What is found in Jesus?

[joeb]

I'm not sure if I can adequately communicate what I see in the following, but I'll give it a shot.  

I found the following poem after reading a book in which the author used a couple of lines from it that I found to be very thought inspiring.  I'm not much for poetry as it doesn't usually speak to me, but this does.

Weary of myself, and sick of asking
What I am, and what I ought to be,
At this vessel’s prow I stand, which bears me
Forwards, forwards, o’er the starlit sea.

And a look of passionate desire
O’er the sea and to the stars I send:
“Ye who from my childhood up have calm’d me,
Calm me, ah, compose me to the end!

“Ah, once more,” I cried, “ye stars, ye waters,
On my heart your mighty charm renew;
Still, still let me, as I gaze upon you,
Feel my soul becoming vast like you!”

From the intense, clear, star-sown vault of heaven,
Over the lit sea’s unquiet way,
In the rustling night-air came the answer:
“Wouldst thou be as these are? Live as they.

“Unaffrighted by the silence round them,
Undistracted by the sights they see,
These demand not that the things without them
Yield them love, amusement, sympathy.

“And with joy the stars perform their shining,
And the sea its long moon-silver’d roll;
For self-poised they live, nor pine with noting
All the fever of some differing soul.

“Bounded by themselves, and unregardful
In what state God’s other works may be,
In their own tasks all their powers pouring,
These attain the mighty life you see.”

O air-born voice! long since, severely clear,
A cry like thine in mine own heart I hear:
“Resolve to be thyself; and know that he,
Who finds himself, loses his misery!”

Matthew Arnold

The lines I find inspiring are the last two in the poem.  The author titled this poem Self-dependence, but it's clear to me that he misunderstood the meanings of the things he found in nature.  He saw the stars, moon, ocean, etc... as being self-dependent but in fact they are Creator-dependent.  In God is found their real meaning, not in themselves.  Because of God they go on doing what they do without regard to whatever else the rest of Creation is doing.  Each part of creation is doing its assigned job.  To me this poem ought to be titled God-dependent.

Now, what about man?  Resolve to know thyself; and know that he, who finds himself, loses his misery!  Where do we find ourselves and why when we find ourselves do we lose our misery?  Paul gives us the answer in Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being;

If we look a little deeper at this verse we'll see what I think are some very profound ideas.  You might not think so, but I do.  

"In" comes from what Strong's concordance says is: 1722 en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition. see GREEK for 1519 see GREEK for 1537.  

What does it mean to denote?  It means to make known.  Thus en means to make known a fixed position in state(being as this is spirituality), and by implication an instrumentality(an instrument for doing something) i.e. a relation of rest.

 "we live" comes from what Strong's says is:  2198 zao dzah'-o a primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively):--life(-time), (a-)live(-ly), quick
"move" comes from Strong's as: 2795 kineo kin-eh'-o from kio (poetic for eimi, to go); to stir (transitively), literally or figuratively:--(re-)move(-r), way.

To stir?  That has a lot of meaning.  It can be physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc....  We can be stirred in many ways.

"have our being" is translated, according to Strong's from: 2070 esmen es-men' first person plural indicative of 1510; we are:--are, be, have our being, X have hope, + (the gospel) was (preached unto) us. see GREEK for 1510

We are!  In Jesus we are.  This is the plural of 1510 which means "I exist".  The breadth and scope of this is incredible.

So, by resting in Jesus we make known who it is by whom we are stirred, who it is that makes us tick, that motivates all that we think, do, and say.  By resting in Jesus we exist as human beings.  We discover who we are.  Remember that "when we find ourselves we lose our misery".  Why?  Because Jesus promised the following: Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  That wasn't enough.  He also promised the following:  John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

So, when we find ourselves we lose our misery....  Isn't the Gospel something that is beyond marvelous?  Where else can we find the promise of self-fulfillment, peace, rest, and ourselves in a relationship other than in our relationship with Jesus?  I know it's true by experience.