Conflicct Of Humility

CONFLICT OF HUMILITY

No man was ever more humiliated by God than Saul of Tarsus! It was almost as though Jesus put a "contract" out on his life and then undertook the execution of that contract Personally! I can think of no other time God actually complains to a human about that human's (personal) treatment of Him!

Acts 9:4,5 "And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." [The "goads" of the Holy Spirit!]

Oh, it wasn't as if Saul wasn't asking for it... it may also be that there was never a man so hostile and determined, with religious fervor & zeal, to single-handedly war against God and His People! This man Saul was a true "Death-Stalker"!

Acts 22:4 "And I persecuted this way (of Death!) unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women." There may never have been so large an ego, pride, arrogance and spiteful determination than Saul's! And I can imagine no one [today] being more sure his "way" was right, correct, justified, legal, necessary and morally "pure", -(this "dirty-work" of purging out the heretics just HAD to be done!)-, ...than Saul!

In short, no man ever "faced off" against God with such self- determined hubris [arrogance!] and defiance as did Saul! His "fall" from pride was monumental! So much so that the Lord re-named him "Paul" which means "little one", or "small, humble one"! Can you just imagine?! But, as if that wasn't enough!, Jesus wouldn't let "well enough" alone!

This man Paul was to be so "Cursed" with Revelations he was to live & remain "Graced" with Afflictions from God! He was to be made an example of, ...all for OUR sakes! Exhibited in him would be an on-going Dialog between Heaven and Hell on earth!

The Royal Combat between decadent flesh, doomed to rot; and a Walk in the Spirit Which Beheld "All", as in I Cor 3:21-23 "Therefore let no man glory in men (mere creatures). For all things are yours (all Creation AND Creator!); Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's."

Paul was sorely humbled (reversed!, Repented!) by God and forced to continue walking that humility to its painful conclusion - (Paul called himself a "bondslave-for-Christ").

No other Disciple was detailed a demon as companion from God! II Cor 12:7-9 "And lest I should be exalted (become "puffed up", to keep me humble!) above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the MESSENGER [GRK="angelos"!] OF SATAN to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee (a polite way of saying, "SHUT UP!"): for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Paul learned, "in acceptance lieth Peace!", and further, to "be content with whatever state" in which he found himself Led by the Spirit! It has been said of Paul, "He originated nothing, but explained "ALL"!".

There is a curious paradox about lessons in humility; how, without such humility as can truly say "Why me?" (on the one hand), we cannot receive the Faith from God Which knows AND shows (on the OTHER hand), "Because God Loves you!". It is this Humility Which comes only from God Which reminds us of our carnal-unworthiness, [while yet Confirming-In-Christ His Love f-r us], ...and maintains Contrition at the foot of the Cross("-ess of Repentance")!

But, though not worthy in our selves, we are (after all!) CHOSEN OF GOD-IN-CHRIST! And there IS a point where our carnal nature can twist & pervert even God-Given Humility into such unbelief as would block Faith's View of the "deep things of God"! It is what I call the "high-wire act", or the "razor's edge"! And no man ever walked so tight a wire so high above so vast a gulf in such a wind without a net as Paul! Look at him up there! A "teeter" here or "totter" there, and splat! But with death on either side and only FAITH as balance pole, he trodded on across the rope that overcame oblivion below!

But never once was he sure of success (apart from Faith & Hope!), and always knew the Fear of God of knowing and remembering how he'd EARNED the fate of "castaway"! Never knowing "why?" (for sure) God Loved him so to save the very one who hated Him with righteous venom!

When Jesus said to "Love your enemy" He surely must have known that, after Judas, then came Saul - for no one ever did what Saul had done to God! Paul must have imagined what he might have said had he been there at the foot of the cross of Christ!; In view of what he did when Stephen was stoned but for Loving Him! The "conflict of humility" is the battle of the Cross!

As God's "Strength is made perfect in weakness", so pride is vanquished (crucified) by Humility! Paul "collided", "head-on", with Jesus Christ! That such absolute enemies could reconcile in a Love-Affair-Adventure, and go on to Live together such an explosive Life on earth is Witness to the Gospel he preached! He said if any one, even an Angel!, should preach any other gospel other than his - "let him be accursed"!

Wow! How could any mere mortal say such powerful things (and in what many feel is such an arrogant manner!) and not become "puffed up" with "self"? Simple! There had to be an awful lot of "casting out" of fear by "Perfect Love" to maintain such "Chutzpah", or "Moxie" in this frail little man (Jesus called him "Paul", remember?)! No, I'm firmly convinced the "balancing pole" in Paul's hands was always Jesus Christ Himself! I don't think Paul ever "left home without Him"!

Their's was such an intimate relationship as we might glimpse a view of Heaven by! As seen in "them", we learn-to-know our Lord as a continuous "walk-on-the" CLINGING side! Was Paul desperately "attached" to Jesus? "O-Youbetcha"!

No man could be taken (sometimes by force!) through what this man was, by the Hand of God!, and survive -(nevermind flourish & thrive!)-, except as MINGLED with Christ! It's hard to know when we're seeing Paul, or Christ Himself! Suffice it to say, ...we ARE!

Conflict of Humility? Yes! This Christian "walk" we choose is Real, and full of warfare. "All" is Promised to the "Overcomer"! And I can think of no better place to start than at the taproot of our carnal-nature - PRIDE & UNBELIEF! Now there's a "plum" that's worthy as a "trophy laid at Jesus' feet"! And Paul's good "company" to keep ...in this "Conflict of Humility"!