Adorned with victory

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Master sitting on a throne—high, exalted!—and the train of his robes filled the Temple. (Isaiah 6:1)

In the times King Uzziah reigned, Isaiah is given a vision of the heavenly realm -imagine it - heavens open and you have full view of the most awesome things you have ever experienced. He is escorted into the "throne room" of the Most High - the very place of God's presence. What catches his attention first? It is the "robe" of the King of Kings - God's 'clothes'. This robe is so long it fills the Temple! That is quite some robe - it fills the very space God's presence is felt and experienced! Even the longest wedding veil I have ever seen did not fill more than the aisle of the church! I have admired some of the most beautiful quilts over the years. Depending on the occasion for which the quilt was created, there have been the traditional patchwork types with pieces of varying colors and fabrics stitched close together in no particular order. Then there are the others which show a beautifully pieced pattern, with great care taken in placing each piece so as to continue the pattern with each new row of material pieces. The traditional wedding ring patterned quilts show the concentric rings intertwined, symbolizing the joining to two into one. Regardless of the "pattern", they are a thing of beauty. Even the most beautiful of quilts I have seen must have paled compared to what Isaiah experienced that day.

I think we may not understand the significance of the kingly robes, so I think it may help us to understand just a few things about the robes of old. Each king had a robe. Often, these robes would be very unique - not like the mass-produced clothing of today. They were made of only the best of materials, such as twisted linen. This is a quite dense and enduring material - considered to be one of the finest materials for the base of the robe. They were dyed with the dyes of the region - deep blues, purples, crimsons, and even golden hues. They were decorated in all types of fashion - embroidered, or possibly emblazoned with emblems of gold and silver. They were quite the 'fashion statement', but they usually had a much deeper meaning. The robes "defined" the King. In other words, he could be quickly recognized by the robe he wore. This is much like the current military uniforms we see today. The highest ranking officer has the greatest amount of braiding, color, adornment, and often even 'medals' of honor or distinction. It is easier to recognize the "rank" by the "markings" on the uniform. These robes helped to mark the 'rank' of the one wearing them.

What we may fail to realize is the 'incorporation' of what might see as nothing more than a 'patchwork quilt' of sorts. Each robe had an "original" form which was "transformed" after each battle. The robe started out as one form, but after each victorious battle, a new piece was added. In keeping with the customs of the day, the victorious king would go over to the defeated king, remove a section of his robe, and in turn, this section would be sewn onto the train of the victorious king's robe. In time, the more victories a king won, the longer (and more colorful) his robe became! His 'patchwork quilt' became a symbol of his military might and his ability to rule. Isaiah sees the Most High God seated in the throne room. He is adorned in a great robe - so great that its train fills the Temple. I think Isaiah was being given the opportunity to see just how many "battles" our God has been victorious in! Did you ever stop to think of each new battle you face as being an opportunity for another "patch" to be sewn onto the Most High's robe? He marches right up to each of our "enemies", places his foot squarely on their necks, declares us victorious, then carefully takes a piece of each "victory" robe and weaves it into the train of his heavenly robe!

When I think of the "beauty" of the patchwork he has added just by the battles which have been fought in my own life, I know there are MANY patches which have been added on my behalf! Battles I didn't even know were fought on my behalf have been incorporated into that robe - battles you didn't even realize were being fought on your behalf, as well. Each victory is an "adorning" addition to his robe! As he admires each of these "patches", he can recount each "battle" - the start, the enduring middle portions, and the final victorious outcome. I find pleasure in imagining him running his fingers over each "patch" - taking in the "feel" of each victory taken on our behalf. I see his face, as his fingers pass over the patchwork, eyes filled with excitement, heartbeat picking up with each remembered victory. Imagine the patches added with each new victory in your life. It should give your heart a thrill! Just sayin!

What is my significance?

Salvation is sometimes referred to as the actions which lead to someone being removed from a place or circumstance which would have resulted in their harm, loss, or even destruction.  Within Christian circles, this word is often used in asking questions or making statements such as, "When did you get saved?" or "What events in life led up to your salvation?"  We think of it as a moment in time, but sometimes forget the actions of that moment lead into continual actions on our part to help us understand the significance of those actions better each and every day. In terms of defining our "significance", some might describe things or attributes which give our lives meaning - making us "feel" valued or with a sense of "worth".  Really, these two things - our salvation and our significance - are one in the same!  The actions of Christ on our behalf are based on the extreme value God assigns to each of his children and our significance is understood only when we understand the depth of that love and value!

