Mardi Gras Jesus

I Corinthians 2:2 
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus and Him crucified.

I am still stuck in A.W. Tozer's book The Radical Cross. Mr. Tozer does not seek to soothe your feelings and emotions when it comes to facing truth. He does not mince words in an effort make you feel good about yourself. No. He takes you straight to the cross of Christ and  makes you see the bloody savior hanging there because of sin. All sin. My sin.

He pushes your face close so that you can smell the blood that was shed to pay the price of sin. He makes you rub your hand over that rough, hewn wood on which the perfect sacrifice was hung. It's almost more than a body can stand, but there you are. You see, society wants a neat Jesus. Those in addiction want a neat Jesus. A Jesus that pours out forgiveness and grace like someone riding on a Mardi Gras float throws out baubles and beads to the crowd. "Clean the slate of our sin, but please don't ask us to change!" is the cry of the world. How deluded are we, when we look at Jesus in this way. 

The "Mardi Gras" Jesus saves our filthy souls, but turns a blind eye to our sexual indiscretions. He cuts us slack when we choose to take all the benefits of a marriage relationship without the commitment of a life together under His watchful eye. Then when the relationship goes South, we cry out that we are being punished, or that God doesn't love us. No, we have chosen to reject the real cross, the real Jesus to feed our own selfish lust. Then we raise the banner of "That's Not Fair!" when we are confronted with the truth of what a real life in Christ looks like. I don't think I would go there with that one. If we want fair in this life, then we must remember who it is we are talking to when we stated that life hasn't been fair to us. If we want fair, then God should never have had to send Jesus to die for me. If we want fair, then we deserve to be in hell for eternity. Now that's fair!

Truth be known, when we come to the cross the greatest thing that is crushed is our will. The part of me that wants what I want, when I want it. Hanging on to self will is not optional when one comes to Christ for salvation and a new life. Step # 3 of the Twelve Steps states plainly that we "Make a decision to turn Will and life over the care of God as we understood Him." Such is the only way one escapes sin/addiction. The laying down of my will to embrace His will. This is where we find life. The old will...the old sinful nature that we drag around will (HEAR ME ON THIS) always look for the easier, softer way. Such is not the way of Christ. Such will not be a part of the cross. I'm not advocating a Jesus who lives to beat us up at ever turn. I'm not pushing a life that is always fraught with trouble and strife. What I am saying is that life happens to everyone who draws breath. There will be situations and circumstances that we will face that will bring up the thought of running back to our old ways. Back to using to cope with everything. But in Christ, we don't have to. From the cross we can draw strength to push on. From the Spirit of God who lives in each believer, we don't have to cower and fear. We can move forward every day. Now that's a promise you can bank on.

God on you....
Michael b.