What Comes To Mind

 

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That light colored mass is behind my right eye, pressing into my right temporal lobe. Has been for over a decade, and for a variety of reasons, is considered inoperable - unless it reaches out to touch my optic nerve, which it hasn't. I decided to call it Henry - much more easily pronounced than meningioma, which fortunately usually represeents a benign tumor. We use annual MRIs to track Henry, who has grown in millimeters, not centimeters, which is fortunate. I just set up my annual appointment, so Henry is back on my mind.

What comes to mind when you have something growing in your body that you cannot see, and is measured in ways you don't understand? Odd thoughts. 

Henry was discovered when I took my headaches to my primary care physician and he requested the first MRI. The results sent me to a neurologist who sent me to a neurosurgeon. That's when I learned a complication meant the only removal option was cyberknife. Since Henry was slow growing, we all decided to remain on watch-and-wait. Frankly, as a septuagenarian there would most likely me something else that ended the watch. Fortunately, wait continues. My "time" has not come.

"Wait" has a lot of religious connotations for Christians. Jews waited for a Messiah. We think He came, but Christians have been waiting a very long time for His promised return. We continue to hope - to expect - 

Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6:30-36)

The single "hope" in this example Jesus gives is the only time the word is used in the four gospels. However, the word is used another 60 times in the remainder of the New Testament. Mostly in verses similar to:

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: (Acts 26:6)

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:24-25)

That "hope" is faith that God has given us instructions to follow, and when we do, we reach Him. Simple, isn't it? Then why are there so many different denominations, undenominational churches, and disputes within denominations who all claim to be the right path to God?

My personal opinon is too many people deciding they know what is right over what is biblically correct. Add that error to a personal falibility in mankind - to chose what is liked over what is necessary.

Wasn't that how the world saw Jesus? How many in the world see Him today? Too many of us do not like a specific area Jesus taught, so we change what was said to fit our current view of the world view. Very famous world leaders have done that, and so has a neighbor down your street. It began with Eve. Adam and Eve were given simple instructions:

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17)

Of course God knew - Peter knew:

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (1 Peter 1:19-20)

Nothing surprises God, but His interference does not occur as expected, and has usually been foretold. Best to keep it simple, as He has put before us. If we think something spiritual comes to mind, test it!

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (1 John 4:1-2)