~ by Wild At Heart
Let me say this again: the story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it. I hope you are beginning to see that more clearly now. Otherwise, much of the Bible will not make sense to you. Much of your life will not make sense to you.
Isaiah 45:2-3 (NIV) “I will go before you
and will level the mountains;
I will break down gates of bronze
and cut through bars of iron.
3 I will give you hidden treasures,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD,
the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”
Doesn’t the language of the Bible sometimes sound … overblown? Really now — God is going to level mountains for us? We’d be happy if he just helped us get through the week. What’s all that about breaking down gates of bronze and cutting through bars of iron? I mean, it sounds heroic, but, well, who’s really in need of that? This isn’t ancient Samaria. We’d settle for a parking place at the mall.
Now, I like the part about treasures of darkness and riches stored in secret places, it reminds me of Treasure Island and Long John Silver and all that.
What boy hasn’t wanted to find buried treasure? And, in fact, those associations make the passage seem like fantasy as well. Good poetry, meant to inspire, but not much more.
What if we looked at the passage through the eyes of the heart? That language makes perfect sense if we are living a reality on the mythic level of Amadeus or The Lord of the Rings.
In those stories, gates must be broken down, riches are hidden in darkness and precious friends must be set free.
If we are in an epic battle, then the language of the Bible fits perfectly. Things are not what they seem. We are at war. That war is against your heart, your glory.
Once more, look at Isaiah:
Isaiah 61:1b (NIV) “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,”
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Copyright © 2024 Wild At Heart, used with permission.
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