Ordinary You, Extraordinary GOD! Part Two

If you made it through part one and are still interested here is the rest!

There was only ONE apostle Paul, there was only ONE Mary, there was only ONE Moses, Abraham and David. AND, we fail to forget that Mary was not goddess of Nazareth in her time. Can you imagine the ridicule she went through when people started thinking Jesus was crazy for claiming to be God? The Israelites constantly opposed Moses’ authority and Paul gives a whole litany of abuses in 2 Corinthians 11:20-33. God did not place everyone here to be known. He is the only one that even DESERVES to be known! What about Rachel Saint, John Huss and George Mueller? Or John and Betty Stamm? Are plaques going up in their honor? People who went to foreign lands, served in the most remote parts of the earth in heinous conditions and died martyrs deaths? (How’s that for boosting your self-esteem??). Did God love them any less because they were mistreated, abused and obscure? Their momentary light afflictions were producing for them an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17). You know what I think it is? We think that our suffering somehow minimizes God’s greatness - that if God were good and powerful that He would alleviate all of our pain and uncomfortableness. Unfortunately, this is the curse of sin and the very reason why Jesus had to die. But we think, “how can God be great if we suffer?” It is taboo to feel bad about yourself these days but without a deep conviction over sin where is the need for a SAVIOR? If no sin, then what are we being saved from?

So the question begs to be answered, “Who else should be great in our suffering?” What greater thought than knowing that our GOOD God has a purpose in our suffering. I would lose hope if I thought that my afflictions were not producing an eternal weight of glory. That is the beauty of our God! Sovereign not only in the joys of life but also in the sorrows! He is in control and thankfully not subject to every whim of man’s dreams and emotions!

So, how is this affecting our children? We aren’t teaching them to take their place in the world for God’s glory scrubbing toilets. We are teaching them that they are destined for greatness, anything they want to dream up God will give to them if they just believe and anyone who tells them otherwise is a “border bully” or a negative influence! We would say, “Run from these people because they don’t have your best interest in mind! And by the way, God, here is my plan, put your stamp of approval on it so I can be happy!” Because God wants us to be happy...that’s in scripture somewhere right? God created me for my purposes and my happiness because after all achieving our dreams equals happiness! So what happens when my daughter wants to be Miss America so she can make her platform spreading the gospel (which is “of God”) and she doesn’t make it? Who are we setting up to be at fault? Us or God? When my son wants to be CEO of his company in order to run the company as the ultimate example of a “Christian business” and it doesn’t work out for him who will he turn to and point the finger at? Do you see the danger in this? We have made God for our purposes instead of the opposite. The path we are on puts our children in greater danger of apostasy and low self-esteem because when they fail...and they will (if you’ve lived long enough you realize that life is full of disappointments!) where do we send them to find purpose and significance?

Don’t get me wrong, I agree that God has created each of us with gifts and talents to be used for His purpose. There isn’t a lot of conflict in this statement. However, the difference resides in the FOCUS of the statement. Where we have led the generations to come is to focus on the PURPOSE instead of GOD. When we focus on God, “the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace” and that includes our marred self-esteem. Self-loathing is a thing to be viewed in the light of God. We must come face to face with the truth that we are created by Him, for Him and in His image. Even Jesus did not think equality with God was something to be grasped but made Himself of no reputation and came in the likeness of man (Philippians 2:7) and He was God! The way we get around our issues of self is to focus on God not more self. We need to focus on others that have less than and who need the truthful grace of the gospel to set them free. We are drowning because we are overcome with US! God help US to get our minds off of US!

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world!” The word of God is replete with scripture that talks about suffering, trials and an inheritance that is not here. We are not teaching the “take up your cross and follow me” gospel because it doesn’t make us feel important. The cross, an instrument of death and torture. These hard sayings are why “many walked with Him no more” (John 6:66) Jesus said, “you must count the cost if you want to follow me.” I challenge you to read Luke 14:25-33. Does this seem like a metaphor or was Jesus really saying all of these things? HARD SAYINGS....and all true! Why? Because this isn’t heaven and my inheritance is yet to come. If I want to be like my Savior I am a “woman of sorrows acquainted with grief.” How very different from ordinary to extraordinary!