Man. So frail. So fallible. So glaringly incomplete. Yet, intrinsic to his nature man is equipped with a certain ability, a power to influence, lead, organize and dominate. Throughout the ages this obvious "man power" has been at the very center of human existence.
It was not meant to be this way.
Try as we may, "man," that is, both female and male, cannot be satisfied or fulfilled by "man."
Friendship, comforting as it is, will not satisfy the ultimate needs of one's life. "Marriage," sweet
and fulfilling as it might be, is not enough to fill the gaping need for meaning, security, and a personal
sense of worth.
Created for Fellowship
When God made man in His own image, we were created with the intent that God would be the center of our existence, and that we would draw our life from Him. We were created for fellowship with the Maker of Heaven and Earth, so that the very bounds of His love could expand beyond the scope of the eternal love that was going on within the Trinity. Life in the Garden produced God's desire… Adam
"walked with God," in an environment that was perfect, bathed in pure light, warm with Heaven's
touch. Since the Fall, however, when the first man and the first woman decided that their Maker's command to eat of any tree but the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil could be ignored, autonomy, separation, and alienation have been the watchwords of the age. Man has continually endeavored to 'go on his own steam', adjusting each situation in life according to human reason, or what Paul the Apostle has deemed, the 'earthly' touch.
Since the moment that this perfect communion with God ruptured, human beings have been searching for something - anything, other than God to fill up the emptiness of an existence void of that all-fulfilling fellowship. Whether it's light-hearted banter, or the machinations of big business, conversation flows with 'the things of this world.'
Consider a snip from the typical female conversation that's been going on for centuries. Two single women get together for lunch, and the first words beyond their greeting (or perhaps a bit deeper into
the conversation) often revolve around a familiar question:
"So, who's the man in your life?" Isn't it true? We can chuckle over this common thread of female discussion, that is, the desire to trade relationship stories, but this 'man mentality' is no stranger
to the opposite sex either.
While women tend to define themselves in terms of relationship to "a man," the male approach to life
is no less "man" centered. Typically, a man's identity is drawn from how he is doing at work, how
other's perceive his success, or in a perhaps more charitable perspective, how well he is providing for
his family. For either gender, it is safe to generalize that human beings are always seeking another person to bring meaning to our lives. Unfortunately, Christian human beings are no different.
What's missing?
The Christian world often touts Jesus Christ as our fulfillment and strength, but where is the fruit
that comes from this restored communion with God? If Christ is "the man" in our lives, why is there such vapid unfulfillment, depression, guilt, pain, remorse, and dysfunction among so many believers?Remarkably, this spiritual maliase doesn't seem to vary whether believers are in the church or trying
to 'go it alone.' The same sad story prevails. Why are so many of God's people in this sorry state?
Are you one of them?
Perhaps starting with a question will provide the means to an answer.
Are we clinging to anything or anyone other than Jesus? He alone is the One that provides access to the throne of God, and the only man to whom we owe tribute, praise, and honor. Perhaps you've checked your heart in regard to materialism and worldly success, ambition and pride, but how about allegiance? Friend, who is "the man" in your life?
This question may appear a bit startling, particularly in light of the fact that the scriptures
place such high regard upon marriage, and an equally significant place upon relationships within the Body of Christ. However, we were created first for fellowship with Almighty God. Communion with the Lord must come first.
The Maker of our hearts set His heart on having a people,... a people to call His own. This longing
for relationship, or 'fellowship,' is the reason God went to all the trouble of creation. He, being LOVE personified, longed to expand the bounds of His love, and so created "man" in His own image and likeness. The perfect fellowship that existed before creation between the Father, the Son and the Spirit
is a picture of the oneness which God longs for us to draw us into.... His circle of unbroken love. While much of history and present society displays the brokenness of that fellowship,God's desire
for relationship was, in fact restored through His intervention in humanity when He sent His only begotten Son. Jesus came in the form of human flesh, to build a bridge back to God so that fellowship could be restored. To all that trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and come through that provision, fellowship is restored. That is, the way is made clear to enjoy a relationship with the One who made us.
For as many as receive Him, God gives the authority to become children of God, and so we are. The plan is perfect. The problem lies in the so many distractions which vie for our attention. These 'things" take the focal point of our existence, usurping the rightful place of the Lord in our lives. However,
if we desire true fulfillment, we cannot allow anything to come between the Lord and ourselves. Today, Christianity has advanced into most of the world. The question remains though, 'If Christ
is the answer, why then is most of the world still embroiled in war, depression, fear and every sort of
mental and social dysfunction? If Christ is at the helm of every Christian family, why then is divorce,
separation, disunity, and argumentation so prevalent? Could it be that we are clinging to something other than God's provision for restoration of fellowship?
The answer, I'm afraid, is a deafening 'yes!' For every believer who faithfully finds himself in church each Sunday, looking to the pastor or priest as the one to provide spiritual meat, a strong statement
is made about the insufficiency of God to do this in his own life. Certainly it is not a conscious statement, but nevertheless is true. Believers from nearly every denomination substitute the holy, divine, leading of the Lord in their lives for the predicable, seeable, leadership of a man. Jesus Himself said this should not be so. In regard to the religious milieu, He emphatically states, "…they bind burdens, heavy and hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves
will not move them with their finger. And all their works they do to be seen by men, for they broaden
their phylacteries and enlarge the fringes of their garments, and they love the place of honor at the
dinners and the chief seats in the synagogues and the salutations in the market places and to called by men, "Rabbi." But you, do not be called Rabbi, for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers."
