We Would See Jesus - Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight: Seeing Jesus as the End

Having dealt with the reality that Jesus is the Way, the natural next question is, "Where does the way lead to? What is its end?"

In summary, the authors tell us that according to John chapter 14, "He (Jesus) is both the way and the whither. In finding Him, men have not only found the Way, but the End too."

This chapter deals with a topic that I have touched on before, and that is the danger of moving away from simple devotion to Jesus. Because the sincere believer slips into this easily and unintentionally, it's worth touching on again.

The Apostle Paul was very concerned about this as it related to the Corinthian church, and he wrote the following passionate words:

"I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (II Corinthians 11:2,3)

The Hessions point out how prone we are to see Jesus as the Way to many good things, such as peace and joy and success in ministry and family, etc. While this is natural in our initial stage of walking with God, He wants us to mature into a true love relationship with Him in which HE is our Goal and End, rather than the blessings that we want.

Young Solomon is a good example of having chosen God above all else. When God offered him a "blank check" to ask for whatever he wanted, He chose wisdom, which was actually to choose God. He could have asked for riches and power, etc. God was so pleased with Solomon's choice that He gave Him not only incredible wisdom to rule, but all the things Solomon did not ask for: riches, power, success.

However, as we see in the case of Solomon, having had the desire for God above all else is no guarantee that this simple devotion will continue automatically the rest of our life in God. By nature, humans will slip backwards in our walk with God if we are not intentional about keeping focused on Him. Our default is to slip into ruts of thinking and acting that satisfy our fleshly need to do religious things and that fool us into thinking we're advancing in God (while in reality we are going in circles).

This is part of what Paul is fearful about with the Corinthians. He knew the dangers of settling into sort of a spiritual routine, lacking focus on Jesus alone. Paul felt the jealousy of the Holy Spirit over God's people and named their bentness towards other ends "spiritual adultery"; even good goals can become other loves to us, corrupting our minds through worldly and fleshly understandings of spiritual truths. In fact, for the dedicated follower of Jesus, it's the good issues related to family and ministry, etc., that are the greatest traps to lead us away from the simplicty of pure and exclusive devotion to Jesus.

The Church in Ephesus (Revelation 2) is a perfect example of shifting away from the Person of Jesus to give one's energies and time to other good things; Jesus commends them for their diligence and faithfulness but ends with a stinging corrective word which casts a shadow on all the good things that they were busy doing: "I have one thing against you; you have left your First Love, and it's so critical an issue that if you don't correct it, I will come and remove from your midst My presence and any ministry impact that you have had." (my paraphrase)

So does this mean we are never to ask the Lord Jesus for blessings in our families or our ministries, etc.? No, but what it does mean is that we are to devote our energy and time primarily to keeping true to Jesus and then pray and trust Him to spread that around to our family and those He has given us to influence for His sake. The reality is that the more I devote myself to Him alone, the more impact my words and actions in Him will have on others, and the overflow of my devoted love to Him will spill out on those I love and minister to.

So how do I stay true to Jesus in practical outworkings?

1. Do what Jesus says in Ephesians 2: repent from having allowed other things and blessings to become your goals, and return to that place of simple devotion to Jesus, telling Him that you want Him above all else.
2. Ask His Spirit to keep you true to Jesus, whatever the cost. Make this an ongoing request because He alone can keep you true to Jesus, and He loves doing this!
   
3. Settle in your heart and mind that this will be costly as it relates to investment of time in prayer and the Word and other spiritual disciplines such as fasting, etc.
4. If you need help, seek someone out to help you establish simple regular habits and who will hold you accountable long enough that you get rooted and grounded in walking in this pursuit of Jesus as your First Love, the End and Goal of your life.
5. Be fully aware that there is much grace for this; in other words, it will be a struggle and a journey and God loves being in the struggle with you. He isn't bothered by our struggle; in fact, that's what blesses His heart so much. He knows our weakness and hastens to help us, not condemn or scold us (except when there is conscious sin and disobedience).

Lord, would You bring Your light and truth and grace to bear on our hearts related to simplicity in Christ Jesus? We want to know You as the Goal and End of our life. I pray that You would lead each one of us in the unique way that You want to and that You would raise up a Bride across the earth that is consecrated and exclusively Yours with no spiritual adultery! You are worthy of such a Bride, and I thank You that You will have this when You return to rule on the earth by the power and jealousy of Your Spirit. Blessed be Your name, Lord Jesus!

Next week we will end this book with the last chapter: Seeing Jesus - For Others.