Have you ever stopped to listen in on conversations kids have with each other? They might be eating a picnic lunch together and start talking about the different foods that other kids are allergic to. But it usually continues on to talking about what they themselves are allergic to. Ever notice that?
It’s similar to a Christian saying that they’re a sinner saved by grace. Sounds about right, but not quite. Why would anyone want to define themselves as that which Jesus died to redeem them from? If you’ve accepted Jesus as your Savior, you’re saved. You’ve been made new. You’re a new creation and sealed with the Holy Spirit. You’re forgiven, redeemed, set free… take your pick! But sinner is no longer part of your identity.
Do I still mess up? Unfortunately, I do, but that’s not who I am. I’m not defined by my actions; I’m defined by His. That’s supposed to be the reality I live in… but I still struggle.
Some of you might know that I have issues with getting stung by bees and wasps, but not to the point that I tote around an epi pen. And it’s not something that I wear as a badge of honor. As I listened in on the kids, though, it started to sound like a competition – who has the most allergies and who has the worst reactions. I could almost picture them start to compare who had committed the worst sin. This happened a few weeks ago and something clicked into place. When the conversation paused, I asked them, Why are you guys competing to see which one of you is the weakest?
They weren’t quite sure what to make of that question, but as I continued with a bit more of an explanation, I felt something in my spirit stir. At what point did health issues become something to be jealous of? At what point did we start embracing a diagnosis over the truth of God’s Word?
I have several posts I’ve written about the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21), and it’s something I talk about with my kids on a regular basis, but as I was eavesdropping on the allergy conversation, it was as though a completely different angle came into view.
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:1-5 NLT
This is truly a favorite passage that shows who Jesus is. He is God. Period. Everything created through Him and every sin forgiven through Him… and nothing can defeat Him. I start with this passage because we have to understand Jesus’ identity in order to understand our own.
When my kids were talking allergies over lunch, they were identifying themselves by what they claim to be allergic to. They were identifying themselves with a weakness instead of Jesus’ wholeness. They were identifying themselves with being fallen instead of the reality that they’ve been redeemed.
Before anyone comes at me with what they might call a reality check, I’m fully aware that there is sickness in this world. I’m fully aware that believers and unbelievers alike pass away from horrible sicknesses and diseases. I’ve lost loved ones and have felt that pain. You will never read something I’ve written or hear me say that sickness and disease aren’t real.
But our reality isn’t found in them – our reality is supposed to be found in Jesus.
Jesus, who created everything, gave life to all that He created, and rescued us from the curse that we fell into – He is our reality! We aren’t supposed to be identified by the darkness of this world, but by Jesus’ characteristics. And scripture tells us that as He is, so are we in this world (I John 4:17).
Is Jesus plagued by allergies? No. What about sickness or disease? Nope! Is He worrying about how to provide something for us that we need? Not at all. Is He waiting for us to get everything right before He extends grace? He’d be waiting for eternity.
Jesus – who He is, in us and with us – is supposed to be our reality.
I’m not writing this to wag a finger at anyone. I take medication to help combat a health issue that cropped up a few years ago. Sadly, I’m not yet fully walking in the reality of Jesus in me. But it’s time we recognize (myself included) that our healing isn’t something we’re praying God will someday be willing to provide, but it was something that Jesus already fully provided us on the cross.
Jesus found it important to spell out that He is in the Father, we are in Him (Jesus), and He is in us (John 14:15-20). Our access to God is the same access that Jesus has. The supply that God has for Jesus is the same supply available to us. This is the reality that’s available, and we need to stop embracing the lie that the world offers.
It’s impossible to walk in this victory if we’re measuring Jesus’ finished work by our unfinished – and very faulty – performance. Jesus already provided everything for us and proved His love for us – why would we ever doubt that He desires good for us?
I read the other day that the object of our faith has never been the strength of our faith. The object of our faith is the perfection of Christ’s finished work. It’s not us. It’s Jesus. It’s Jesus dwelling in us at all times no matter the day, hour, what we’re doing, what we’re looking at, or what we’re thinking.
No sickness or disease changes the reality that Jesus is living on the inside of those who have placed their trust in Him. And the reality is that there’s no darkness that can beat Him.
That’s the reality I want to live in. Not a reality based on what mere physical senses can detect, but the reality that Jesus died on the cross to give us.
It’s time that we (definitely including myself in this) put a priority on renewing our mind to recognize the reality of Jesus in us. Imagine how differently we might talk over a picnic lunch.