October 25, 2018
Recently, I had a very popular social site we all know well, block a few of the pictures in my past posts. Pictures that showed Christ on the Cross, and one picture that showed the nail in His hand. Pictures of the Crucifixion we have all seen numerous times, and pictures that have been posted on this same site countless times before. I began to wonder, why would they pull these pictures now? Why would they suddenly begin to worry about people seeing these pictures, or think that images of Christ on the Cross might now be seen by some as offensive? And why restrict these pictures, when they will openly allow images of sex and violence within our society to fill their pages?
With this in mind, I had an discussion with someone who was very familiar with the site, one who firsthand experience with the policies on the site. I ask them why these pictures of Christ were now being blocked? Also asking them why other Christian links were also experiencing problems having their articles shown in full. To make a long story short, I was told that the images of sex and violence involved “real-life” stories, stories that were a part of the reality we see around us. Whereas, the images of Christ dealt with fictional issues, issues that were not real to what society must daily face. In other words, to believe images of Christ were just as real as the images we see on the news today, leaves us living in nothing more than a fantasy land.
At first, the response greatly troubled me. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this site was not that much different from the rest of this world. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this is exactly what Christ warned me that this world would one day be. A world so focused on itself, that it has no room in its’ vision to see Christ. A world so consumed by its’ own desires, that it could not even begin to imagine having a desire for Christ. And a world so filled with its’ own wants, that it finds itself without any room left to need Christ.
Christ told us, and warned us, that we would be hated because of His name(Matthew 10:22, Mark 13:13, Luke 21:17). The cold, hard, reality is, this world does not love us. And the truth is, despite what they might say, they do not even respect us. They may often try to put on a face for us, but if we could look behind that face, deep inside of them lies the very hate that Christ warned us about.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”(John 15:18–20). The simple truth is, I am not greater than my Master. And in a world that is so quick to deny Him, I should not be surprised to find it so willing to look down on me. No matter how much I might try to placate to this world, or go along with the political correctness of this world, I will never be loved or respected by those who are still more than willing to crucify my Master.
No matter how hard I might try, I will never be seen as this world’s friend, unless I am willing to compromise my faith in Him(James 4:4). A world that seeks to have me proclaim Him less, as I pamper to it more. A world that sees my light as just a little too bright. That thinks my taste is just a little too salty. And a world that think my faith is just a little too bold. I find myself in a world that only sees love in the eyes of those who are willing to indulge their greatest desires. A world that defines goodness in terms of compromise, and love in terms of acceptance. A world, that far more desires to hear my silence, than it ever will to hear me speak a single one of His words.
The truth is, I will never get this world to like me, much less to ever come to love me. This world is always going to have a hatred for me, because they hated Him first(John 15:18). I can spend all day, everyday, trying to get this world to dislike me less, but when the day is over, the hate this world has for me will always inevitably come. And when my days on this earth are over, my life will come down to one simple question. Will i be more concerned about whether this world might have disliked me, or whether His love is found in me?
"For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?”(Luke 9:25). This world has nothing to offer me that can ever compare to all that Christ has waiting for me. To follow Christ does not carry the shame this world might try to place on me, but carries the blessing that only His love and truth can give me. It is nothing short of my privilege to be able to pick up that cross and follow my Master. Knowing that the sacrifice that comes in denying myself as I carry that cross, is nothing compared to the life I gain as I place that cross on my shoulder. Realizing, the very moment I proclaimed Him as my Savior, and picked up that cross, I had already looked this world in the eye, and accepted the fate this world had waiting on me. Knowing that in the world’s eyes, the moment my hands gripped that cross, I condemned myself to die on it.
Because of the hate that has blinded this world’s eyes, it can never see the beauty that comes with ever splinter I receive from carrying that cross. The grace, the mercy, and the love, that comes with each step I take as I drag the cross up that hill. A world that never sees the blessing that comes with each moment I suffer, as i cling tightly to that cross. A suffering that might set me at odds with this world, but places me obediently in the peace of His hands.
By loyally turning to His promises and His teachings, i know i am setting myself up for rejection and betrayal by this world. Opening the door to the persecution that the cruelty of this world often takes pleasure in. Knowing, this world will look to mock each word of righteousness and truth I make my stand for Him on. But no threat this world might throw at me could make me ever consider turning my eyes from Him, not even for the slightest second. As i know that each glance into His eyes, leaves me without question that it is all worthwhile. And each time I can convince just one who this world has in its’ grip to also look into those eyes, the pure joy that fills my heart can never be contained. Because I know, that another will soon experience the love and hope that comes from carrying their cross beside me.
This world may mock me, despise me, look down on me, and yes, even hate me. But no matter how hard it might try, it can never take His love and hope from me. Despite its’ greatest efforts, it can never get me to abandon the truth, wisdom, peace, and security, He has placed in the home He has built for me. And no matter how much this world might question or attack me, they can never drive me from living happily ever after, in this place they often like to call a fantasy land.
Praying each of you are always at “home” carrying the cross for Christ!
