Based on John 1:19-28 (New King James Version)
“Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.’ And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ And he answered, ‘No.’ Then they said to him, ‘Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?’ He said: ‘I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’’ as the prophet Isaiah said.’ Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, ‘Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’ John answered them, saying, ‘I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.’ These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.”
As shared previously, John the Baptist was a chosen person and the greatest of all the prophets, in particular, because of how important he was going to be in announcing the coming of the Lord. John really has no equal. But, despite his great importance, he always fulfilled his ministry, and more importantly, he never forgot his position. He never forgot that Christ was the center of everything, especially in that all the attention was supposed to be for the Lord, as he himself said: “He must increase, but I must decrease. He (speaking of Jesus) who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.” John 3:30-31.
You might say, “It’s obvious that he should have always pointed to the Lord in everything, as God’s elect and prophet.” But, even though it may be obvious, does everyone point to the Lord as they should? Is Christ really the center? And, does He receive glory in everything? Let’s start seeing some examples where God was not given the glory He deserved; like with Satan, or formerly known as Lucifer. Lucifer was thought to have been some sort of archangel, one with sublime beauty and power. Much before mankind’s existence, Lucifer and a third of the angels’ rebellion against God had occurred. And Lucifer, instead of giving God the glory, he wanted to be like God. He forgot that the whole purpose for his existence was to serve God and to glorify God. The Bible teaches us this: “How you are fallen from heaven, o Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’” Isaiah 14:12-14. Pride took control of him, and the most abominable being had been born: Satan.
We also see Nebuchadnezzar’s example when he forgot that the greatness and power he had was granted to him by God. The Bible says this: “At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?’ While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.’” Daniel 4:29-32.
The problem is that we can see pride against God at every moment, and in different ways. Christ is usually not the center of things. And moreover, not only is He not the center, but people look for ways on how to remove Him from everything, both the world, and unfortunately, within the church. Disgracefully, Christ is no longer the center of many congregations. Many other things are pointed to as the center. So-called “servants of God” have grown proud. Those that say that they are serving wish to be served and revered. Humanism, money, and paganism is at the center of many congregations, from the moment that Christ and His Word was removed from the center. God’s Word is used to support and substantiate demonic and sinful practices. Many people have fallen into the same decadence that Israel and Judah fell into, worshipping other gods, making altars to themselves and to riches. And this has invaded homes of so called Christians and servants of God. We are living in the worst moment the Church of Christ has ever had, and that’s why judgment is on its way and it will come upon every person, to see if either people repent and change, or so they can finally wind up lost in their madness.
Christ must be the center of everything, and no human being should receive any form of praise, because He is the only one that is worthy. He is the Creator of everything, and nothing can exist without Him, for it is written: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17. He is the Alpha (the beginning), for it is written: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:1-3. And finally, what makes Him even more worthy of all glory: “Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:6-11.
So then, is Jesus the center of everything in your life? Or, are you and other things at the center of your life? Lord bless! John