My salvation and my significance depend ultimately on God; the core of my strength, my shelter, is in the True God. (Psalm 62:7 VOICE)

As much as we might understand our salvation depends upon God and the actions of Christ on our behalf, I have to really wonder if we actually understand our significance is equally dependent upon him.  Significance is another way of saying something has importance - it is of "worth" or "value". We often go through life looking for something to give us a sense of "value".  From the moment we are old enough to realize we are making our first strides in life, we are on this quest for significance.  We find ourselves seeking out friendships in the schoolyards, trying to align ourselves with others who seem "well-accepted" and of "importance" themselves - because if we do, we will be considered one of the "important" ones, as well.  We seek education based upon what we feel will give us a degree in some type of work / profession which will do more than serve the purpose of putting food on our table and a roof over our heads.  Then we look for ways to better ourselves through promotions, things we purchase, or the way we dress.  From one action to another, we are on this search for things, people, or positions which we think might actually lend something to our significance in this life.

I am not saying we don't need solid friendships - they help to hold us accountable and often are the forces which challenge us to be better, stronger, etc.  I also am not saying we shouldn't own a nice home, automobile, or wear clothes which flatter our frame.  What I am saying is that none of these actually increase our significance in life - that is already established in the eyes of God himself and nothing can add to or take away from what he sees when he looks at us through his eyes of love and grace.  All the other stuff we seek in life isn't necessarily "bad", but it doesn't define our significance because the love which reached out to us even before we reached out to him is what really places the "weight" of significance in our lives!

Significance is kind of an accounting term in the most literal sense - it comes from the root "signify".  In accounting, a weight was placed on the scale to determine the "counter-balance" to the object placed on the other side.  In the case of our salvation, the "counter-weight" placed on the opposite of the scale from where we are sitting is Christ himself.  When God compares us on the scales of "worth", he compares us to Christ himself.  When we are placed on the scale, Christ is placed on the opposite side of the scale. We might think we need to add something to our "side" of the scale in order to be in perfect balance, but the opposite is true.  The balance is already perfect because Christ is within us.  In other words, our worth is perfectly balanced by the most reliable "counter-balance" of all times! The significance of our lives is determined not by what we add to the scales, but by what Christ adds!  Just sayin!

The search is on

The one who seeks good finds delight...

(Proverbs 11:27)

I read a book once called "The Search for Significance".  The basis of the book was in finding out what it is that we really have "need" of in our lives.  We have lots and lots of "wants" that we often confuse as "needs" in our life.  Sometimes it may be something like desiring a better job instead of being grateful for the one we have.  The desire is a "want", while the actual job we have meets the "need".

The title of the book grabbed my attention.  I guess that is what the author intended - because we often are drawn to a book by its title or cover.  This morning, I'd like to focus on two words from that title:  Search and Significance.

Search basically has three definitions:

1. To look into or over carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something.  The idea is this "thoroughness" of examination that we put something (or someone) through before we embrace it (or reject it).  There is a desire to know the "ins and outs" of what it is we are examining - nothing being left that we don't discover in our examination.
2. To look through or to explore by inspecting possible places of concealment.  Usually, when we are seeking in this manner it is because we "really" want to find something that we consider important to us.  It is like when we put something away "so carefully", only to discover that we don't remember where we put it when we need it!  The hunt is on!
3. To look at as if to discover or penetrate intention or nature.  This is probably the most significant definition of this word because it moves us from "head knowledge" (knowing something) into a place of "heart knowledge" (knowing why something is the way it is).  This type of searching gets at the root.

Significance has four definitions that I'd like us to explore:

1. Something that is conveyed obscurely or indirectly.  In other words, the importance of what it is we are seeking is not always obviously displayed (it may be found only when we "peel back the layers").
2. Something conveyed or implied as important.  We often refer to something as "significant" whenever we have elevated that thing or person to a place of importance in our lives.  Yet, what is important to you may not be as important to me, so this means that significance is determined by how an individual "relates" to something or someone.
3. Something that reveals meaning.  We sometimes refer to something, an event, or an individual as significant because there is meaning conveyed in the contact with that thing, person or event.  
4. That which is caused by something other than chance.  This is the definition that I want to emphasize the most (it is the most "significant" definition).  There are things that happen that are purposeful - not just a cosmic event of "chance".  There are people in our lives placed there for a season - not just by "chance", but to fulfill a purpose.  When we begin to realize that the event or the person is not just there "by chance", we begin to explore so as to discover the purpose (the significance).

There is one thing I've discovered in my walk on this earth - if I don't know what it is that I am going after, I will never know if I am successful in my search.  If I am aimless, I seldom hit the target!  In order to know what it is I am aiming for, I must answer four questions:  1)  What am I searching for?; 2) Why is this thing / person / event important to me at this point in my life?; 3) What is it that I see as fundamental to getting at the root of the issue?; and 4) Who is it that I am willing to share this search with?  

I am never expected to "seek" alone.  We are given each other for the purpose of walking this journey together.  The "search" is on - who is it that you will partner with in this search?