Of course it does, you're not perfect either! The good news is, there's good news. Redundant, yeah, but seriously...the good news of the Gospel is that there is life and life abundantly! "How? What kind of spiritual Atkins diet do I need to go on to get that? What kind of Dr. Phil regiment do I need to buy into for that kind of life?" Well, that's part of the good news: there's no complex formula to figure God out. "Huh? Wait, you're telling me it's a free-for-all? Anything goes? I can find God however I want?" That's not how it works, no. I'm not saying there isn't a formula, I'm saying it's not complex. It's actually quite simple, a one-component formula to find sustaining life in God: Jesus Christ.
"Wait a minute, Shane...are you trying to pull a fast one? Aren't God and Jesus, like, the same thing or somethin'? You are being really redundant today, mister!" Ok, so here's what I'm saying - there is a source of life to all living things in creation, one source that is ready to provide real, lasting, sustaining life to our souls. That source is Jesus. Jesus said it Himself, and millions upon millions of Christians throughout the ages can attest: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) If you believe Jesus was God robed in flesh and walked among us to be the connection between God and man, you've got to believe He's the only source of life. If you can't bring yourself to that conclusion, you haven't experienced water from the true well.
Here's why Jesus has a corner on the "true life" market: He is true life. The ingredients list on the true life box says, "Jesus Christ." Artificial sweeteners, preservatives, fillers and dyes are not part of the formula for true life. Just one ingredient is in that formula. Remember in my recent post "Desire" how I talked about the God-shaped hole in each of us? Only God can fill the hole we have inside of us, the need for substantive and sustained fullness in our souls. And that's exactly the formula I'm referring to. We try to fill that hole with pornography, drugs, sex, maybe even good things that can become distractions from God like social media, TV and even relationships. But it's kinda like drinking soda or chocolate milk on a hot day when your mouth is as arid as the Mojave Desert. They just don't cut it. Nothing satisfies the body like a drink of pure water. Likewise, nothing satisfies the soul like Jesus. (John 4:1-14)
Which leads us to where a lot of people get tripped up in their relationship with God. There are so many resources available to those seeking God - the Bible, inspirational books, podcasts, other Christians' wisdom, etc. And all these are great! But the rabbit trail we go down so often is this: we turn to a resource instead of the source. "Ok, string this guy up from the nearest rafter! Now he's hatin' on the Bible!" Far from it. I love God's word, and believe it to be such. It is the inerrant word of God, "useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God can be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) I use the Bible as a resource in my walk with God, and I know God has grown me through it; but if I perceive it as something more than what God intended it to be, it is literally an idol. Did you catch that? Them's fightin' words to some Christians - many Christians think the buck stops at the Bible and other resources, like the resource itself is the answer. Some Christians I know talk about the Bible, certain authors and their pastors like the sustenance is originating from those outlets - holding them almost as high, if not just as high, as God Himself. But in doing so, they've set their eyes on the resource instead of the source, missing the forest for the trees. Sounds familiar...hmmm...oh, I know why, check out what Jesus said to the Pharisees about this very issue:
“You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren’t willing to receive from me the life you say you want." (John 5:39-40)
God never intended the Bible (or any life-sustaining resource) to be put on a pedestal as the go-to, end-all-be-all sustenance-giver...He is the Life-Giver! Yes, these resources bring life, but it's because God feeds us through them. Ultimately, He intended life and intimacy to be found through direct communion with Himself! Here's a dose of interpretation, I'll break down some sweet Biblical symbolism for ya - a freebie this time: when Jesus took His last breath on the cross, scripture says the veil of the temple was torn in half (catch up in Luke 23:44-49) The meaning behind the veil being torn in half was that God, by Jesus' sacrifice, was opening the way to the Holy of Holies, an extremely sacred and exclusive place in the temple where God's presence rested. In doing so, God was making a statement: "no more separation between us, no more song-and-dance to approach me. Come freely to me and find life in my presence, for the way has been paved by The Way." What a radical notion! But it was God's plan all along, foretold by the prophets of old. The Messiah would serve as the final sacrifice, forgiveness and grace as the fulfillment of the law, yet not bound by the law.
