Jesus Alone

This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup filled to the brim with my anger, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it. [Jeremiah 25.15] 

The one thing, all through the Bible, that displeased God was idolatry. And, it was everywhere.

The one thing, all through the Bible, that pleased, and still pleases, God was, and is, faith in Him alone.

“You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.3]

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. [Mark 11.22] 

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. [Hebrews 11.6] 

Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.” [Revelation 19.10]

There is a financial practice today known as diversification. Wikipedia says that diversification, in the financial setting, "is the process of allocating capital in a way that reduces the exposure to any one particular asset or risk."

If we look at man's relationship to God compared to the financial understanding of diversification, we see that God is not in favor of diversification when it comes to where our faith is 'invested.' He is not in favor of it at all. In fact, the overwhelming source of God's displeasure and anger recorded in the Bible is man's diversification of his faith (not trusting in God alone).

God's displeasure and anger manifest in curses. Curses manifest in a variety of ways and forms. Deuteronomy 28.15-68 gives a broad-spectrum definition of curses in their diverse manifestations. Curses might be summed up in a general powerlessness to rise above obstacles or resist adversities. Curses are "bad" (i.e. not "good") and include physical, financial, emotional, familial and spiritual loss and suffering. Curses are indeed everything "not good."

But then, there's Jesus!

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” [Galatians 3.13]

Okay! So, we now have Jesus and all that Old Testament stuff is behind us, right? Not so fast! We must define, "we now have Jesus."

Shouldn't "God's people" be highly concerned that although "we now have Jesus," we are still overwhelmingly plagued with curses just like everyone else in the world? Could it be that, even though we claim "we now have Jesus," that perhaps Jesus doesn't have us? Jesus did say:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24, Mark 8.34, Luke 9.23]

To 'give up our own way' is to take up Jesus' way only. Besides the verses above, Jesus made other statements to indicate what 'Jesus having us' would look like:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28.18-20] 

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” [Mark 16.15-18] 

It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ [Luke 24.47]

Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20.21-23] 

While "believing in Jesus Christ alone" is the key to salvation, "doing what Jesus said" shows that the door has been opened. I wonder how we are doing with that?

It's time we stop "wondering" and just 'wake up and smell the coffee!' We are doing a terrible job of allowing Jesus to manifest through us! Oh, we have church and music and programs and praise and preaching and teaching and... But where is Jesus? Where are the manifestations of Jesus that He Himself lived out and described above that we would live out likewise? Not there!

We claim to have Jesus, but Jesus undeniably does not have us. Claiming to have Jesus with our mouth while holding on to (trusting) the ways (idols) of man is not giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. For us to claim "Christ has redeemed us from the curse..." while our lives are clearly not manifesting Jesus to the world is a blatant misuse of the Name of Jesus (see Exodus 20.7). It is, in classic form, idolatry, and renders us powerless both corporately (as the Church) and individually.

All the bad stuff we seem so powerless to overcome is indeed God's displeasure with our diversified faith (faith in Jesus, yes, but faith in other things also to reduce our exposure to any one particular asset or risk). Yeah, that makes God angry.

Call this modern-day prophecy if you will, but it is indeed a clear witness for Jesus - Jesus alone and wholeheartedly.

Father, forgive me for my diversification of faith. Help me break free from the bondages of idolatry I have submitted myself to. May I be found a true disciple of Jesus alone. So be it.