Throwing Flesh Overboard in Favor of Experiencing God

5/16/2024

“Which of these Lists is not like the other?!”

1. The Way, the Truth, and the Life, The Light of the World, The Good Shepherd, The Door, The Word, The Lamb of God, The Bread of Life, The True Vine, The Alpha and Omega, the A through Z, The Beginning through the End, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, The Son of Man, The Son of God, Immanuel, God with us, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

2. The one who will fix my problems, the one who will give me a parking spot close to the store door, the one who will give me a good kind wealthy handsome husband or wife nearly my age, and a healthy baby, preferably a boy, the one who will pay my bills, the one who will make me happy not depressed, the one who will curse my enemies, the one who will get me the promotion at work I deserve, the who will get my sickness well in time for my trip, the one who will let me travel and have vacations, the one who will make me look pretty, the one who will make me be noticed and admired and respected and included.

The entire first list is on the “Z-axis”1 “ Zoe-axis”... The Tree of Life. The place where God lives and flesh is thrown overboard in favor of experiencing God rather than “the blessings of God” as we perceive them or demand them.

The entire second list is on the XY axis, flatlands where “mere humans” live, as Paul referred to them when writing to the Corinthians. I want I need I expect. “God do your job! Serve me!” That’s where “the five virgins” with NO OIL live, and they will not enter God’s Party, his Wedding Feast. They wanted to be gods and get stuff—rather than opening their hands and trusting that whatever HE does is exactly what he wants for us, and for the world.

“And when you are converted after you are shaken like wheat, strengthen your brothers and sisters. I have prayed for you that your faith will not waiver, that you will stay focused even during any shaking, because I have plans for all that happens on the other side if you stay focused and trusting.”

And the second list feels disgusting and pathetic in Light of Who He is and All He has done for us.

It may be too good to be understood—but it’s not too good to be true.

1In this conversation, the XY-axis versus the Z-axis is being used as an illustration of the difference between eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil vs eating of the Tree of Life. XY-axis living is a “flat” natural living of good vs evil. Z-axis is a supernatural Zoe life in Jesus. Back