“Fear Can Go to Hell”…

SCRIPTURE: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)

OBSERVATION: When John first met Jesus, he and his brother James were nicknamed “Boanerges” which means, “Sons of Thunder“… I think it’s safe to say Jesus knew what He was doing.  No one disputed this nickname.  People probably just shook their heads and raised their eyebrows in agreement.  Sometimes silence says it all.

And yet, John and James were 2 of the 3 closest to Jesus.  Peter, James and John… They were Jesus’ trusted inner circle.  They saw and heard things first.  Jesus trusted them.

Why?… Why did Jesus let these 3 men in with their known reputation?…
What did Jesus see deep within their hearts that was waiting to be released?

Because Jesus loved them as Sons.  He created them with Hearts of Passion, Grit and Endurance that cried out for Justice… All of this was built upon a hidden foundation of Love that wouldn’t be swayed by the storms of life.  These Boanerges would be the Bridge Builders and Bible Communicators the Church would be built on. Jesus knew what He was doing.

So much so, that at the end of his life, John was known as the “Apostle of Love.”

APPLICATION:  I am a Boanerges.  I too am a Bridge Builder and Bible Communicator.  No, I’m not to add to the Canon we know as scripture.  And yet, Jesus is still writing my story.  I have a song and a story because of God’s love.  I am very proud of the man that I’ve become.  Mess and all… I know I’m loved by Jesus.  I am a son of the King.  I am forgiven and set free by Jesus’ love for me.  He went first.  He gave His all for me.  I want to do the same.

My heart cries out with a similar thunder as John’s, and yet at the end of my days, I won’t be known as an Apostle of Love. No… I will be known as a Gentle General.  How do I know this?  Because Jesus told me.  This is my new nickname.  I’m not there yet, but I’m walking out my transformation one day at a time. Day by day, I am becoming the man God has created me to be as His son, Eric Richard Robison, a Bridge Builder and Bible Communicator.  A Gentle General.

Jesus went first.  On the cross, Jesus willingly gave His life for all mankind.  John wrote the account of his first hand witness of Jesus’ crucifixion and death, and what Jesus spoke to him,

“When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:26-27)

Some of the very last words Jesus spoke on earth was entrusting his Mom to John… yes, John… the Boanerges.  John was never the same.  His heart broke along with Jesus’ that dark day on Golgotha.  These life events of brokenness were redefined 3 days later.  Jesus rose from the grave just as He said He would!  Until his dying breath, John would serve Jesus as the Apostle of Love.  He has legacy!

So I suppose the life lesson for me in all this is simple really.  There will be Friends, Family, Foes and Loved Ones who will choose to define me as Boanerges. That’s OK.

Don’t get me wrong. I care. Sometimes too deeply.  But, I care more about who Jesus says I am.  So, I trust God in the journey.  Fear can go to hell.  Shame can go there too.  I know whose I am.  God I belong to You…

And with that heart cry, I choose Love.  Let that Thunder through my life story!
Those who journey with me will have the same heart cry.  Love conquers all. Period.

I want my life story to be written in such a way that people see Jesus.  Not me.  But I’m not called to live a perfect life.  I’m not ashamed of my story nor my scars.  I am loved by my King Jesus who has chosen to keep his scars in Heaven for all to see.  He took my shame and fear upon Himself.  He went first. Love conquers all.

And just like John, the Boanerges before me, my heart has broken.  But this is my point.  Jesus has the last word on my life.  He created me as a son.  He loves me.  Love loves me.  He will finish what He started.  I will trust Him in the process.  I am Eric Richard Robison, a Bridge Builder and Bible Communicator, a Gentle General.

PRAYER:  Thank you for those who are seeking You as I am tonight Jesus.  Bless them.  Keep them.  I pray that the eyes of their heart would be opened to Your love.  Help them redefine what Fear and Shame brought to their minds.  Help them remember whose they are. I pray that the well springs of their heart would break forth in such a way that they cannot contain it. Bring a water shed night of breakthrough, blessing their heart cry. I pray that dancing and songs of joy would follow your outpouring upon them.  Love them lavishly Jesus!

Oh, and one more thing…

Fear can go to Hell.  Shame can go there too.
I know whose I am.  God I belong to You!

“Almost Human”…

SCRIPTURE: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)

OBSERVATION: John’s message was grounded in the person of Jesus Christ, whose love changed the world.  However, John wasn’t always known for love.  In fact, he was known as a Tough Guy, a Fighter… a Scrapper!  I sum this up with one word, “Capable!”

The Bible even gives of an account when he was wanting to call down fire from heaven to consume people who rejected him and his message… I kid you not!  These boys earned their nickname as the “Sons of Thunder“.  “Oh shhh… here they come!  Who?  The freakin’, Son’s of Thunder, that’s who!  Oh snap.  What do they want now?!”… I can only imagine the stories that earned this title for John and his brother James.  I’m going to ask them for more stories when I see them in heaven!

APPLICATION: I have had many nicknames over the years.  But they usually all sifted down to, “Robison”.  Yeah, my name pretty much summed up my “Sons of Thunder” days.  My best friend and I kid around about this all the time.  We believe God hasn’t let us live in the same state all these years because of the trouble we would find ourselves into.  Hehe… But God loves me best.  I’m in Seattle.  He’s in Kansas! 😉

Hearts start out so open in our youth and then over the grind of the passing years, for various reasons, most of us close our hearts from the inside.  It’s sad really.  Keeping your heart open to God and others takes courage. But it is worth it!

I’ve been on my own journey over the past 5 years.  It’s taken longer than I thought, but the work that I set out to do years ago is now paying off.  I still have much work to do, but the core areas of my heart have been revived from a cold flat-line…  The chambers that remain to be healed are those I’m not even self-aware of… and I’m pretty much off the charts with self leadership/assessment.

There is a struggle between man’s heart and heaven’s heart within every believer.  Love is at the core of this tension.  Jesus is love.  So when all emotions are sifted, what remains is Love… or no love.  Jesus or no Jesus.

Sometimes, it seems like life without emotions, vulnerability, authenticity would be so much easier.  But it’s not the life heaven created us for.  Being calloused, calculated and closed off is not what it means to be alive… human.  Love… Jesus… brings life to our hearts in unstoppable ways.  It’s difficult to explain really.  But once The King of Kings steps in the room of your heart, everything changes.

I’m a movie and music nerd who loves mythic leadership.  So, I’ve been thinking about the narrative of Blade Runner.  Replicants somehow make the shift to be more human than their creators in the way they love and sacrifice for one another.  It’s a good reminder for me to make sure that I know who I am and what I’m willing to live and die for.  Love is at the core of our identity this side of heaven and throughout eternity.  Love is what makes us, HUMAN.

Check out Lauren Daigle’s account of the meaning behind her song featured in the Blade Runner 2049 movie.  We are all on a journey to discover God’s best for our lives and how we may play our part in God’s divine plan.  I believe at the core of every human is a God shaped void, that can only be filled by Jesus.  Once we open our hearts from the inside out to the King of Kings… Our Heavenly Father releases all of heaven’s resources by the Holy Spirit to experience what it truly means to be Human…

Don’t underestimate the power of this Love…

PRAYER: Make it count Jesus.  I trust You.