“Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord, And their works are in the dark; They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?”” Isaiah 29:15 NKJV
Reflection: what did Jesus mean by the need for his followers “to take up their cross”?
As I was on a walk early this morning, in prayer and worship around the verse “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:8 ESV, I was specifically struck by the word “obedient”. We might be tempted to think that Jesus life, his experience day to day was in a way pretty simple, since he was God in human form; fully God, fully man. He had the ability to perform miracles, to cast out demons, to control weather, to speak directly with his Father, and so on. Yet, we also learn about him that his focus was to do the will of his Father, to be “obedient” to the will of his Father. “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” John 4:34 ESV. And ““I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” John 5:30 ESV. Jesus also described himself as meek, gentle and lowly at heart.
He could do anything, yet he was obedient.
This is difficult for us to comprehend. We are met with a word of warning today from Isaiah. A shoutout to those who are intentionally seeking counsel away from the Lord to “other places”, doing things in the dark. Isaiah tells us that they tell themselves, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?” So what could be some examples of “other places”, where they would seek advice? Most likely he was referring to various forms of paganism, which really is idol worship in various forms. It might be sacrificing to other “gods” or figures, various forms of engagement with the demonic like magic or witchcraft. So in a way, they were being misled by choice. The Lord talks to them specifically, saying
“You turn things upside down!” Isaiah 29:16a ESV
He is saying that by who they were listening to, they were perverting things, being totally confused about who has the authority, who has the power. They thought they could and should control things; perhaps as the foundation, or essence of paganism, being “to do your own thing”, or “do what feels right to you”. It is what got Eve and Adam in trouble in the garden. The Lord goes on, saying “Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?” Isaiah 29:16b ESV. These people were drunk in their own selfishness and pride.
As we reflect on this message to the people 3000 years ago, we have to remember that the Lord wasn’t talking to gentiles; He was talking to His own people. And therefore, we should also pay attention to whether and how this applies to our world and Christians today. First of all, are we living totally in the light, in the presence of the Lord with our lives? Are we only seeking His counsel, or do we look to the world? What happens when things don’t go exactly as we want, as we have prayed about, do we still trust the Lord? Are we obedient to the Lord, or do we start looking to the wisdom, the counsel of man, above God? Some people seek help, inspiration and insight from all sorts of alternative, even spiritual sources, such as yoga, tarot cards, horoscopes, even praying to the dead. Some follow man-made rituals. Some believe that we can speak things into existence, like God did. Paganism is alive and well today, and comes in many forms. But its root is in man’s selfishness and pride.
So back to our starting point of obedience. Jesus trusted his Father above all, even to the point of death. And he taught his disciples, and those who want to follow him that this would not be easy, but a commitment in obedience, “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26 ESV.
We must trust only in God, not ourselves. To pick up our cross, to carry our burdens, starts with denying ourselves. Denying our selfishness and pride. To be obedient to the will of our Father in heaven.