For those of you who don't know, in just over a week I will be walking across the stage at Lee University to receive my Bachelor's Degree. I will receive a piece of paper that says I have arrived, and that I am somebody! At least, such is the mindset behind this world. Don't get me wrong, I am not underscoring the value of an education. The more you can get of it, the better. What I'm looking to address however is the mindset that dominates our culture, the mindset that we are defined by what we have. Our world attempts to define people by what they have accomplished- books of world records have been dedicated to such a thing. Our world attempts to define people by what they wear- you better be wearing the latest Nike Air-Jordan's. Our world attempts to define people by what they look like- the fashion industry depends upon this. Our world attempts to define people by any number of ways: by how much money you make; what sex you are; the color of your skin; what side of the tracks you live on, etc. And in some sense, the world is right... you are defined by what you have! However, I am not talking about college degrees, income, housing, or any such thing. What I am talking about is Jesus Christ. As Christians, we should not care about the judgments this world places upon us concerning the external things of our life. Likewise, we must be extremely careful not to judge others by such standards either. The only thing we should seek to understand about anybody is where they are in Christ. Thus, the apostle Paul says, "from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh" (2 Corinthians 5:16). Let us not think of anybody anymore as being rich or poor, thin or fat, short or tall, black or white, let us instead see others as they are in Christ. If they are Christians, let us see them as our brother or sister in Christ. If they are not Christians, let us see other people as what they COULD be if they were in Christ. Just think what would happen if we embraced this heavenly mindset. No longer would we look down towards somebody if they are poor, and if we are the poor, we will no longer look at somebody who is rich in disgust because we are jealous of the money they have. No longer would we look at somebody as being a little toothpick, or a "big boy." No longer would we see short or tall people and think of jokes that take shots at their vertical stature. No longer would we be prejudiced towards a person of another skin color. No longer would we feel discomfort around people with more money than us, or being taller than us, or being thinner than us, or being another color. No longer would we strive to "be somebody," other than who we can be in Jesus Christ. This world's mindset is constantly seeking to "become somebody" and one day "arrive." But because the world's standards of judgment are constantly changing, it is futile to try and arrive, because by the time you become somebody, you'll find out the world is telling you to become somebody else. Therefore, let us rather seek to rest in what we are in Jesus Christ. Therefore, let us not get upset at others who don't live up to various standards we have setup, rather, let us take the opprotunity in such a time when we see others fall short to become what they could in Christ.
