Jesus said “Judge not according to the appearance but judge righteous judgment.” Therefore there is a right and true and valid judging. The problem is that many do not recognize the difference between the right kind and the wrong, and many lawless, hiding their own sins, refuse to acknowledge that there is a valid kind to which they might be subjected by judges who are used by God.
What is the sure and fair standard? It is none other than the revelation of God, given to men who have died and received that understanding and wisdom in those matters they judge, having been given to know the secrets of the heart. The price is the beam by way of the cross.
Measure me! How long am I?
How tall? How big? How strong?
Is there anything to measure
When all is said and done?
Do I compare to what I was
Or what I will yet be?
And what will I be?
Do I compare to others?
What standard will you use?
What I have, will I always have it?
Is it worth having to lose it in the end?
Is the glory worth the shame?
Vanity! Utter vanity!
Our possessions aren’t two cents!
One day they’re here and then they’re gone.
Failure never relents.
Judge me if you think you can;
What measure will you use?
Inner, outer, upper, lower,
Do you have any clues?
Appearance is not all there is
In fact, appearance isn’t. It is NOT.
But how will you know what is?
Does reality not exist?
Is it not available?
Or is it here and unperceived
Only because you are blind?
There is an answer.
Lethbridge, August, 1984
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"You've got to walk...that lonesome valley...you've got to walk...it by yourself..." the song goes. As it was with our father of faith, so with every sojourner. "Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him." There is no other way. On the day that I set out to walk with God I became lonely. My family insisted That I remain with it - I chose my loneliness, Part of the price to pay For obedience to God. I entered a family of those Who claimed to walk with God, Only to discover feigned faith. They insisted I be as they. Called out from among them Again I was lonely. He gave me a wife Knowing it not good That I should be alone. Together we searched for friends - A cup of water here And a cup there But no well. Today, after many years, He gives us a son Who helps to bear our loneliness But we are lonely. What is it to be lonely? It is to be alone In desires, in thoughts, in understanding, In conversation, in goals and interests, In activity, in purpose. Added to our loneliness, Betrayals and disappointments To sharpen the pain that is there - They come with smiles And depart with frowns. Added to our betrayals and disappointments, The enmity of adversaries Opposing what we are And why we are here, Hating us without a cause Added to the hatred, Loneliness, For they hate us And us alone. Moon River, Oct. 29...
Inconsistency and contradiction are facts of life which increase in both stature and clarity as we grow in spiritual maturity. Stature because we are subjected according to our own increasing capacity to withstand these foes and clarity because as we increase, we see more of what has always been there. Is it not ironic that the fool Rejects the very thing that would deliver him From the pain and failure he calls bliss? Water does not always find the lowest level. Is it not ironic that those Who stand in need the most Stand strongest against provision? Water does not always find the lowest level. And those who have less need Have it because they have learned The value of the provision To minimize the need. "To him who has Shall more be given, And to him who has not, Even the little he has Shall be taken from him." Jesus Lethbridge, Oct. 1984
Poems on The Path of Truth