A Bright Cloud

Over these past few months, I have been trying to discern the reason for a sudden growing suspect of my full understanding of scripture. Why now after some 50 years of study, sermons from the best and lectures around the truth captured in these 66 sacred, God inspired books.

As well, a growing concern for the ever increasing conversation around religious "deconstruction" now taking place among current generations, old and new, Boomers and Gen Z, Dones and Nones!

The Silent Generation's "Last Days", Left Behind-like answers seems less than sufficient for providing hope. In such moments, my experience leans toward a spiritual tipping point, with something perculating that is positive and transformational in nature.

I can feel it in my bones!

More and more, I am persuaded that our understanding of the text, one quite close-minded to any progressive revelation by the Spirit might just be the problem. What was truly inspired was likely also limited by the understanding of the gospel writers themselves.

I know from my own experience with equally inspired men and women of God, all knowledgeable with regards to leadership and human dynamics, having posited directives seen by them as the result of prayerful communication with the Spirit, yet when launched, though clearly beneficial and truly transformational, still required "fits and starts", trial an error, some only achieving full maturity and fulfillment over a couple generations.

Often intermittent that pattern and in hindsight seen as providential, come initiatives and life learnings that deepen our base of knowledge, adding a more progressive approach, along with clarity of vision.

Meanwhile in the process, fighting hard battles of resistance by institutional thought and those defending the status quo. We are human and that's just how things progress.

My gut tells me that those in Jesus' day were not that far ahead of the game and to take their writings completely as literal, without error or adjustments based upon the best of science, allowing for cultural maturation is irrational.

Surely centuries of spirit led leadership has provided some progress!

Why wouldn't this be true as well for those who walked with Christ himself, hearing his words, their understanding limited, then later when expressing their own thoughts, though inspired, leave room for revelation by the spirit. All that perhaps by divine design!

These writers were likely dumbstruck by his death, awed by his resurrection and speechless with regards to understanding of his ability to enter a walled room, eventually disappearing by way of an ascension into the clouds!

My mind whirls, as I read such verses as Matthew 17:2, a description, likely second hand, of what was experienced by Peter, James and John on the Mount of Transfiguration.

I have to wonder what really did take place, still keeping in mind that these men were so convinced of what they saw, that they were willing to die a torturous death for their honest transparency.

Given that men in their day assumed a flat earth, with three heavens, stationary stars simply hung in the sky, a sun that rose and set on the edge of earth each new morning...well, let's just say they had their limitations.

I read that Jesus, "was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias (KJV) talking with him."

Given today's understanding of energy and matter, I have to wonder if what they witnessed was the very energy that formed the galaxies leaking from between the tissue of Mary's baby and from of the fibers of his clothing.

A thin moment perhaps with a simultaneous assemblage next to him, proving embodiment for Moses and Elijah's habitation.

Then in verse 5, ‭‭"While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."

Perhaps that was some "condensation" of the Spirit of God, such that it appeared as cloud-like and visible. A prelude perhaps to what they would see in reverse at the Ascension, his body dissipating in cloud-like form, which given the limited knowledge of those observing, he disappeared into the clouds, "ascending on high", into Paul's "third heaven."

Could the Presence of God be so naturally integrated into Creation, fully present among us, yet unlike us, uncontained in a body of dust?

That would explain Luke's description in Acts 1:11, "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you to heaven, will come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven", perhaps a day much like on that mountain, his bodily frame reconstructed, taking shape much like a cloud forming from once ethereal vapors. Spirit being real, matter our illusion.

Perhaps, even the New Heaven and the New Earth is already among us, pearly gates, walls of jasper and streets of gold, simply the best description possible by men like Peter. James, John and even Luke the physician.

Come let us reason together!