“Search and see,” said he, “the borders and the regions of Paradise, where will be found health without sickness, pleasure without contention, union without quarrel, dominion without interruption, attendance of angels, feasting without diminution, meadows sweet in scent as fair blessed flowers. Happy indeed is he whom Brendan son of Findlug shall summon thither to join him,” said the same elder, “to inhabit forever and ever the island in which we are.”
– The Life of Brendan of Clonfeert
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
– Revelation 4.1, 2
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
– Colossians 3.1, 2
A glimpse
Thus Brendan and his company achieved their goal. As the elder on the island explained, they were free to search and see all the many blessings that were available to them in the Paradise of God. And indeed, those blessings were many.
Strangely—but actually not strangely at all—Brendan and his crew seem merely to have glimpsed the beauty and wonder of The Paradise of the Saints. No report is given of their exploring the island or meeting any other people. Rather, we read only this: “But when they saw Paradise amid the waves of the sea, they marveled and were astonished at the wonders of God, and His power when they saw these wonders.”
Here is a hint at how to read the story of Brendan’s journeys over the seas. They saw the little country they were seeking “amid the waves of the sea”, that is as a destination attained, but not possessed, glimpsed amid their daily work of following their calling from the Lord, experienced in prospect but also really, as their proper heritage and home, but not a place to dwell in just yet.
The story of Brendan is true. This great saint really did sail across the Atlantic in pursuit of his calling. He sought to bring and to realize the blessings of God wherever he went. He was met with trials, struggles, want, and weariness; but he stayed on course until, together, he and his company were granted a truer vision of the little country which one day will be our home as well. There, all the blessings outlined by the elder will be ours, and many more besides. And above all, we will see the Lord Jesus as He is in glory, and we will be made like Him.
A standing invitation
What do we learn from the story of Brendan the Navigator? Two lessons confront me. First, we all have a calling from the Lord, a work to pursue for His glory that will involve all our strength, time, concentration, and effort. Because God calls us to this work, He will supply all we need. We must have faith and keep faith, even as the going gets rough and the prospects of success seem remote. It is the work, the calling, the journey that matters, for it is in prosecuting this that our faith is confirmed and grows, we bless others and are blessed, and we are given glimpses of the glory that is yet to come.
And second, Brendan reminds us that we have a standing invitation to “come up here”, into the Presence of the Lord, to see the glory in His face, to be drawn into the orbit of His pleasure, refreshed in our soul, and reminded that, whatever it is the Lord has called us to do, we must not fail to obey His Word, to search and see each day and every moment where His glory is to be known and how we may express that in even the small stuff of our lives.
Ours is a journey of sanctification and service, of growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and working to make His grace and truth known in our little country of this world. Know your calling. Understand all the various works it entails. Set the sails of your soul into the wind of God’s Spirit, and row with all your strength to bring His grace to others. He will meet your needs; and if you will search and see, He will show you His glory in the marvels and wonders that direct us to the face of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For Reflection
1. How would you describe your calling from the Lord? What works does that calling require?
2. What does it mean for you set the sails of your soul into the wind of the Holy Spirit?
Psalm 111.1-3
(Manoah: When All Your Mercies, O My God)
Praise the LORD! O let my heart give thanks
here amid His chosen race!
Your works are great, O LORD, and sought
by all who know Your grace.
For Your work is full of splendor, LORD,
and of majesty most pure;
Your righteousness, O glorious God,
forever will endure!
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our Read Moore podcast is focusing on realizing more of our great salvation. Our current ReVision series, “The Kingdom Economy”, examines the role of commerce for the glory of God. And new in our bookstore, our workbook, The Ongoing Work of Christ, shows us how the book of Acts provides a template and footprint for all who take up the work of building Jesus’ Church.
Thank you.
Many of you are faithful and generous in praying for and supporting Crosfigell and The Fellowship of Ailbe. Thank you. May I encourage all our readers to seek the Lord about becoming a supporter of The Fellowship of Ailbe? It’s easy to give to The Fellowship of Ailbe, and all gifts are, of course, tax-deductible. You can click here to donate online through credit card or PayPal or Anedot, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