This passage is taken from chapter 23 in the Gospel account of Matthew. Rarely has a sermon been preached from this passage. Why? It is because the words of Jesus Christ fly in the face of all that
is traditionally held as true and necessary in Christianity. Friend, doesn't Jesus Christ know better
than tradition?
We must not be afraid to ask ourselves these difficult questions. If it is a genuine desire to be
"biblically correct," then it is important to look at some of the passages that are so rarely discussed in churches. In Matthew 23 Jesus is admonishing the disciples in regard to the most popular and respected religious folk of the day, -- the Pharisees. Unfortunately, when we read these words of Jesus, particularly in light of contemporary Christian practice, they are an indictment upon the church. It doesn't matter whether it's Roman Catholic, Protestant, or Evangelical, or something that is touted as "non-denominational," the call to be "brothers" bellows loud and clear from the scriptures. It is dampened only by years of tradition that have accumulated like a thick, silent blanket of snow, covering the original sound of Jesus' voice.
We Need to Peel Away the Layers of Man's Teaching and Hear God!
The apostle Paul continues in Jesus' teaching by continually referring to the people of God as "brethren." He also consistently refers to the brethren as Christ's body. Let's look at this. A body only has one head. The head of the church is Jesus Christ. Friends, here is the answer. Jesus
is "the man," there is no substitute! The rest are ALL brethren. We can continue to choose to walk according to our own understanding, but our lives will be drenched with the earth touch. On the other hand, we can choose to walk in the "mysterious ways" of our Lord, those that Isaiah spoke about when he prophesied "My ways are not your ways, my thoughts are not your thoughts, says the Lord your God." (Isaiah)
To choose God's ways, and God's thoughts, we open ourselves up to the full inheritance that is ours
in Christ. Restoration and abundance come as a result of 'heaven's touch" upon our hearts. This is
nothing new. Since the world began God has desired that humanity's life be enveloped in Heaven's touch. To go further with this train of thought, let's take a brief look into history.
Cain offered God a sacrifice based on what he thought God would like. After all, it came from the sweat of his brow. God has never paid much attention to man's efforts, for He knows that it is only in trusting, and coming as a child that we can enter into the relationship that was intended from the start. History holds many accounts of man's efforts to reach God, each of them thwarted, or leading to outright destruction. Cain and Abel, the Tower of Babel, the Nation of Israel's clamor for a king, and so many others, all point to the futility of following "man's understanding." Any time "man" substitutes
anything but Jesus Christ as the way to have access and fellowship with God it simply will not work. In
fact, aside from it's obvious futility, it is idolatry! Because sin entered the world, man's nature became tainted with a perverse illusion that somehow we need more than God to "make it." This is the "man mentality," and it is a "killer" (that is, produces DEATH) in terms of spirituality. Since the Fall the seed of that autonomous mentality has been embedded in the nature of man. Religion always emanates from man's fledging ideas instead of the natural and first intention of intimate communion with God.
The very idea that a person (any man or woman other than Jesus Christ )should stand as mediator,or facilitator of relationship between God issues from this seed of death. It is simply the 'man mentality!' We so easily relinquish the open access that God provided to Himself through Jesus, and do not consider the magnitude of what was done for us on Calvary. Instead of fellowshipping with God freely through the provision of His Son, we often substitute the voice of another person for that of our King! Do you see what a perversion of God's intention this is? It is a tragedy of the first degree!
Here God has made provision for fellowship to be restored between Himself and His people, and we so easily allow our opportunity to ebb away. Instead of going boldly to the throne of grace, we nod, listen, and passively sit in our pews, allowing a gifted preacher or teacher to be our lifeline to God.
Friends, Jesus Christ is the only lifeline!
One Mediator Between God and Man
Does someone strong and knowledgeable provide a way for you to hear the Lord each week? Does someone kind and helpful stand between you and the Lord today? Oh saint of the Living Lord, is there anyone in your life upon who you feel your spiritual growth is especially dependant? Is it a husband, teacher, pastor, prophet, or friend? If the answer is "yes" to this question, consider the words
of Jesus Christ in John 14: 6, when He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me." Is the pastor or priest "the man" in your life dear believer? Have you inadvertently substituted the richness of intimacy with Jesus Christ for the tangible convenience and popular idea of listening to "the man of God?" Is the Pastor of the church you attend the one you long to be close to, the one you respect, the one you look to for answers regarding life and godliness? Unfortunately there are sects --- growing in number --- that actually teach the supremacy or "headship" of the pastor. What unabashed usurping of the role of our Lord!!
So who is the man in your life? Will you consider the question? There is Only One, and that is the second Adam, the NEW MAN, the One sent from Heaven to be our Savior, Lord, Lover, Friend, and. If these questions have stirred your heart, do not feel condemned, but SEEK THE LORD, while He may be found! His grace is always abundantly available. He will be your teacher. Fellowship with the saints, encourage the weary, cultivate a healthy relationship with family and friends, but let
the LORD be your Master. Let Jesus Christ be your instructor and best friend. Oh dear saints of the living God, may the eyes of our hearts be enlightened, that we may see, and practice, what is the length, the width, the height and the breadth…. yes, the very depth of the riches that alone are found "in Christ." He is "the man." |
