Being Stripped of All but Christ

Once you’ve seen certain things, you can never go back. When the innocence of a child is stripped away by experiencing true pain from a loved one, there is a shift – a loss. Even as adults, when our illusions are stripped away, there is a shift. It can result in entrenched denial and deeper commitment to the illusion or it can result in a freedom to pursue true life. What I’m realizing is that the freedom is not so easy. As in any loss, there seems to be stages – anger, denial, bargaining, depression, acceptance. (see Kubler-Ross’ stages of grief)

The loss of self – the destruction of believing that life can be found anywhere but Christ – is harsh. What I’ve seen is that so much of what I’ve called “pursuing Christ” has really been pursuing the “things” of Christ – a certain lifestyle, orthodox beliefs, and godly commitments. Really, all of these wonderful things are the fruit of relationship with Christ (maybe) but they are not the relationship. God is so graciously stripping me of my “pursuit of the fruit” and calling me to just walk with Him.

~ by akalt on February 10, 2009.