Points of Truth

In navigation, finding solid points of truth is critical as it is the baseline of how all the directions will be measured.

Through the journey, we will use these points as measurements to look on to see if our path is true.  We can then adjust our course to make sure we are staying in step to the new paths in front of us.  We will need new references to our environment, experiences and perceptions.  These are points of reference, true measurements that fit the life we are to live.

Holidays are points of reference as well.  An event or a place in time where something significant happened and it is critical we do not forget. On Easter, we remember Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.  For those who share in the Christian family, this is more than a marker, but rather a monumental point in our walk of faith.  It is at the essence of our beginning and is fundamental in everything else that is built upon in our individual journey.  It is the cornerstone that shapes how we view life and our main point of reference to measure our path.  How we view it, however, will determine how we use it.

Jesus’ Humanity

Jesus experienced everything humanity experienced, not only to understand us, but so we could understand and relate to Him.  As He walked this earth, He also had reference points to navigate this world.  Jesus told us in John 5:46, “If you really believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me.”  What this says is that Jesus found his identity in the writings of the Old Testament (OT) through the Spirit of His sonship. He did not use it to manage his behavior (ask the Pharisees), but to see his real identity. He did not look at the OT as broken man or slave, but as a Son.  His perspective was different, the same perspective He provided for us.

One note on a “reference point” is that it becomes valuable to our life when it points us where TO go as it did Jesus. Without us viewing our map of life through a new understanding, we will try to navigate with clouds over our eyes (II Corinthians 3:13-18).  The result is we will never see the full benefit of truth in guidance down our path.  To highlight this, let’s look at the story of Samson. Most of us will correlate this flawed man with the perceived behavioral issues that led to Delilah, blindness and his death.  What did Jesus see when He read of Samson? The question is posed because he acted in the same manner and emphasized the same passion.  Yes, the cross was about redemption, life and a new birth, but it was also about love, passion and vengeance (Isaiah 61:2).

Jesus’ Reference Points

Here are a couple of points of reference to ponder that Jesus extracted from the story and modeled in His life:

  1. Both were miracle births with a destiny and lived out passionately.
  2. Both are stories of what to do and not a memoir of what not to do.
  3. They were moved to sacrificial love for others outside of their world even if betrayal (30 pieces of silver) was inevitable.
  4. Each endured mockery, scourging and rejection (even of their own people), yet they were without remorse and an unchanged love towards their people. Their act was a purposeful vengeance towards their true enemy and the power of the enslaving system.
  5. Both destroyed man’s system of worship in order to allow a new kingdom to rise. Samson broke the back of the temple of Dagon, father of Baal.  This was the Philistines center of religious, political and economic power. Thus freeing Israel to emerge and the seat of David. Jesus broke the back of man’s religion, which was following in the same pattern of Baal and temples made by hands. This made a way for the Father to bring forth His Kingdom. To be free to finally rest in the hearts of those of any nation, region or territory who would receive him.
  6. When Jesus and Samson were fulfilling their lives as a deliverer, everything was able to be accomplished. Samson began to deliver and Jesus finished it.  Both freed us from the empty, hierarchical mandates of the religious structures of man’s hands.  Jesus went further by the authority of his Sonship to bring us into a relationship with the Father Himself. This satisfyed the longing of our heart has craved.
  7. Both achieved more in their death than in their previous life.
  8. Neither ended their life in repentance, but in fulfillment and vengeance on their enemy.
Remove Repetition for a Change in View

Jesus took these patterns to a new level, but clearly see are the similarities of identity.  Take a few moments to remove the familiarity of repetition of reference points framed from an old world. Instead, allow the Spirit of our Father to open your eyes to the whole picture. Allow your view to be changed.  It is amazing how our point of reference will become clearer and the passion to move forward is invigorated. What we once of disregarded through perception, may just become the point that launches a new true path.

Blog “The Power of a Reference Point – Part 1”

Podcast “Finding Direction Within Chaos”