opinion | əˈpinyən – a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.

truth | tro͞oTH – the quality or state of being true; that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality.

reality | rēˈalədē – the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.

persevere | [pərsəˈvir] persevering (present participle) – continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.

past | [past] – beyond the scope, capacity, range or sphere of something or someone.

objectionable | əbˈjekSH(ə)nəb(ə)l – arousing distaste or opposition; offensive · unpleasant · disagreeable · distasteful · displeasing · unacceptable.

perspective | \ pər-ˈspek-tiv – the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed; the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance.

Persevering Past Objectionable Perspectives

I don’t think anyone would disagree that division in the United States is an obvious reality. The problem with division is that it doesn’t unite, it divides. That’s right, division is a divider. Division can also be a detrimental demoralizer. In most cases division makes something weaker, not stronger. We are the United States of America, but most would agree in many areas of life, like morals values, policies and principles we are not united as a country overall. Some would say that this dilemma was caused by our previous president, while others would say it was the president who served before him who actually caused it. Many would say we have always been divided, while others may say that it has never been like this before, or, at least not this bad. Whether it’s agendas, policies, values, morals, principles, race or gender, we stand divided on so many fronts! Nonetheless, the greater concern I have in regard to the division we face as a country, is the division that it is creating in our everyday lives. This political and cultural division in America and around the globe is creating division in families, friendships, marriages, workplaces, churches and etc. We are dividing individually over matters that we ultimately can’t control and we are taking sides over issues that in some ways don’t effect us personally. However, that doesn’t make it right and it doesn’t mean that you or I shouldn’t stand up or speak out for what we believe to be right! But, this must been done in love with wisdom and through grace. Remember, even Jesus Himself instructed His disciples to be as wise as a serpent and as gentle as a dove when dealing with others who may not have been receptive to their practices and or teaching.

I have given my life to the practices of Christianity and to the study and sharing of God’s word for over thirty seven years. Therefore, I can’t just adjust what I believe to be the infallible Word of God and the absolute truth, all because of what someone thinks or feels. However, it also doesn’t mean that I can’t love or be considerate or be kind, just because I don’t agree with someone or some issue that is being discussed or demonstrated. But, at the same time, I also realize that many also have varying interpretations and beliefs in regard to what the Bible says or doesn’t say concerning certain moral issues and consensual diverse behaviors. Nonetheless, there in lies the problem again of more division and varying perspectives on what has determined our perspective or that has helped form someone’s opinion over a particular concern, decision or value. For example, within evangelical Christian circles or within a particular political party, someone may even express and view different opinions or perspectives in regard to beliefs, agendas or policies. What one may consider to be conservative or moral, another would consider the same issue to be insensitive or inhumane. On one hand you have the whole cancel culture and politically correct extreme views and on the other hand you have conspiracy theories and exaggerated ideals of reality. I should also mention the hot topic issues that have unfortunately become political agendas that have helped form policies for things like: abortion, transgenderism, the legalizing of same sex marriage, border control, illegal aliens, citizenship, vaccines, gun control or becoming oil independent. I am sure as you read this list you already rehearsed your opinion or ideal in your own mind in regard to these issues. We could also talk about other issues like: social distancing, limits, restrictions, closures, masks, the COVID vaccines and stimulus checks. With all of these scenarios and concerns there also comes with them an opinion on what you, I or someone else might think or believe. And, with these opinions, can come disagreements and division as well. So, what do we do? I think we start by loving, listening, learning and growing. That’s right! We love. We listen. We learn. We grow. We strive to understand, even when we don’t agree. We strive to be cordial and considerate even when we don’t see eye to eye. Nonetheless, I didn’t say that we should compromise or condone. But, we also shouldn’t be critical or condemn. And, we shouldn’t cancel everyone that doesn’t agree with us, either! However, this has to be the same for both sides.  It can’t be that I only listen to you when I agree with what you’re saying – and vice versa! But, you also can’t except most people to unite or rally around a cause that they don’t align with or agree with either. Nonetheless, that still doesn’t mean that you have to be critical or condescending, though. I also believe that this means that we can also agree to disagree and still be considerate. We also must rally and unite around things that we can agree upon and those things in life that truly matter. We love. We listen. We learn. We grow. We strive to understand, even when we don’t agree. We also use common sense, in which there seems to be a lack of today, especially in some religious circles and in most political arenas of government.