So yes, of course, it's a given that the Bible is one way to receive sustenance from God. Inspirational books are one way to receive wisdom from God. Church is one way to receive guidance from God. But the important point I'm getting at is this: none of these are the exclusive way to God - they are solid means to an end. God uses these means to speak to us, to guide us, to direct us, but no resource is the sole component in the "Limitless Life" formula. There is only one way, one truth, one life, and He is Jesus. He's the end to the means. Please, don't misread me - I implore you to find life in the Bible, find encouragement in your friendship with others, find solace in your favorite worship album. They are all very vital components of your Christian walk. But if you turn to these things alone to give you life without turning to the source, you will be parched quickly. Find God through them, yes, but they are not God in and of themselves. These things are healthy means to grasp the foundational premise of salvation: direct communion with the Creator. The intimacy with God through your prayer life, your direct and personal conversations with the Life-Giver, your quiet time marinating in His presence is the well you ultimately need to draw from - straight from the source. Said resources are a way to soak in God's presence and lead us to intimacy with Him, but they are not the Person of Christ...they are the words of Christ, the wisdom of Christ, the guidance of our God, but considering them anything more is holding them too highly, therefore replacing God with something He intended to draw us closer to Him. Here's the best example I can think of:
Scenario 1: One day a young boy realizes he is curious about the life of his father. Sure, he's known his father to be close and supportive his whole life, but the boy is anxious to know more about his father, beyond the short time he's known him and into his younger years. He wants a glimpse of his father's heart, his wisdom, his character, the foundation on which he was built. So the first thing the boy does in ventures up into the attic to retrieve some of his father's earliest journals, way back from childhood and up through the early years of his marriage. The boy was amazed to see all kinds of photo albums and memoirs that pointed to certain events in his father's life. As the child poured over the words and pictures his father had stored in the attic, he found that he was still not quite satisfied. He wanted to know what dad was feeling in those pictures of he and mom's wedding day. He wanted the details of the hard times he and mom pushed through, and what kind of advice they would have for him should that time come in his life. He wanted to know his father's heart. He pondered these things for quite some time, wishing he had the answers he longed for. Finally he packed all his father's things away in their proper place, walked back downstairs to go outside and mull things over. On the way out the door, he passed his father, who knew he was in the attic rustling around the old storage bins full of memories. "Having fun, son?" The boy was so enthralled in deciphering his dad's life through the books and photos he had just soaked in, he didn't even hear his dad's question until the second time he asked. The child looked up and acknowledged his dad with a grin and a sheepish nod as he closed the outside door behind him to stroll and reflect on his dad's life a little more.
Scenario 2: One day a young boy realizes he is curious about the life of his father. Sure, he's known his father to be close and supportive his whole life, but the boy is anxious to know more about his father, beyond the short time he's known him and into his younger years. He wants a glimpse of his father's heart, his wisdom, his character, the foundation on which he was built. So the first thing the boy does in ventures up into the attic to retrieve some of his father's earliest journals, way back from childhood and up through the early years of his marriage. The boy was amazed to see all kinds of photo albums and memoirs that pointed to certain events in his father's life. As the child poured over the words and pictures his father had stored in the attic, he found that he was still not quite satisfied. He wanted to know what dad was feeling in those pictures of he and mom's wedding day. He wanted the details of the hard times he and mom pushed through, and what kind of advice they would have for him should that time come in his life. He wanted to know his father's heart. So he raced down the attic stairs, down the hall and into the living room where his father was reading. He jumped on the chair by his dad's side and spread all the dusty journals and pictures on the coffee table in front of them. He spent hours asking his father all about the memoirs and wedding-day pictures, and what it was like to live without a bunch of stuff, and what he should do when life gets tough in a few years. The dad was overjoyed that the son came and asked all those questions, shared all that joy and curiosity, took the time to sit down and desire to get closer to him. The two of them never forgot the time they shared together that day.
