I found that God still has more to say to us from this story of Zaccheus, the smallish man who wanted to see Jesus for himself but was hindered because of the great crowd around Him and Zaccheus’s own diminutive physique. Consequently, he got inspired to run ahead and climb up a tree he felt Jesus had to eventually pass under.
Some days back, I encountered the post of somebody speaking at length about how life imposes unfair advantages and disadvantages on different people due to circumstances of their birth. If you ask me, I should think Zaccheus was a man born with unfair disadvantage in terms of stature. He was however able to advance in other areas of life despite his size having attained the position of the Chief among the publicans.
What the poster did not say, and probably does not know, is that those born into Christ are also unfairly advantaged. What those with the advantage of wealth and connection have cannot compare to the advantage bequeathed to those genuinely in Christ’s family, who in effect enjoy divine direction.
The story becomes completely different when it comes to those leading the life of God in Christ. Those disadvantages or limitations described by that Social Media analyst may be very much present from the natural standpoint but they are never a bar in the end because Christ can complete someone where they are short.
Zaccheus could have surveyed that prevailing scenario and backed off, returning home. Many who have found themselves walled off or trapped have testified to experiencing a prompting within which told them for sure what to do.
I have found myself in many such spots where there was evident intervention of a divine nature, and I received specific direction about the way out.
A Christian who is unreservedly submitted to Christ has that unfair advantage. With God, there is always a way. The real children of God will manifest in this way. I think it literally confirms what the Lord promised when He said, “I am with you always”. I am going to stay by you all the time.
It will not necessarily be so with the others. He stands by the disciple, protects and leads the way. The secrets of God are with those who fear Him, according to the Psalmist. He will show them His way.
Now, was Zaccheus, Christ’s before this particular hour? I will yes unreservedly, because he found the joy of knowing Christ.You could also say that the joy found him. Christ’s own will go the distance and pay the necessary price necessary to be with Him. Zaccheus sought what you could regard as the non tangible. He just wanted to know Him. He wanted to see him as He is.
His instinctive desire was to fellowship with Him. It is love that is compelling in this way. Those in love want to spend time with the ones they love. It is often similarly non tangible. They are sweet nothings. You put in all of that effort just to be with them. It was not meant to receive anything tangible.
In the future, as the Lord leads, we will discuss how love has become dangerous in our present world. Now it is fraught with calculations. With manipulations. With mutual suspicions. That is no love at all. They are negotiations steeped in evil in a world that has transformed beyond recognition. Where natural affection has died an unnatural death.