Thus, the title for this blog: “I am persevering past objectionable perspectives.” If you know me you know that I like words and the meaning that they possess. So, here’s what I mean when I say that I am “Persevering Past Objectionable Perspectives.” Persevering– I am continuing in a course of action even in the face of frustration and difficulty, even if there is no prospect of achieving success. Past– I am moving beyond the scope, capacity, range or sphere of something or someone that is objectionable. Objectionable– something that arouses distaste or opposition; offensive · unpleasant · disagreeable · distasteful · displeasing · unacceptable. Perspective(s)– the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed; the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance. And, perspective is really the deterrent for how we ultimately view, value or determine how we feel, respond or who’s side we take in regard to the matter at hand. Perspective is what led me to write this blog. You see, what you’re going through or what you are experiencing at any given moment can determine the opinion you have in regard to what may be taking place. For example, I saw a meme on social media in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Amish. Any other time, I may have agreed or thought it to be humorous. However, since I had just lost two close relatives to the virus only a few days prior to seeing the meme, I didn’t find the meme nearly as funny as I might have earlier in the year. What happened? My perspective had changed because of what I had experienced. A year ago, I may have laughed and agreed, but last week I just lost close family members to COVID-19, therefore my opinion had changed in regard to this perspective. Now, in reality there are many opinions and views that are formed or dismantled all because of one’s perspective, not just mine. And, in culture there are many perspectives that others share that I don’t agree with, but there are also many whom don’t agree with me either! We will never agree with everyone on every issue, that’s why we must use consideration and kindness to bring healing and unity. Love, wisdom, mutuality, kindness and consideration are the keys to healing disagreements and striving toward unity.

So, in a world filled with so many opposing ideologies how do you show consideration and mutuality to those who don’t share your opinion or regard your perspective as being correct or valid? Remember, just because someone hasn’t had my experience or doesn’t share my opinion or value my perspective, that doesn’t mean that I can’t be kind or show mutual consideration, even if it means we disagree. No this, you can only live at the level of experience or revelation that you have had or received. And, it is your experience, opinion and ideals that help form your perspective. A tainted perspective can taint your view of a situation or person. And, the wrong perspective can cause you to see things unclearly and view situations illogically. Nonetheless, the right perspective can help you see things clearly and reasonably. I pray that we rally around and unite around those things that we can agree upon, those things in life that truly matter! I pray that we love, we listen, we learn and we grow. It is my hope that we strive to understand, even when we don’t agree with one another. In closing, here are seven things that I am hoping, praying and believing for as I “Persevere Past Objectionable Perspectives.”

7 Things to Help You Persevere Past Objectionable Perspectives:  

• Use wisdom and be gentle.
• Rely on the Holy Spirit to guide your heart, direct your thoughts and dictate your words.
• Speak the truth in love.
• Listen with an open heart, open ears and an objective mind.
• Don’t allow prejudices or past experiences to cause you to not hear clearly what others are saying, although you may not agree with them.
• Don’t allow the continuous daunting of others’ opinions to taint your perspective of what you know to be true.
• Don’t grow weary in well doing. – Gal. 6:9

Jesus said, “It is Finished!”, but He never said, “I am Finished.” Interesting note: the statement, “It Is Finished” is actually one word in the Greek: tetelestai.  And, that word is an active present tense verb – which means it includes the past, the present and the future all at the same time. The word deals with wholeness and completeness, nothing missing and nothing lacking! But, nonetheless, when Jesus said, “It Is Finished!” It was, but the assignment He had been given wasn’t totally completed. He had shed His blood, but He had not yet died and came back to life. He was God’s agreement in the earth, but He also had not yet sealed the mercy seat in heaven (eternity) and He had not received His glorified body, in which He would appear to His disciples. However, Jesus is the only one who had the authority to declare that something was finished, before it was totally completed and He is the only who had the power and authority to accomplish what needed to be fulfilled. In realty, it was finished because it had already been settled in heaven and all of God’s promises are “yes” (definite affirmation) and “amen” (so be it) in Christ Jesus. So, what that meant was, it had already been settled by saying, yes! (definitely) amen! (so be it) in heaven, but it still had to be fulfilled in the earth and that’s what Jesus did.  But, the good news is, although it is finished, Jesus is still not finished today! As a matter of fact… ^He is still working today – to save, to heal, to deliver and to restore. ^He will never give up on you or me. ^He will never give in to defeat, because He is victory! ^He who began a good work, will complete it! ^His blood will never lose it’s power. There is power in His blood to save us and to heal us and to set us free. And, because He conquered death, hell and the grave, we will never die, but we have been given the opportunity to have eternal life with Him forever in heaven, if we choose to believe that He is the Son of God and that God raised Him fromthe dead on the third day – we do this by grace through faith, not by or from anything that we have done, but by and through everything that He has done. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He is our redemption! And, the redemptive story of mankind and the Gospel of Good News is this – the first creation, Adam and Eve had sinned, but Jesus became the second Adam, He was born of a virgin – He walked among men and new no sin – He was betrayed, beaten and crucified. He willingly laid down His life, He was laid in a tomb, but on the third day He rose again! He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for you and I and one day soon He will return again and take us home to be with Him forever! Therefore ,what began in one garden through the sin and disobedience of Adam and Eve was reversed in another garden through the obedience of Jesus Christ, the living son of God! Jesus shed His blood and died on the cross for all mankind once and for all – and He declared, “It is finished”, but He never said, “I am finished.”

