Clouds, Meteors, And The Hairs On Your Head

Matthew 10:30 'But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.'

My family and I recently returned from a short little camping trip to Ottawa Lake. The weather was amazingly hot and the mosquitoes were vicious. They pushed us out of our campsite. We spent everyday, the whole day, on the beach where they were not. We swam for hours.

One of my favorite ways to relax is to backfloat in a lake, ears submerged, eyes focused on the lithe white clouds above.

"There's no sensation to compare with this, suspended animation, a state of bliss" (to quote a Pink Floyd song).

I find it fascinating to watch the very tips of the clouds, to see these distant shapes slowly dissipate and transform, quietly and unassumingly evaporating into nothingness.

Another fascination I have was rewarded at night, very late at night when the mosquitoes were mostly sleeping. This past week was the Perseid meteor showers, a timely event when the stargazer can expect to see a meteor nearly every minute. We were witness to many brillant streaks across the sky. I took the time to explain to my children that these are the final moments, the end of a stone's life. Rocks are busting into the earth's atmosphere only to catch fire and burn out in a single flash of glory.

In my own thoughts, I find it curious to think that these rocks I am witnessing die, may have been hurdling through space for centuries, for hundreds of years only to come to this inauspicious ending. How many people saw what I saw? Was I the only witness? How many thousands of meteors have plunged headlong into this atmosphere without ever being seen? How many more are coming that no one will ever see?

Sometimes in life, we can feel like the meteor that no one notices, the cloud that slowly disappears without any fanfare. Sometimes it may seem that no one else knows what we are going through, and no one else really cares. No stands witness to our pains, our sorrows, and our grief.

Our relationship with Christ is tied into this lonliness, this forsaken, forgotten, underappreciated, unrecognized, emptiness human beings call life.

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1 John 5:9 'If we receive the witness of men, the witness of the Lord is greater. . .'

John 12:43 'For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of Yahweh.'

It is very telling of our human carnal nature to seek and desire praise from others.  People like kudos.  People like endorsements.  People like commendations.  But we cannot avoid the ultimate emptiness in that sort of praise.  The accolades we receive here on earth will never fill and satisfy.  They will only leave us longing for more.

Galatians 6:7-8 'Be not deceived; The Creator is not mocked:  For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption . . .'

We can and will grow weary if we believe that the praises of men justify our spiritual beliefs and actions.  We will fall away into sin simply to please others.  We will blow the trumpets for every good deed we do and think.  When we look for someone to applaud our love, we are actively sowing to the flesh corruption.  Our strength will become dependent on awards.  We will do tricks and wonders to win the crowd and be pleasers of men.

Philippians 2:5-8 'Let this mind be in you, which was also in Yahshua the Messiyah . . . But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant . . . and being found in the fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the pole.'

There was no advertising - just one calling in the wilderness.  There was no promotion of His name.  Yahshua did nothing to win favor or gain fame. He never made it His goal to "seduce" people.

The only thing that was important to Yahshua was that He remained vigilant and obedient to His Father's will, not His own.

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John 6:38 'For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.'

While I was camping I was witness to many things in nature that will never be seen again, to vaporizing clouds and dying meteors.  But greater than my witness to anything is the Lord's witness.

Yahweh sees everything and from every angle and side.  He knows every hair on your head as well as the thoughts rumbling inside it.  He is right there with you now.  He is right there when you are singing and praiseful, and He is right there when you are sad and sorrowful.  He is right there trying to comfort you when you're lonely, and He is right there trying to encourage you when you are overwhelmed.

Matthew 27:46 'And about the ninth hour Yahshua cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?  That is to say, My Creator, My Creator, Why hast thou forsaken Me?'

He knows how you feel when the pain is too much and that fear of being forsaken engulfs you.

Matthew 10:31-32 'Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.  Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.'

This is why we are told in Hebrews 11:1 that "faith is the substance of things hoped for."  My faith is - My hope is - that the Son of Yahweh did come down die for me.  My human eyes were not witness to this event.  I did not know the man, the great teacher and healer.  But I believe He was.  And, furthermore, unlike Thomas, I believe He is.

John 20:29 'Yahshua saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.'

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You are not alone.  The clouds in the sky are not alone.  The meteor racing towards the earth is not alone.  Everything and everyone in heaven and earth is accounted for.

You however, you as a human being, are unique.  Your function in the creation allows you to access the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and teacher of knowledge.  Your Spirit talks directly to Yahweh through His Son Yahshua. 

