Based on John 3:22-30 (New King James Version)
“After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. For John had not yet been thrown into prison. Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!’ John answered and said, ‘A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.’”
Charles Spurgeon once said: “Humility is to make a right estimate of one's self.” What are we really? Do we have something to be proud about? Are we as great and strong and powerful as we think? Are we worth so much by ourselves that we don’t need to be changed or transformed by God? I think one of the greatest problems that exists with people and with their acceptance of God is that they believe that they are more than God, and that they don’t need God because they feel their lives are better off without Him. And together with this thought, they detest the idea of losing their identity and will. Let’s go a little deeper with this issue and our previous questions.
I must warn you that today’s meditation does not have a happy beginning, humanly speaking, because it goes completely against our own pride which is the root of much evil. The reality is that we are nothing without God. Man did not create himself, nor did they have any part in the creation of the world. Charles Darwin and many others that thought of themselves or still think of themselves to be intelligent, fantasied a great deal with the idea that God does not exist and that we are a cosmic accident. But, whether they believe it was an accident or not, man had nothing to do with what happened. Man is extremely limited. We were not able to create or make anything. Power and control is only an illusion.
Now, looking at things spiritually, if we are nothing as human beings, we are even far less by ourselves without God. Man cannot do anything for themselves spiritually. No man can save themselves. Without God, we are all lost in our sins, separated from everything that is good. For it is written: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. The Word also teaches us this: “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:11-13. The only way that we have to be able to get close to God and be saved is only through Jesus. Because outside of Him, we can do and are nothing.
Through the Lord, everything can change, especially if we realize that we need Him infinitely, leaving aside all our foolish pride. The Bible teaches us that: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. Through the complete repentance and conversion from our sins, and by accepting Jesus as the Lord of our lives, we can be transformed. It’s not that we lose our identity, but rather, God through His Holy Spirit regenerates what was lost, making a new creation out of us. We are still ourselves, but through Christ, we become a new, regenerated being, completely ready so that God can work the fullness of His purpose in us. Of course, when we surrender to Him, it is only the beginning of the process. That’s why His Word also teaches us this: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2. Through time, as we continue submitting to Him, surrendering to Him, is that the transformation starts and continues until we take on the image of our Lord.
Now, coming back to today’s passage, what happened with John should also happen with us; that it is necessary for Him to increase and that we decrease. Again, it does not mean that we disappear, but rather, that Christ and His virtues need to shine more in our lives so that the marvelous purposes of God can be fulfilled. God wants to work through us, through our being. When we understand that it is God that needs to grow in us, then we will understand what needs to happen in our lives, for our own good, and for the good of those that surround us.
In summary, and what we should consider: If we are truly nothing without God, then why be afraid of ceasing to be something that does not help us in anything? And considering even more, if we can attain everything through Christ, by letting Him grow in us, then, is it not worthwhile to take on a better and more significant identity through Him? Do you understand that your own identity by itself cannot compare to gaining a new and greater identity through the Lord? Lord bless! John