan is accountable to God and nothing happens that God does not allow.

... God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

He will not send anything our way that he has not given us the strength to bear, just as He knew Job's faith was strong enough to pass through the fire. Nevertheless, we still have free will, and it is up to us to claim the power we are given; we can still fail, but we can succeed if we only choose to.

fleeting

How is it that in the midst of all this, when I'm overcome by these feelings of wonder at all that God is, that seemingly five minutes later I'm back to my petty thoughts and concerns and selfish attitudes? Clearly God's glory is not fleeting or transitory; rather, this reminds me how flawed and imperfect I am.

I'm like the ground that receives the seed among thorns, or the disciplines asleep in the garden on the verge of the central event in the history of creation. Amazingly (and amazingly, here comes the sense of awe again!), somehow God is able to use our weaknesses for His glory.

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:21

How is it that God is able to take these times of weakness and use them for His glory? They humble us and remind us of our sinfulness and dependance on Him. John the Baptist understood that we exist for His glory, not our own: "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30. When we have been reminded of our inadequacy, we have no choice but to attribute our triumphs to Him, and thus He is glorified!

microcosms

Jesus often spoke in parables... parables about familiar relationships, sowing seed, wedding feasts, loaning money, and many other subjects. These parables illustrate truths about God and His Kingdom in terms familiar to the people. As I read the Bible, some of the things that fascinate me the most are the parables that aren't specifically labelled as such. Many are small scale events:

• The tearing of the veil (Matthew 27:51) - The veil marked the entrance to the Most Holy Place in the temple, where the very presence of God resided. Only the high priest could enter past the veil, which he did once a year to atone for the people's sins. When the veil was torn in two upon Jesus' death, the need for the ritual sacrifice to atone for sins was abolished by His ultimate sacrifice. He became our high priest and our sacrifice. With the veil gone, we are all free to enter His presence and approach Him for forgiveness of sins. The veil of sin separating us from God has been destroyed! Amen!
• The gifts of the wise men (Matthew 2:11) - Gold was a gift given to a king. Frankincense was incense, burned as a sacrifice for a deity. Myrrh was a very expensive ointment used in funerals, foretelling His ultimate purpose.
• The bronze serpent in the wilderness (Numbers 21:4-9) - Jesus explained in John 3:14-16 that this pointed to His death on the cross. Just as the Israelites were saved from death simply by looking at the serpent that was raised up, anyone who looks to Jesus and believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.

Many of the larger scale, broader themes of the Bible could also be considered parables:

• God brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to give them the promised land. Yet once they left Egypt, their unbelief led them into 40 years of wandering in the desert before they could finally enter the Promised Land. Likewise, we have been saved from the slavery of sin, and yet to the extent we continue to languish in sin, we struggle to fully take hold of the promised Kingdom.
• God instituted a sacrificial system that was followed repetitively for hundreds of years. Over and over again the people would offer sacrifices of the most perfect of their livestock to cover over their sin, and it was never sufficient. Nothing we could do could ever be enough to fully reconcile us to God. When Christ died, he became the ultimate, perfect sacrifice, finally providing a way for us to be holy enough to be in the presence of the Father. (read the book of Hebrews for more on this)
  

God created us, He created our minds, so he knows how they work. The true, complete nature of His eternal plans are far above what we can understand, but it seems He has woven history in such a way as to reveal to us bits that we can get our minds around. I praise God that He has been gracious enough to reveal these mysteries to us in the Bible, and I'm awe-struck whenever I catch a fresh glimpse of one of these microcosms of His ultimate reality.