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Whole and Secure and Strong
He was third in line, patiently waiting to speak with a Financial Aid representative at the college. I had been called to the front desk to help with Spring Quarter registration and had a line of my own. As I waited for the student in front of me to finish completing her registration form, I happened to look up and saw him. And for one second, my heart stopped.
He was in his mid to late twenties. Average height. Light olive skin. His long dark brown hair rested on his shoulders, and he had a beard and moustache. I had never seen anyone who so closely resembled the picture of Christ we see these days. He turned to look at me, and in that second it became incredibly real to me that Christ I had actually walked on this earth as a young man; that there were people who had been able to look into the human eyes of God.
"Is there still room in this class?" Her question brought me back to the task at hand, and 1 lost sight of the young man. But his image stayed with me. I suddenly understood better how a young, poor, uneducated man would have looked to the Scribes and Pharisees of His time. I work around some people who are very proud of their learning. It is not hard to image how they would react to someone like that young man if he were to outteach them, without any schooling and with being duly impressed by their titles. Human pride is a powerful, blinding force.
But what a presence Christ must have had for those who didn't have their own accomplishments or pedigree blocking their spiritual eyesight!
Christ was perfect. He was whole. He lacked nothing. He had good health and a sound, keen mind. He was not scarred by past experiences. He was not divided by different interests, different pursuits. His entire life burned with one purpose-to glorify His Father in heaven by carrying out His will.
Christ was secure. He was free from anxiety or doubt. He rested fully in His Father's love. He never worried about finances or making an impression or failing at a venture. He feared nothing and no one. He was stable, certain, confident. He knew who He was and what His life was about.
Christ was strong. He had no weaknesses. He was spiritually, mentally, and physically strong. What a privilege it was for the people of His time-especially the disciples-to be able to sit at His feet and just listen, to watch how He treated people, how He reacted to different situations. I found myself wishing I had been among their number. And then a quiet invitation came into mind, "Abide in me."
We have something even better! Christ made it possible for us to have a living connection whereby He can personally guide us and grant wisdom as needed. Oh to really understand that! To do everything possible to maintain that connection, to make it stronger, to get rid of everything and anything that would stand in its way.
"Abide in me" ... I want to, Lord. Teach me how.
-Maria Lund
-Maria Lund