The Unshakeable Calm of God
There is available for every believer an unshakeable calm. It is a divine assurance that while surrounded by impermanence, we can access the immovable eternal—an unnatural poise that few possess, but which Jesus displayed in abundance. The people called by His name are not only called to experience it, but manifest it in all they do. It is time to step in!
Unshakeable Calm
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Mark 4:9
These were the words Jesus often used when presenting a compelling message. Does it strike you as contradictory? I mean, if the message was as important as we know it was, why take such a relaxed approach? Why was there not more urgency?
It appears the typical pressure we are accustomed to feel was not part of His arsenal. Neither was He particularly thrown when people did not accept Him. Why not?
We could answer with a semi-obscure movie quote and say it was because He knew the ‘sound of inevitability’. Which is to say, ‘There is something unavoidable on its way which you may not see but you ought to be able to hear.’ For your own good — Listen! In short, the Kingdom of God is drawing near which will engulf everything.
Behind the message of Jesus was the impenetrable confidence of prophetic foreknowledge. He knew the realities he spoke of were neither conditional nor optional. In possession of an absolute assurance He moved with an uncommon poise, secure in the knowledge that ‘every knee would bow’. Either now or later, every person on the face of the earth would ultimately submit to the Kingdom Jesus knew was approaching.
His confidence mirrored Biblical proclamations dating back thousands of years. Undeterred by delays, insubordination or outright rebellion, He knew His end. Standing with the strength of inevitability and echoing historic guarantees, He could be unabashedly dauntless. Whether facing defiance or setbacks in the form of wavering disciples, to Him it was to be nothing more than chaff to the wind.
In fact, though in one sense tragic, evil’s recalcitrance may even have been a source of amusement.
Heavenly Amusement
Though ‘amusement’ might not be the right descriptor, we know God meets obstinance with outright laughter. The 2nd Psalm declares resistance to be an act of senseless futility against the purposes and intentions of the Most High — a vain effort met with the jeers of Heaven’s mockery.
‘He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure:
“Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.”’
Psalm 2:2-4
God sees stubborn holdouts as a joke. Since He has no equal and has determined to rule with a rod of iron, none can resist. Therefore He ‘holds them in derision’, which is to say He scoffs at their pitiful threats. To be infused in this posture of certainty is inherent to God alone.
If these were the words of men we would surely suspect arrogance. Being limited creatures, such as we are, overwhelming confidence is to be avoided. However, since God knows the end from the beginning, He has a sure thing!
Indeed it is better than a sure thing, since it is already finished. If this were the Wallstreet Markets you might call this insider trading. Like going back in time and buying Google or Apple. Foreknowledge of a future enterprise you know will prevail is a rare buy we would be wise not to miss. This is exactly the kind of confidence Jesus exuded. So should we!
As such it is time for the people of God to lean into the sure thing that is His Kingdom!
Rise Above Salesmanship
Jesus was unlike the typical salesmen flogging a product. Uninterested in persuasion as we know it, His future did not depend on anyone’s consent or agreement. Yet, this is often the tone accompanying the preaching of the Gospel. An air of desperation can overshadow the message more like we might expect from a car salesman.
While not wanting to disparage salesmen in general, the truth is they do not always leave a great impression. One does not have to go far to find negative testimonials. On the one hand it can be a noble profession, however, it is largely known for attracting less scrupulous individuals.
Given to chronic hyperbole, they typically over promise while being notorious under performers. Driven by ego and self-interest many sales people are postured to advance their own cause more than that of their customers. So when it came to Jesus and His Gospel there was no such undercurrent.
His goal was not to be the first out the gate, as though eager to increase His market share. Instead, an unearthly substance resonated through His words. He had a sure thing and knew with absolute certainty that the Kingdom of God would engulf the entire earth. He was doubtless the earth would be ‘FILLED with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord’.
An Apostolic Gospel
The heart of the Apostolic Gospel conveys a rock solid assurance. It boldly declares how no alternate empire or order of any kind will prevail. This was the conviction and confidence flowing from Jesus. Void of insecurity typical of human initiatives, His message stood out.
Imagine sharing in this kind of confidence! This is the assurance that will propel the coming wave of evangelism.
An Apostolic Gospel is about to surface shining with an aura of expectation beyond imitation. You either have it or you do not! Unlike promoting a product in the face of competition, we are simply giving advance notice of a winner—something that would dominate every market in every nation of every language.
This is the secret behind the peaceful calm displayed in Jesus’ words! “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Some will respond quickly, others later, but we know all will eventually acknowledge the truth. Whether they respond as early adopters or reluctant holdouts, all will bow their knees.
Finally, as those who potentially will be heralds, we ask for the unshakeable calm of God to fill our hearts and our mouths.
