visions and grace

Mike Leake

Within the last few years there have been various “stories of heaven” types of books that have quickly climbed (and stayed) on the bestseller list in Christian books.  I have about 10-15 reasons why I am not a big fan of Don Piper’s 90 Minutes in Heaven, Bill Wiese’s 23 Minutes in Hell, and this new book Heaven is For Real.  But my biggest reason comes from 2 Corinthians 12. 

Here Paul speaks of a heavenly vision that “a guy he knows” once had.  Of course Paul is simply using the classic…”I need some advice about, a uhmmm friend…named…uhmm Mark…”  Paul isn’t doing it because of embarrassment but because of humility and to make a greater point.  And it is that greater point that gives me pause when consider books like 90 Minutes, 23 Minutes, Heaven is for Real, or various other “3 hour tour with Jesus” type of books. 

Consider 2 Corinthians 12:4-6

and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.

In other words Paul is not really permitted by the Lord to speak of this awesome heavenly vision that he has received.  And he explicitly spells out why he refrains from writing a bestseller about his experience—because the revelations/visions is not to the means by which Christ is exalted. 

Instead Paul is given a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble.  Paul is told by the Lord, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”.  This—weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities—will be the platform that shines a spotlight on the glory and majesty of Jesus through the apostle Paul.  And not visions and revelations. 

It is easy to point a finger at those writing, those purchasing, and those promoting these books.  But the finger also needs to be pointed back at me.  I too am also guilty of not finding sufficiency in grace but instead attempting to exalt things other than Jesus.  Sometimes I do this for shock value, novelty, or a vain desire for attention.  Other times I do it because of a lack of faith and trust in the all-consuming power of grace. 

And yet grace continues to pursue and transform my wayward heart.  Jesus is constantly drawing me to himself and teaching me—with every shattered idol—that His grace truly is sufficient. 

I am here reminded of two quotes that have meant much to my life and ministry.  The first from Samuel Rutherford:

…nay, whether God come to his children with a rod or a crown, if he come himself with it, it is well.  Welcome, welcome Jesus, what way soever thou come, if we can get a sight of thee.  And sure I am, it is better to be sick, providing Christ come to the bed-side, and draw aside the curtains, and say ‘Courage, I am thy salvation,’ than to enjoy health, being lusty and strong, and never to be visited by God. 

Jesus is enough and precious rather he come with a rod or crown!

Secondly, from (I think) James Denney:

“No man can bear witness to Christ and to himself at the same time. No man can give the impression that he himself is clever and that Christ is mighty to save.

It is through our weakness and lack of “cleverness” that they many will see that Christ is indeed mighty to save! 

So enough with these revelations/visions and all the other strong, powerful, and clever things that we trust in for security.  May his grace be sufficient! 

loving truth

Mike Leake

One thing in particular I would pray for; namely, that I may not only be kept from erroneous principles, but may so love the truth as never to keep it back… O Lord, if thou wilt open mine eyes to behold the wonders of thy word, and give me to feel their transforming tendency, then shall the Lord be my God; then let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I shun to declare, to the best of my knowledge, the whole counsel of God.  (Andrew Fuller)

Would that every minister (myself included) frequently had this prayer overflowing from our hearts.  May we love truth so much as to “never keep it back”.  May God grant us the grace to behold the wonders of His word, to humbly tremble, and then to boldly proclaim the whole counsel of God.

content with questions

Mike Leake

…in seeking God, miserable men do not rise above themselves as they should, but measure him by the yardstick of their own carnal stupidity, and neglect sound investigation; thus out of curiosity they fly off into empty speculations.  They do not therefore apprehend God as he offers himself, but imagine him as they have fashioned him in their own presumption.  When this gulf opens, in whatever direction they move their feet, they cannot but plunge headlong into ruin.  Indeed, whatever they afterward attempt by way of worship or service of God, they cannot bring as tribute to him, for they are worshipping not God but a figment and a dream of their own heart.”  (John Calvin)

One of the things that I have learned from Calvin is the absolute necessity of being satisfied and wholly dependent upon that which God has revealed of Himself.  It is not just the pagan that goes off into wild and empty speculations.  It is quite often the self-assured theologian that is “not content with sobriety but claiming for themselves more than is right, they wantonly bring darkness upon themselves”.  And they (we) do this because we have a “vain curiosity” and “an inordinate desire to know more than is fitting”. 

That “inordinate desire to know more than is fitting” has caused much trouble.  This is perhaps the breeding ground from whence every heretic is born.  This questioning and inordinate desire goes back as far as the garden.  “Did God really say…”?  And it finds itself in much of our speculation and in many of the books in our day and age. 

Am I content with what God has revealed?  Am I satisfied with making my sole passion being to enjoy God’s grace and extend His glory with a group of other Jesus fools?  Or do I need something flashy?  Do I need to figure stuff out and find new things, or am I content to rest and enjoy everything Jesus has already purchased and revealed? 

If I’m not, I pray the Lord change my heart to be content with His revelation.

hanging with some old friends

Mike Leake

For the rest of the summer I am going to try to spend some time with a few old friends.  I miss these guys.  We haven’t hung out in awhile, because I have been busy hanging out with my new friends. 

But you cannot simply replace these old friends.  They mean too much to me.  So Mr. Calvin, Piper, Newton, Fuller, and various other dudes with long facial hair and funny hats (Puritans) we’ll be hanging out for the rest of the summer.  I hope you’re ready. 

This means that original writing may be a little slow here at Borrowed Light.  I am still going to be spending time reading Scripture in the mornings and interacting with the passages that correspond with doing The Radical Experiment, but I am not going to schedule blocks of time just for writing for the next few weeks.  I need to spend some time with these friends for awhile first.