The world is a mess. It all seems so complicated, but there are two underlying problems that drive the whole thing. Here’s the human dilemma.
First problem: Wrongs happen. Call it sin, criminal negligence, stupidity, or abused becomes abuser. Stuff happens and it warps lives.
The victim becomes mired in shame, condemnation, depression, anger, and loss. It can pollute their relationships for the rest of their lives. We ourselves are victims.
The perpetrator gets caught in self-loathing, hopelessness, or mental and emotional disconnection. It can pollute their relationships for the rest of their lives. We ourselves are perpetrators.
We try to get free. We deny, minimize, repress, deflect, rationalize, or pay the perpetual penance of regret. We may try to absolve ourselves without payment of the debt or compensation to the victims. Or try to pay for our wrongs on the installment plan for the rest of our lives. But our “blood money” payments are never enough. And every attempt to muddle through just sabotages us yet the more.
Second problem: We are born as the child of our circumstances. Whether maltreated and scorned, or adored and indulged, we get warped and twisted. We are fed false information, distortion, or outright lies to build our identity and sense of reality. Our hopes and dreams get trampled or compromised. We go crazy with pain.
The vast potential of each individual goes untapped. Win gold medals, do something heroic, be smartest or funniest; be the most popular or beautiful or have the most toys. Yet the stupendous potential of our minds and hearts remains out of reach.
It’s evident we can’t solve the human dilemma by trying harder. We need help. Our minds and hearts, our relationships and our planet – all are being ruined by lack of the big solution. Whether we admit it or not, we desperately need help.
Both problems must be solved. First, the massive debt of sins-wrongs-stupidity must be paid in full to release us. And secondly, the glorious potential of our minds and hearts must be unlocked. But, how?
Love must pay the debt. Above and beyond us, perfect love would have to shoulder our wrongs and lift this crushing weight of guilt and blame off us. And it must be done in a way that can repay the damage, all of it.
Love must recreate us to unlock our potential. Every identity is formed by a belief system which shapes the sense of reality, “which way is up” and how do I fit in. Under our life’s circumstances, it was garbage in, garbage out. This old self must cease. Whether we were self-absorbed, self-hating, busy rationalizing, merely surviving, megalomaniac tyrant, or powerless victim mentality – whatever our counterfeit identity, it must cease. Good thing, we were sick to death of it.
There is no other way; either we let love solve these two essential problems – or else live and die defeated.
There exists above and beyond us, infinite beauty of thought that manifests wisdom in action; this goodness brought the universe into existence.
When we connect in trust with this truth-wisdom-beauty, we are changed intrinsically. It is the next level of creation; a new type of pure being. This authentic metamorphosis would transform our identity.
This is logical, but it’s too abstract to absorb. So love incarnate arrived, flashed the inheritance of ultimate power-authority-healing. He stated the game-plan, paid the stupendous debt, invited us to follow his pathway, then went back home to await our awakening. We want the goodies and love wants to give them to us.
Yeah, there are people around you who don’t follow his tough pathway of forgiveness and having a heart of restoration towards others. They don’t trust enough to let go of their old ways. So, they play games of power and domination, of crushing guilt and penance, rejection and favoritism. They try to make themselves pseudo-positive-thinking-self-made-saints.
But what is that to you? Don’t worry about them – you just concentrate on following Jesus. The love of God reaches out to you with open arms and his mercy flows continuously to the merciful.
Your potential in Christ exists awaiting that connection. When you link into ultimate mercy and truth, allowing God to restructure your mind and heart, your identity and sense of reality – then all things will become possible. The new you, fresh and new will emerge, learning to think in harmony with ultimate wisdom and love. Astonishing joy awaits…
We invite you to join us in fellowship and exciting studies that can awaken your mind and free you from your struggles. Come experience the delight of Christ’s effective way for us to overcome our difficulties. It’s fun to live free!