Therefore, I want to look at the symbolic significance of what Christ did after He said, “It is Finished!”

1. He Tasted Death.

– The wages of sin was death – but the gift of God was eternal life through Jesus Christ.
– Life conquered death – so that we might live.
– No more rituals, no more blood shed and no more animal sacrifices.
– The veil had been torn and we now have access to God.

2. He Came to Life.

– He got up and death was swallowed up.
– Christ came to life and we became eternal beings.
– We will spend eternity somewhere, either in the presence of God or separated from God for eternity.
– For those that are in Christ – to be absent from these bodies… is to be present with Christ!

3. He Appeared to Mary.

– Mary came to the tomb first and Jesus appears to her first in the Gospel of John chapter twenty.
– John 20 shows us many things:
– The stone was rolled away.
– The tomb was empty.
– The grave clothes that remained.
– The angels that were present and spoke.
– Peter and John seeing for themselves: the grave clothes and empty tomb.

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.” – John 20:1-18 NKJV

John 20 Shows Us Many Things, But Here Are 3 Things That I Want to Look at: (remember, this is all after Jesus said, “It is Finished!”)

1. The Grave Clothes Remained Untouched and the Cloth That Covered Jesus’ Face Was folded. V. 6-7

2 Things In Regard to the Grave Clothes of Jesus:

1st – THE HEBRIAC TRADITION OF THE FOLDED NAPKIN:

– A crumpled or loose napkin meant that you were through or done.
– Death had been defeated and had been done away with.

– Jesus had defeated death and the grave clothes were no longer relevant.
– The were loosely laying there because He was done!

*Sometimes you just have to been done in order to move on. You cant keep putting on the past, if you desire to walk in a new preferred future. You can’t put on hopelessness and expect to walk in a new found hope. You have to leave behind what you no longer need, so that you can experience what Christ has provided.

– A folded napkin meant you weren’t done and you would return.
– Jesus will return and you will see His face again.
– He is the King of King’s and Lord of Lord’s.
– Jesus will return again and we will see Him face to face.

2nd – GRAVE ROBBERIES WERE VERY COMMON IN JESUS’ DAYS:

– Mary ran to get Peter and John and she was yelling that they had stolen the body of Jesus.
– The soldiers already made an agreement to say that this was what had happened to Jesus’ body.

– BUT! John left no doubt that He got up!
– The grave clothes were untouched.
– The cloth that covered Jesus face was folded.
– If they would have stolen the body of Christ – nothing would have been in the tomb.
*Jesus got up! He conquered death. He shed the grave clothes and He folded His face cloth neatly and He walked out of the tomb alive and victorious!

2. There Was an Angel That Was Seated At the Head of Where Jesus Had Been Laid and There Was an Angel That Was Seated At the Feet of Where Jesus Once Laid. V. 12

– The Ark of the covenant represented the presence of God. (Ex. 25)
– The lid was gold and had 2 angels on each end facing each other.
– the lid was the mercy seat.
– A lid is what gives you access to something.
– Jesus became the living lid.
– Jesus gives us access to the presence of God.
– God’s mercy provided a way through Jesus.
– The veil has been rent from top to bottom.