So yes, of course, it's a given that the Bible is one way to receive sustenance from God. Inspirational books are one way to receive wisdom from God. Church is one way to receive guidance from God. But the important point I'm getting at is this: none of these are the exclusive way to God - they are solid means to an end. God uses these means to speak to us, to guide us, to direct us, but no resource is the sole component in the "Limitless Life" formula. There is only one way, one truth, one life, and He is Jesus. He's the end to the means. Please, don't misread me - I implore you to find life in the Bible, find encouragement in your friendship with others, find solace in your favorite worship album. They are all very vital components of your Christian walk. But if you turn to these things alone to give you life without turning to the source, you will be parched quickly. Find God through them, yes, but they are not God in and of themselves. These things are healthy means to grasp the foundational premise of salvation: direct communion with the Creator. The intimacy with God through your prayer life, your direct and personal conversations with the Life-Giver, your quiet time marinating in His presence is the well you ultimately need to draw from - straight from the source. Said resources are a way to soak in God's presence and lead us to intimacy with Him, but they are not the Person of Christ...they are the words of Christ, the wisdom of Christ, the guidance of our God, but considering them anything more is holding them too highly, therefore replacing God with something He intended to draw us closer to Him. Here's the best example I can think of:
Scenario 1: One day a young boy realizes he is curious about the life of his father. Sure, he's known his father to be close and supportive his whole life, but the boy is anxious to know more about his father, beyond the short time he's known him and into his younger years. He wants a glimpse of his father's heart, his wisdom, his character, the foundation on which he was built. So the first thing the boy does in ventures up into the attic to retrieve some of his father's earliest journals, way back from childhood and up through the early years of his marriage. The boy was amazed to see all kinds of photo albums and memoirs that pointed to certain events in his father's life. As the child poured over the words and pictures his father had stored in the attic, he found that he was still not quite satisfied. He wanted to know what dad was feeling in those pictures of he and mom's wedding day. He wanted the details of the hard times he and mom pushed through, and what kind of advice they would have for him should that time come in his life. He wanted to know his father's heart. He pondered these things for quite some time, wishing he had the answers he longed for. Finally he packed all his father's things away in their proper place, walked back downstairs to go outside and mull things over. On the way out the door, he passed his father, who knew he was in the attic rustling around the old storage bins full of memories. "Having fun, son?" The boy was so enthralled in deciphering his dad's life through the books and photos he had just soaked in, he didn't even hear his dad's question until the second time he asked. The child looked up and acknowledged his dad with a grin and a sheepish nod as he closed the outside door behind him to stroll and reflect on his dad's life a little more.
Scenario 2: One day a young boy realizes he is curious about the life of his father. Sure, he's known his father to be close and supportive his whole life, but the boy is anxious to know more about his father, beyond the short time he's known him and into his younger years. He wants a glimpse of his father's heart, his wisdom, his character, the foundation on which he was built. So the first thing the boy does in ventures up into the attic to retrieve some of his father's earliest journals, way back from childhood and up through the early years of his marriage. The boy was amazed to see all kinds of photo albums and memoirs that pointed to certain events in his father's life. As the child poured over the words and pictures his father had stored in the attic, he found that he was still not quite satisfied. He wanted to know what dad was feeling in those pictures of he and mom's wedding day. He wanted the details of the hard times he and mom pushed through, and what kind of advice they would have for him should that time come in his life. He wanted to know his father's heart. So he raced down the attic stairs, down the hall and into the living room where his father was reading. He jumped on the chair by his dad's side and spread all the dusty journals and pictures on the coffee table in front of them. He spent hours asking his father all about the memoirs and wedding-day pictures, and what it was like to live without a bunch of stuff, and what he should do when life gets tough in a few years. The dad was overjoyed that the son came and asked all those questions, shared all that joy and curiosity, took the time to sit down and desire to get closer to him. The two of them never forgot the time they shared together that day.
Now, let me ask you, which of the two approaches made the most sense: the boy learning about his father solely through the resources he had found, or the boy learning about his father through the resources, which lead him to go to the source itself. Herein lies the point I'm trying to make.
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