Christian Kingdom Eyes

Dr. Kluane Spake

Stress and frustration are usually the result of unmet expectations. That is, we expect things to happen in a certain way (but where did we get this idea?). Emotional responses of anxiety mean that we have difficulty in relating - but that's not in what is happening, but rather in what we imagine should happen. I guess that's what happened on that frustrating time when I was stranded in the Japan airport. And well, I just wanted to have a royal fit! I knew that faith was the expectancy that God would do what He said. The problem was that I just couldn't SEE what He was doing.

After waiting over eight hours for a connecting flight from Japan to Singapore. My plane was delayed an additional four more hours and then totally cancelled. What can I do now? I was trying to get to India. And here was another delay. Because of the kind of tickets being used, I had to make my own alternate flight arrangements. But the immigrations officials wouldn't let me pass through security to go back into the airport terminal to get new tickets. There was nothing else to do but spend the night in this annex of the airport and wait for the plane the next day. I decided to stay in an upstairs waiting room where there was a TV. Gurrrr. They wouldn't allow me into the terminal to get another ticket- even for a cancelled plane.

I tossed and turned until midnight trying to sleep, but the chairs were really uncomfortable. It was then that a Japanese airport police found me. Of course, he could speak no English - but he angrily escorted (shoved) me out of this portion of the airport. He hollered a lot! Soon he was being assisted by several other stern faced, silent airport guards. The fact that I had tried to exit earlier and no one would let me go outside the terminal to purchase another ticket was not even a topic right now - it seems that they were just really mad at me for "hiding" in the airport all night. Well, the immigrations office had closed for the night, and they had to reopen for it just for me - heh, heh.

Many LOUD voices continued. Officials pounded the desk and ruffled papers until they verified that I really was stranded. Finally, they took me to the front entry of the airport (which was closed) and allowed me to wait (still no smiling faces!). Here I was, from the tropics, huddled in the freezing cold. It was the first snow I'd seen in almost fifteen years. Shivvering, I unpacked my whole suitcase and put on all my remaining clothes - just to keep warm. Then, I cuddled up using my purse under my head as a pillow... having slipped my arm through the strap.

These hard seats were really uncomfortable and disconnected. Suddenly, at four in the morning, this guy comes over, grabs my purse, and tries to run away! Having put my arm through the strap caused him to jerk back and wake me up. Upset, I ran over to have a long hand charade and conversation with seven policemen, trying to get him arrested. They weren't the same shift that I had encountered earlier, these guys seemed slightly amused. I noticed how my use of very simple words to communicate, made me sound like an Indian in an Old West movie. "Thief, over there!" They all nodded, laughed, and bowed -- while I carried on with extreme hand gestures and pointing.

Finally, I took them by the hand over to the "thief." I pointed at him -- and he just started yelling, "Leave me alone, I have a headache!" "I have a headache!" The guards really thought he was funny. They laughed at him and poked each other jokingly. Then they motioned for me to go back to my "bed of chairs."

After that, I tried to sleep again. No luck... Cuz' the "thief" guy kept pacing up and down at my side.

By this time, I wasn't a happy camper. Grumble. Mumble. I remember repeating the words of a derailed 17^th century nun, "God, if this is the way you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few." As I tried to quiet myself, I heard the ironic airport music begin playing an ensemble duet of the theme from Bali Hay and Snow White -- "Happy, Happy Talking, Happy Talking. Talk about things you like to do" and "Just Whistle While You Work."

Okay. So that got my attention. Hearing such strange old songs played in Japan at 4:30 in the morning ... well, what can I say? I knew it was just for me. My inner-man needed a lot of work that day, in order for me to become spiritually attuned and find the best and optimum blessings. It was about 5:30AM by the time I regain the right place of attitude. Then, I looked out the window of the airport and SAW an Indian Airlines plane on the runway in Japan. Wow! That was my ultimate destination. As soon as the terminal opened, I rushed to the Indian Airlines counter and found out THAT plane was going where I wanted to go! And I could even fly with my discounted new tickets! So I found a non stop flight instead of the one yesterday with several transfers. I actually arrived in India much earlier than the scheduled flights that were originally scheduled.

There reason I told you that story is to say that there is a SEEING that transcends the natural sight. There can be INSIGHT and ENLIGHTENMENT into divine "PLANS" (or "planes" as this case happened to be). Arise, shine (be enlightened), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you (IS 60:1).

In order to understand this SEEING, we need to look back at how God created humanity as the transcendent epitome of all creation (Gen. 5:2). Adam (male and female) was originally created in the image and likeness of God. This likeness refers to the natural qualities in humanity that resembles God.

The transference back into God's likeness that is what our life is all about. The Hebrew word for "image" is tselem (Strong's #6754) which means representation or something cut out like a pattern. Likeness: the word for "likeness" is demuwth (Strongs #1823) and means resemblance, likeness, fashion, or similitude.

God made Adam a "living soul." Speaking generally, the SOUL (psuche) is the individual life, the thoughts, the decisions, the reasoning faculties that set humans apart from all the other animals. Among many other things, the resemblance of our character to that of God may incorporate traits such as the fruits of the spirit, personality, free will, self-consciousness, or mental intelligence. This could characterize a believer's entire inner-being, including our mind, will, and emotions.

Humankind was set apart from the rest of the creation insofar as they had a SOUL and they were able to live in two realms, the temporal (spiritual breath) and physical (on this earth planet) (Gen. 2:7). This perfect soul didn't fight off bouts of depression. Their only limitation was that God told them that they would "die" if they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

We all know the familiar story of how the serpent questioned God's mandate that they would die if they ate of that particular tree. He said to both of them (Gen. 3:4-7), you (plural) will not surely die. The serpent planted negative thoughts, doubts, and suspicions about the veracity of God and his word. Then he said something vital for us to notice....

(Verse 5), For God knows that when you eat of it your EYES WILL BE OPENED, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

In the garden, their eyes had BEEN OPEN to the provision and beauty of the garden. But, the serpent said their eyes would open. Now, look what happened next (verse 7), Then THE EYES OF BOTH OF THEM WERE OPENED... Their eyes were open to a sudden awareness and they hid behind leaves of their own making. They SAW differently that they did before.

We know that the fall greatly affected the nature of "humanity." And so we must wonder, what did they see with these new eyes?? They began to SEE within the confines of this WORLD and dirt. ... And they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves (vs. 6). They saw their nakedness. Suddenly, the man and the woman realized that they were different from one another. The fall brought a seeing of individuality and separation. They began to compare themselves with one another. In this new kind of SEEING, they were ashamed and fearful. Harmony was disrupted, faultfinding and disease began, contention and domination ruled, likeness and image were forgotten.

Why does that matter? Because today, most of us still look with OPEN EYES that see differences.

Selah.

If you are interested in learning more about Connecting to the Holy Spirit -and seeing correctly, there are lots of books and free articles on my website at kluane.org -- there's lots more, just click on the RSS to the right!

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Let's learn together and build the Third Day Church! Thanx.

Your online pastor, Dr. Kluane Spake