– We can approach the throne of God and obtain mercy

3. Jesus told Mary not to touch Him. v.17

– Jesus was God’s agreement in the earth.
– Jesus was the eternal high priest.
– Jesus became our high priest.
– Jesus made the sacrifice on the earth. (in time)
– Jesus sealed the mercy seat in Heaven. (for eternity)

Jesus said, “It is finished… but Thank God He didn’t say, “I am finished…”

1. He descended to the lower parts to free the captives, making His atonement known and confirming the words of the prophets.
2. He came out of the tomb and appeared to Mary.
3. He ascended to God the Father as the High Priest.
4. He appeared to His disciples to prove His resurrection.
5. He ascended to Heaven to prepare a place for us.
6. He sent The Holy Spirit to indwell us, to empower us and to equip us.
7. He sits at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for us.

And, some day soon He is coming back to take us home to be with Him forever… Thank God He didn’t say, “I am finished!”

He is not through – He wants show up and work in your life today… It is finished, but He is not finished… the statement “It is finished” is one word: tetelestai – that is an active present tense verb – which means includes the past, the present and the future… and, it includes right now!

– He wants to save you.
– He wants to heal you.
– He wants to help you.
– He wants to comfort you.
– He wants to give you peace.
– He wants to restore your relationships.
– He wants to save your family and love ones.
– He wants to refresh you.
– He wants to talk to you.
– He wants to lead you and guide you.
– He wants to show you what you don’t know.
– He wants to have a relationship with you.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck Goliath and killed him.
– I Samuel 17:50

*David Was Anointed as King by Samuel.

• The Davidic covenant promises the Messiah – Jesus Christ would come from the house and lineage of King David.
• Jesus and David were both Kings, Priests and Prophets.
• David was a shepherd and the Lord is our Shepherd
• David defeated the enemy of the Israelites, Goliath and Jesus defeated the enemy of God’s people, Satan.

*David Was Chosen by God to Be Anointed.

• David was not chosen by his father as being first choice. His other brothers were chosen first, but then David was brought in and anointed in front of them.

• Sometimes God will take you from the back of the line to the front of the line all in the same day!

• Sometimes God will take you from being last choice to being first choice!

• Sometimes God will take you from being looked over to being sought after!

• Sometimes God will anoint you in front of those who didn’t think you were worthy or able, just to prove that you are able and you are worthy. This proves that He is God and that He has the final say!

*David Developed in Obscurity What Was Eventually Displayed Publicly.

• David tended to his fathers sheep faithfully and God was faithful to him.

• David developed a relationship with Gods that ultimately developed him.

• David took cheese and bread to the battlefield where the Israelites were battling the Philistines and fearing Goliath. He entered the battle and defeated the giant. He came to the battle as errand boy, but he left the battle a victorious warrior.

• David displayed a public faith that had been developed in private.

• David had a faith that had been developed in private, but he had courage to act upon what he believed, publicly!

*David Had Faith, Courage and Confidence.

David asked, “What’s the reward?”

David said, “Is there not a cause?”

• David Possessed Faith!
• David Displayed Courage!
• David Manifested Confidence!

• David said: “You come to me with a sword and a spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord!” 

• David said: “The Lord does not save with a sword and a spear, for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands, so that all the earth will know that there is a God in Israel!” (V.47)

• David didn’t say: “I have a slingshot and 5 smooth stones, but I’m only going to need one!” He wasn’t arrogant, but he had confidence.

• You have to have the faith, courage and confidence that God is fighting with you and for you. And, as the giants in your life fall it will be so everyone will know that there is a God – a God who is alive, a God who saves, a God who heals, a God who helps and a God who delivers.

• David knew the giant had to fall because he was keeping the people of God from the promised things of God – Giants must fall because they are keeping you from the promised things of God. Jesus is the Messiah, Savior and King from the lineage of Jesse from the House of David. David was a king, priest and prophet – Jesus was a King, Priest and Prophet and He has made us king’s, priests and prophets.

• A King has dominion and authority in the Kingdom.
• A Priest has access to God.
• A Prophet has a voice to declare a future and a hope!

Your giants have to fall if they are blocking the promised things of God – you have dominion and authority in the kingdom and in the earth, you have access to God and you have a voice to declare truth and victory. You must exercise your faith, stand in confidence and move in courage in the name of the Lord!

There Are Giants In Your Life That Must Fall!

• • • • • • • • • Giants of Doubt.
                • Giants of Fear.
                • Giants of Unworthiness.
                • Giants of Lack.
                • Giants of Sickness. 
                • Giants of Uncertainty.
                • Giants of Limitations.

And when they do everyone will know that there is a true and living God!