Jesus, the Pioneer

Trailblazer (n) One that blazes a trail. A pioneer.

Since moving from Michigan to Oregon a little more than three years ago with my wife, Win, and our second son, T.J., I have been interested in trying to discover a little bit more about some of the early pioneers who initially made the trip from the Midwest to the Northwest more than 150 years ago.

For example, I recently learned that the first emigrants to go to Oregon in a covered wagon were Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, who made the 2000-plus mile cross-country journey in 1836. A big wave of western migration followed seven years later, in 1843, when 1,000 pioneers kicked off a massive move west on the Oregon Trail. During the next 25 years more than a half million people went west on the trail, many of them traveling all the way to the rich, fertile farmland of Oregon’s Willamette Valley (where we now reside). Their covered wagon boxes measured only four feet by ten feet – each of them loaded with up to one ton of cargo including food, furniture and farming implements. (I haven’t seen them yet, but I understand that actual wagon ruts from the Oregon Trail still exist today in many parts of the American west.) In fact, because some of the wagons were so grossly overloaded, many pioneers were unable to ride inside, and were forced to make most of the 2000-mile trip on foot. In order to lighten the wagons, several families had to begin throwing some of their heavier belongings away as early in the trip as Independence, Missouri. The trail became so littered with this debris that scavengers from various towns along the way were able to collect full wagon loads of flour, bacon – and even cast iron stoves!

As I read about these pioneers, I could not help but think of these familiar verses from the New Testament Book of Hebrews,

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NET).

I love that phrase “Jesus, the pioneer.” One lexicon says that the Greek word that is translated “pioneer” in Hebrews 12:2 is used of a “prince” or leader. But it also carries nuances of “trailblazer,” of one who “breaks through to new ground for those who follow him” and “one who takes the lead in anything and thus affords an example.” Jesus is indeed the “trailblazer” – not only for those whose names are catalogued in faith’s “Hall of Fame” in the preceding chapter (Hebrews 11) - but He is our “pioneer” as well!

For that reason it just seems so apropos for me to think about being a "trailblazer" in this personal blog I've titled "Joe's Journey." With each post I hope to bring words of challenge and encouragement to my fellow “pioneers” in the Body of Christ at large. I trust that some of the entries might even serve as a “compass” to help a brother or sister in Christ maintain the right direction. Others will be more like “trail markers” to help keep each of us travelers on the right path. But I want all of them to help us keep our focus on Jesus, “the pioneer and perfecter” of the faith.

Win and I sometimes reminisce about our "journey" together in life, and especially about that 3000-mile cross-country trek all the way from Michigan in the Midwest to Oregon in the Northwest. To be sure, our “covered wagon” was an old, 22-foot class C motorhome (sorry, I don’t recall the “horsepower” right now). And we didn’t exactly travel the Oregon Trail to get here. However, we DID go through St. Louis, Missouri, where the trail begins, but from there decided to take the “southern route.” I guess we really can’t say that we “blazed” any new trails, inasmuch as we were on interstate highways most of the way. But, as many of you know, we had more than our share of adventure as we traveled through wind, rain, snow and ice – not to mention a near disaster in the desert of Arizona. In fact, by the time we arrived at our new home three years ago last November, the words of the second stanza of John Newton’s hymn took on a greater significance for us, “Through many dangers, toils and snares, [we] have already come. ‘Tis grace hath brought [us] safe thus far, and grace will lead [us] home.”

And every day we are more eager than ever to discover where, by His grace, our “Trailblazer” (the Lord Jesus Christ) will lead us in our work for Him and worship of Him. So, we remain focused on Him and following His lead until that time, when, by His grace He leads us home!

Life is difficult - but He is adequate!

Life is difficult....

It is with those three words that a popular psychiatrist began his book, which was first published in 1978. It became a national best-seller for the next four years after that.

Life IS difficult, isn't it? Of course it is. We ALL know that! But what we oftentimes don't know, and sometimes desperately need to know is, "How can we get a handle on it?" How can we cope with those difficult situations (and relations) of life?

In the book to which I just referred, the author suggests that what people really need to is "reach a HIGHER level of SELF-understanding."

I disagree. Respectfully, I would like to suggest that what people REALLY need, in order to get a handle on life - especially when it seems so hard and it hurts so much - is to reach a DEEPER level of GOD-understanding. In the words to the title of one of "MK" Steve Green's songs, "People Need the Lord!" I need the Lord. YOU need the Lord!

You see, the truth of the matter is that life IS difficult. And because it is, I believe that the best "therapy" for each difficulty is, first and foremost, to take a good, long look at the Lord God, as He is revealed to us in and through the "Word" of God - both "incarnate" (Jesus) and "inscripturated" (the Bible).

Concerning the former, the "incarnate" Word of God, the Bible says, "The Word became flesh and lived for awhile among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14)."

And when He came, it was His cousin, John, who said, "BEHOLD the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). In other words, take a good, long LOOK at Him! He is THE Son of God, THE Savior of Man, and He is THE ONLY sin-bearer and THE BEST care-giver this world will ever know! So, take a good, long LOOK at Him!

That is why we also sing,

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a LOOK at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
LOOK full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Or, in the words to yet another gospel song, "LOOK and LIVE! LOOK to Jesus now and live!" For Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full!" (John 10:10).

So, LOOK to Him with the eyes of faith. Sure, life is DIFFICULT! (And who knows what this New Year will bring?). But when you LOOK to Him, what you will see is One who is more than ADEQUATE for all those times when life seems so DIFFICULT! Remember, He has promised that He would always be PRESENT with us, and that His grace would always be SUFFICIENT for us! (Read Psalm 46:1).

By the way, the next time life seems so hard and hurts so much, please don't forget that there is ALSO coming a day when our "faith shall be sight," and we shall BEHOLD Him in all of His glory! And what we will then SEE is what we will then BE forevermore - just like Him! (Read 1 John 3:1-2).

Yes, life IS difficult. But, don't forget (in the words to the refrain of one of my all-time favorite songs):

It WILL be worth it all,
When we SEE Jesus.
Life's trials will seem so small,
When we SEE Christ.
One glimpse of His dear face,
All sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race,
'Til we SEE Christ!

And what we will see then is what we will get. And what we will get is One who is not just ADEQUATE, but One who is INFINITE! The KING of Kings and LORD of Lords!

That is why we also say, "Maranatha! Even so, quickly come, Lord Jesus!" (Perhaps He WILL return this New Year!). And if He does come back for His "Bride" in 2008, then please also remember (it's also another favorite gospel song),

When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all SEE Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory!

Looking UNTO Jesus - and FOR that "blessed hope!"

Oh, yeah . . . HAPPY NEW YEAR!