"Human beings are only bearable when the last defenses of their egos are down; when they stand, helpless and humbled, before the awful circumstances of their being. It is only thus that the point of the cross becomes clear, and the point of the cross is the point of life." - Malcom Muggeridge in Jesus Rediscovered
We daily, hourly, minute-by-minute need the point of the cross to become clear in our life. Let me restate that: I need a moment by moment clarity of the purpose of the cross and the person on the cross. Not just I want it or would prefer it; I need it.
Because, as Muggeridge puts it, it is "the point of life." Without the cross, life is pointless. And not just pointless in an over-arching sense, but pointless in an instantaneous second by second sense; completely pointless.
The issue that causes my gargantuan ego problems is that this requires a lifetime, a yearly, a daily and hourly, humbling so I can see life, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, clearly. And in a life like that, there is faith, hope, and love.
Amen, God help us all. This is why we should not abhor suffering, for it is the means God uses to grant us humility.
ReplyDeleteWhat Muggeridge is talking about here is precisely what is missing in so-called "Christian Counseling" today. Most Christian counselors are not pointing people to Christ in their brokenness (I should add pastors to this as well). Christ is the Answer.
Great post Jude! Thank you for sharing and God bless brother.