Matthew 25: 35 - 40 NKJV
We spend a good deal of time striving for those assets of Jesus which we feel others around us will surely notice in us. What better confirmation of being "Like Jesus" than for someone to see His heart and His actions within us. Our journey to rightousness, it seems, would then be complete. Gods word gives us plenty of examples of the heart Jesus had for those around Him. It is well known that He held a special place in His heart for those who were lost or hurting. It is this compassion for others which unbelievers seemingly refer to when they lay claim that Jesus is surely a humanitarian, a counselor or even a prophet. However, suggest to many that Jesus is Lord of all which we see and you will definately encounter some resistance. It seems that we are just fine with the compassion of Jesus, but not for His authority. However, that authority is also a part of who Jesus is. We cannot cherry pick those characteristics of Christ which we agree with while ignoring those we feel are too invasive. For Jesus is not just a humanitarian or ancient charitable man, but the one and all for all creation. The biggest stumbling block in our understanding of Christ falls on the false belief that it is we oursleves who are in control of all around us. In essence, we place Jesus in a box, only to be called on when we need Him. We accept and adore His compassion, kindness and mercy, but our feathers get ruffled when we learn that it is we who are dependent on Him. The very error of our thinking is that we are the masters of our own destiny. For His part, Jesus simply waits for us to return to Him.
13He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or eprincipalities or fpowers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Colossions 1: 13 - 18 NKJV
In Colossions 1, the apostle Paul lays out just why the belief that we are a independent self is in error. As Paul points out, ALL things were created through Him and for Him. Indeed, this Jesus who you admire for His compassion and mercy is Lord over all. All things, including ourselves, were created for Him. This flys right in the face of that which we have been taught, and it is a lie. It is the very same lie which satan himself believed when he claimed he would be higher than God Himself. It is the same lie he perpetrates even today. Of course, he has many followers in his camp. The very first words of our heavenly Fathers creation story in Genesis also expose this lie for what it is. For in the begining, God created "The heavens and the earth." We ourselves were created in our Lords own image. Of course, if we were truly independent, we would have no need for outside help for we would already exist. For how can something which is truly dependent be dependent on another for its life, well being and sustenance? So, how is it that we can be assured that others will see Christ Jesus in us? What level of righteousness must we reach in order that we may become like Christ? Well, the truth of Christ, found in Galations 2:20 testifies to the fact that we need not struggle to be like Jesus, because He already lives through us. It is when we show compassion, love and mercy to those around us that we exhibit the nature of Christ Jesus who lives in us. For this is the very image of He in whose image we were created.
~Scott~
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