In 2 Timothy Chapter 3 we are presented a disturbing list of things people will be in the last days.  The last of these has always peaked my curiosity most.

2 Timothy 3:5 'Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.'

When we look back at Hebrews 11:1, we notice that it is a two-part clause concerning faith.  The second part reads ". . .the evidence of things not seen."

If you deny "the power" than there never will be any evidence.  By exercising "the power" you present evidence where none was before.  When so-called "miracles" happen, that is the evidence no one can rebuke.  But miracles only occur when people believe enough to trust in the Lord and allow Him to part the seas.

As thinking rationale people, it is easy for us to fall into the snares of the rich man as mentioned in 1 Timothy 6:9.  We can easily be tempted into believing that having wealth, influence and power in this world is a sign of godliness.  The more we acquire, the more we are favored.  But that is simply not so.  The rewards and prestige we gather to ourselves in this life don't amount to anything, they are all vanity.

The thing we have to accept is that Christ was content in His time on earth with food and raiment.  He knew He brought nothing in this world and could take nothing out.  As it is stated in Philippians 2:5 'Let this mind be in you, which was also in Yahshua the Messiyah.'

You are called to be Christ-like, to be a living breathing testimony of the Messiyah Yahshua.  You testify best when you are obedient to His will for your life - not your own.

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John 15:14 'Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.'

And what did Yahshua command us to do?

John 15:17 'These things I command you, that ye love one another.'

Just like a meteor streaking through the sky, if no one ever sees your love and charity, never witnesses your humble obedience to the Lord through faithful works, it doesn't matter.  No one had to see it for it not to count.  It does count for something - everything does.

We don't believe in chaos, or random nothingness.  We believe in purpose and justice, and thus everything is accounted for.

Matthew 6:1 'Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.'

In the next verses, Yahshua goes on to say that those who promote themselves for the "glory of men" have already received their reward.

John 8:50 '. . .I seek not Mine own glory. . .'

This is the motivation that made sure the devil's temptations rang hollow in Yahshua's ears, for nothing in this world, no success or glory, was worth the loss of salvation.

Salvation is the greatest gift - the greatest glory, and Yahshua knew it.  That is why He remained obedient even unto death.  And in fact, glory could not come until after death.

John 17:4-5 'I have glorified Thee on earth:  I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.  And now Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine Own Self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.'

The work has to be finished, and the finish is death in this flesh.

How long you live in the flesh is not important.  It is a vanity.  How much you witness and see during your lifetime is irrelevant.  It is a vanity.  The number of accolades and trophys you obtain is unimpressive.  It is a vanity.

You need one thing out of this life and that is the promise of His testimony on your behalf in heaven.

Luke 23:42-43 'And he said unto Yahshua, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.  And Yahshua said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.'

Despite what is happening to us in life, we cannot forget that our testimony by faith, of His life, death and resurrection, is our ticket to paradise.  There is never an occasion for which we cannot testify.  We are a living breathing testimony to His existence.  And when we truly believe that He exists, the power to create evidence comes to light through tongues, through healing, through helps, through patience, through charity.

Matthew 10:33 'But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.'

If you listen to your carnal man and focus on the woes of its empty needy cries, you will deny Christ by your very intentions.  Your stomach wants to be overfed, your pride wants to be exalted.  You are weak when you think you are alone.

Corruption is the condemnation of those souls in Matthew 7:21-23.  They are the ones who did all kinds of wonders and constantly said "Lord, Lord!" but He never knew them.  These are ravening wolves in sheep's clothing, the ones who desired a reputation, an audience, a name, and a fortune.  They are the ones who profited in this world by their works for Christ.  They were sowing to their flesh.  They found great comfort in their fame, wealth and prestige.

Matthew 10:29-30 'Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?  And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.'

He knows you and is watching over you.  Your salvation is all He was ever interested in.  Your salvation is why Christ came.

John 3:16 'For Yahweh so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.'

Yes, you have to die - but you don't have to perish.

When you have a moment, go and read Matthew 10:37-39 with this light in mind.  Remember that everything is vanity, even our dearest loved ones.  It is a hard concept from a human perspective - but not from a Christ-like perspective.  If we serve them, if we are willing to commit sin for them - how is that any different than serving the devil?  The end result is the same - vanity.

1 Corinthians 3;19-21 'For the wisdom of the world is foolishness with Yahweh.  For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.  And again, Yahweh knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.  Therefore let no man glory in men.  For all things are yours.'

Amen