There is but one answer to every problem, hurt, disease, or circumstance: only Jesus. He is either everything to you or He is nothing. Only Jesus can heal a broken heart or mend a wounded soul. Only Jesus can soothe the ache constantly gnawing inside. Despite this, few live as if it was only Jesus that mattered. He’s convenient or handy at times, but as far as our day to day lives are concerned, He tends to rather be just one more thing we’ve bolted on to our incredibly harried existence.
I like how Frank Viola put it in his latest book, “Insurgence”. Frank writes, “Looking back, I discovered that Jesus was really just a supplement to my already busy life. Christ wasn’t the reason why I breathed. I was living for other things, even good things… but they weren’t my Lord Jesus.”
Can you say Jesus is the very reason you breathe? Is He the reason you get out of bed each day and the “why” behind everything you do? Imagine a life lived as Jesus being the only reason. Only Jesus. I’ll bet it would look a lot different from the life we lead today. When I take the time to step back and examine everything going on in my life, I am disgusted by all that is not Jesus and how little actually is. My guess is this is why most people never take the time to sit quietly and reflect on their lives. Too many of us wouldn’t like what we see.
I want Jesus to be the reason I breathe. Nothing else matters, only Jesus. We know this intellectually, but something gets lost in our implementation of it. I dare you to examine your last 24 hours. How much time did you spend doing something Kingdom building and how much was spent building your own little fiefdom? How much time was spent on mindless entertainment or inane addictions? Jesus gave His life, so you could live yours. He spared nothing on your behalf. He gave away His Godhood, His manhood, His authority, and then His very life. He was spit upon, beaten, had the flesh torn from His body and then hung as a naked spectacle for passersby to watch as He slowly suffocated. He did this for you and me. What are we doing for Him?
Only Jesus could pay such a price and still manage to come out the victor. Only Jesus would be willing. What is it you are living for that is more worthy, more valid, or more deserving than Christ? When will we wake up and despair at the shallowness of our lives? How much longer will we tolerate the sickening betrayal and disobedience we flaunt each day? God helps us. We are indeed a wicked, stubborn, and ungrateful people. Through the power of the One who lives within us, we can change. We can live as though Jesus is the only reason we breathe. Only Jesus. God forgive us and change us today.