Have
you considered the possibility that humanity has been captivated by a
colossal deception? Disease, suffering, fear, war and death
constantly stalk mankind. Psychological, intellectual and spiritual
darkness is pandemic. Something is tragically wrong.
Jesus,
“The Light of the World,” was sent to a planet defined as the
“region and shadow of death.” He revealed
that “reality” as advertised on earth, is in fact darkness and
destruction. We deftly evade
our own mortality, and our inner duplicity taunts us. Thoreau said
it well, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”
Yet, how obsessively we repress it. Without an encounter with God,
“Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and
frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a
tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
(Macbeth)
Humanity
has been seduced and enslaved by a counterfeit reality that breeds
intractable selfishness, pride, fear, anger and deceit. “Truly
the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; and madness is in
their hearts while they live.” “The heart is deceitful
above all things, and desperately wicked: who can fathom
it?” (Ecc 9:3; Jer 17:9)
No
one is exempt. You cannot
understand the “Jesus thing” until you see the brutal reality of
your own heart, and honestly admit that you are morally bankrupt.
Our
innate depravity
cannot be surmounted by talent, intelligence or positive thinking.
Regardless of how we adorn ourselves with noble deeds or religious
buzz words, we are all congenital hypocrites.
The
Bible's shocking indictment that, “there
is no one who does good, not even one,"
cannot be understood without a glimpse of God's pure and holy love.
Such love cannot be earned or duplicated.
A
happy-face charade of moral superiority cannot not absolve your sin.
The Bible makes the alarming statement that self-righteousness is as
“filthy rags” in God's sight, and “verily
every man at his best state is altogether vanity.” (Isa 64:6;
Ps 39:5) Does that imply God is
unloving? No. It implies that we need a Savior.
There
is nothing we can do to bridge the chasm between us and God. If
I give all I possess to the poor, perform miracles and become a
martyr, I am still nothing . . unless I receive a divine
infusion of Holiness and Love. (Eph 4:24; Phil 3:9)
Christians
are not superior to unbelievers. They are just receivers of Jesus'
pardon, and frail containers of His Spirit, which offers intimate
access to God, and radically alters their perspective.
When we see the gospel
misrepresented and perverted by apparent “losers,” we feel
justified in rejecting Christ's message. But there is no excuse.
Imperfect people may violate Truth but we can never invalidate or
alter it.
"God
resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
(Jas 4:6; 1 Pet 5:5) Pride is your greatest antagonist.
“Dysfunctional” people fill churches because humiliation is
required to see Truth.
“The
sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite
heart.” (Ps 51:17)
How desperate are you to know Him?
If you will approach
God in child like simplicity and trust, you will discover that He is
not like you feared. He reveals Himself to your heart, not your head,
and that requires vulnerability. He will never violate your free
will, but He offers unspeakable joy, peace and love.
This
is not about intellectual suicide or blindly following dogma. It's
about an awakening through a literal encounter with Jesus Christ.
Seek
God with honesty and diligence and you won't be disappointed. Jesus
said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek
and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you..”
(Mat 7:7; Lk 11:9)
Millions and millions worldwide from every culture can attest to the
validity of that statement.
“There
is a way which seems
right
unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
(Prov
14:12; 16:25) The temporary reality of this world is deceit, decay
and death masquerading as light. That's why Jesus warned, “If
the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”
(Mat 6:23) If you create god in the image of your wounded angry
heart you open yourself to false “light”.
Absolute Truth is self
evident and needs no human verification. Don't settle for anything
less than unmitigated assurance. True enlightenment requires a grave
and profound respect for the Creator of the universe. Your eternal
destiny is at stake. The ball is in your court. Indecision is a
choice.
Copyright
2012 by Hayden Humphrey
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