Greetings Friends!
In my last post I spoke about the “Triune Life.” I explained that it’s man’s union with the Triune God which makes the “Triune Life” possible. It means a believer who lives the 3-dimensional life with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as opposed to the ‘solitary’ 1-dimensional life man lives in himself apart from the Triune God. The “Triune Life” is made possible by the Son of God, Jesus, who Himself is one in substance and reality with the Father and the Spirit from eternity. Jesus made it possible because He took our humanity in Himself and glorified and unified it into the very Being of the Triune Godhead, thus fulfilling God’s first purpose of creating man – to make man in “His image and likeness” (Gen.1:26-27).
“Triune Life” Means Living Honorably as The Triune God Does in Their Existence (Reblev’s Icon of the Trinity, Wiki Commons)
There is one distinguishing attribute we take with us into the “Triune Life” relationship with God the Father, the Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit: “honor!” Honor means to hold in the highest esteem possible. It means veneration, and utter reverence. The first command given to man as it concerns his relationship with other humans has to do with his physical father and mother. And the first word uttered in that relationship is, honor – “Honor your father and mother” (Exo.20:12). The patriarchal human father figure is the physical representation of our true Father in heaven, and to whom we give “double honor.” (1 Tim.1:17; Rev.5:13, ESV)
The first step toward Love is honor. We enter the Father’s Love through the doorway of honor in Jesus. Jesus honored His Father in every way and everything He did when He was a man who went about doing good, so we are called to conform to the image of His Son. (Rom.8:29; Acts 10:38) Honor begins with the father in the home and thereby honor undergirds our place in the greater human society. We honor our fellow humans for they are made in God’s image. To dishonor is to show disrespect as to impugn one’s humanity and God’s likeness. All weakness and sins enter through the door of dishonor. To Love is honorable, to sin is dishonorable. The term “honor among thieves” means even corrupt people have a sense of honor or integrity that’s skewed. (Isa.64:6) We bring true honor into the Love relationship with the Father, and obtain His favor and perfection – to hold our relationship with veneration and the highest esteem. Honor is what gives Love its glow.
Medal of Honor – Awarded for Personal Acts of Valor Above and Beyond the Call of Duty. Honoring God is a Call to Duty Because He First Honored Us With His Love Above & Beyond We Deserve (Rom.5:8-10; 1 John 3:16) (Wiki Commons)
This blessed state of living the “Triune Life” articulates the personification of honor which is so vital to how we live as humans and displaying the same honor to one another. Unfortunately, we live in a world where honor is virtually non-existent in society because it is not instilled in the modern home. According to the Bible, the whole world will one day in the future come to understand and give God the honor due to Him, “And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever” (Rev.5:13).
Of course honor cannot exist in isolation as if living a one-way street – honor is a two-way street. That’s how Love works. We honor God because He first honored us by saving mankind. “But God demonstrates His own Love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom.5:8). Again, “This is how we know what Love (honor) is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16). God always takes the initiative and shows honor first because He is honorable in His Triune Being. And He continues to honor us with His unfailing Love each and every day, and every moment of time. From this vantage point, we can reciprocate likewise with honor to God and our fellow humans. Hence we read, “Then call on Me when you are in trouble,and I will rescue you, and you will give Me honor” (Psa.50:15, NLB). The work of God (Love) in mankind is all about rescuing us from the physical and spiritual dangers and uncertainties of life which we are unaware, let alone understand. And how do we honor God in return? The same passage answers, “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God” (Psa.50:23).
There’s nothing we can do in this world to repay Him for His Love for He is Creator of all we see and don’t see. But there is one thing we can give that’s not entirely His – He’s given us our free will to be ours alone, and through it to cultivate a generous heart and give Him thanks. He gave man freedom for He is free Himself in His Tri-Personal Being. The Father, Son, and Spirit, are three free Personalities existing in Love within One Triune Godhead. Through freedom and generosity we too can give Him honor through Love and thanksgiving.
Why don’t you turn to Jesus today, and ask Him to rescue you from all the uncertainties you face in life. He says this to us, “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear” (Isa.59:1, NASB). Yes, our Loving heavenly Father waits with open arms.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to write me in the space provided below, or email me on bulamanriver@gmail.com.
Blessing:
Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessings of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love, be with you always. May the Spirit enliven your spirit and make all things concerning you possible as you live the “Triune Life” as a Bulamanriver.* Be strong in the Lord’s joy.
Kiang,
* Bulamanriver” is the metaphor describing the union of man with the Love of the Triune God flowing in humans, making possible the “Triune Life” – the source of the miraculous life in man. To read the many facets of life of the Bulamanriver, go to my website www.bulamanriver.com where you can order a copy of my Book.
All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.