I’m starting a short series on a few of the stumbling blocks that keep many from meeting God and entering His kingdom! I’m not sure how many parts it will be but I’m sure it won’t be exhaustive. I just want to touch on some things and put them in proper perspective. Enjoy!
It is both the single greatest achievement of human history and the greatest story ever told! I’m referring to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The same gospel that gave me life along with a multitude of others who have received the truth. Sometimes I wonder how such great news could ever seem to fall on deaf ears. I often assume the issue is me. That I somehow didn’t rightly portray the truth because if I had properly expressed the fullness of the gospel message, who could possibly resist such great love?!
But then, somehow, try as I might, sometimes I just can’t seem to get beyond the roadblock of the mind to get to the heart. Or is it not the mind, but rather the pride? I’m not suggesting that we have to turn our brain off to see Jesus. But somehow, in a way we do. And I’m not saying we have to check our pride at the door to hear Him. But somehow, in a way we do. Let’s look at a few scriptures…
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3-4
Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
Luke 18:17
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 18:13-14
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
1 Corinthians 1:26-27
Now if you’re a follower of Christ I don’t mean to imply that you weren’t the sharpest tool in the shed…but the great news is I don’t have to because that last verse in 1 Corinthians pretty much already said it 😉
Seriously though, the reality is there is a wisdom that belongs to this world and there is a wisdom that belongs to God and they’re simply just not the same. If you understand what I’m talking about then you know what I mean. He says in verses 21 and 25:
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe… For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
Whether our vice is pride or worldly intellect (as the bible states, ‘being wise in our own eyes’), one thing is clear from scripture, both can become stumbling blocks from our seeing Christ. I want to close my thoughts with one last verse…
We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.
1 Corinthians 4:10-13
We should all desire to become fools for Christ! It may lead to hardship and persecution, we may be rejected by family and looked upon as fools by friends, heck we may even become scum and refuse in the eyes of others, but I couldn’t find a more worthy cause and in so doing, we may even somehow share in His sufferings to receive the ultimate prize; the saving of our souls; and that is a true fool’s gold!
Continue reading Part 2 here.
