I recently watched a video clip of a crazy dog chasing its tail.
On and on he went in wild circles, faster and faster, yet never getting any closer to his crazy goal. Eventually he collapsed in a heap, totally exhausted and defeated. He lay panting, mouth agape, struggling to catch his breath. And would you believe it, just a few seconds later he was up and at it again. What futility!
Yet isnt that exactly how we sometimes feel, as we endeavour to become better Christians?
Striving to obtain the unachievable; and the harder we try the more dejected we become, because it seems we are never able to live up to the high expectations that we feel we need to be achieving. We seem to think that if we just try harder we will become more Christ-like. If you are feeling down because you never seem able to live up to this high expectation, dont be discouraged. It doesnt mean you are some sort of lesser Christian. It simply means your focus is on the wrong place and person.
Do you think that you are able to have the love and compassion that Jesus had, the patience as he dealt with those out to kill him, the unfailing love towards those who deserted him; the ability to reach out to a fallen humanity and weep tears for them; to proclaim words of encouragement to those who were totally lost in their sin and to touch eyes and restore sight, speak to the lame and watch them pick up their beds and walk.
Imitation starts from within
Im sure at some time you have heard someone say that we should imitate Christ? It sounds like a good idea doesnt it? Except it puts all the emphasis on what we need to do, and leaves him out of the equation. By trying to imitate Christ, we are selling ourselves short. Christ should never be some sort of veneer that is used to cover up our shortcomings. When be become Christ-like it should start from within, where he takes up residence, and permeates through every aspect of our lives.
If this cheap imitation is what you are striving for, coating your life with some sort of veneer of Christ-likeness, then your Christian walk is doomed to be one of frustration.
The problem would arise from you looking at the fruits of his life, instead of the root.
Even Christ himself admitted that he was unable to do any of what he accomplished through his own strength and power! In John 5:19 Jesus gave them this answer: Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; John 5:30 By myself I can do nothing
How then did Jesus come to live the only perfect, sinless life? In John 14:10 he explains to his disciples that it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. God the Father, living through the Son, was the root of his perfect life.
For you to escape the endless pursuit of your Christian tail, you need to let Jesus become for you, what the Father was to him. And we see from scripture, that when we do this, that its not just Jesus who takes up residence in your life, but the fullness of the Triune Community. (John 14:20)
Which tree will you choose?
It is really about which tree you want to be rooted in, and which fruit you choose to partake of.
In the midst of the beautiful garden of our lives, stand two trees. One, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, is the tree that too many Christians today still choose to eat from. The fruit looks good to eat, but it never satisfies, because of ourselves we are never able to turn this head knowledge into action! Too many are deceived into thinking that somehow they are able to convert this into action, and do what is right. And just like the original couple, they overlook the Tree of Life, Jesus the Christ, the only source of our righteousness and a truly happy and fulfilled life.
In John 15:1-4, Christ describes himself as the true vine. He then talks about pruning and cutting off branches that bears no fruit. Many think that the command here is to bear fruit?
NO!
The only command that Christ gives is found in verse 4, and that is to remain in me:
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (emphasis mine)
So, you might ask, what do I need to do about it? Just give up, stop trying?
I would encourage you to get to know Jesus as your Rest. for anyone who enters Gods rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest… (Hebrews 4:10-11, emphasis mine).
God is a relational God. Its not your works that he wants, its YOU! He wants you to be rooted in his life, and for you to make room for him in yours. Spend time in prayer, study and meditation, getting to know your saviour and God better.
Eat deeply from the Tree of Life, allowing the Lords nourishment to fill your life completely, then watch as the fruit that you have tried in vain for so long to produce, springs forth in natural abundance!