RICH DUBOSE

By Rich DuBose

Did Jesus gamble? When you consider one of the meanings of the word “gamble,” He most certainly did. 

Gamble: “To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit.” —The American-Heritage Dictionary

Jesus risked it all to put us on the map! Paul refers to the church as the body of the risen Christ. Think of the risk Jesus took by allowing mortal humans to represent him in the flesh! How much of what is touted as Christian today is representative of him? Unfortunately, much of it is actually a misrepresentation of Christ?

People with a superficial knowledge of Christ have a misconception of his character and his kingdom. In their view, “it ain’t that deep.” These are the ones who are most tempted to view faith as a commodity or tool of convenience. Those on the “tear-the-wall-down-between-church-and-state” bandwagon are using their religion as a tool of convenience. They want to use religion to shape the world, instead of allowing Christ to shape them. What they miss seeing (because they are concealed) is the “mystery of heaven’s treasures.”

In Colossians 2:2-3, Paul refers to Christ as the Anointed One Himself— “in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are concealed.” If we only pay attention to what is obvious to our carnal natures, we miss finding the “treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Such knowledge teaches us three things (there are undoubtedly more than three, but these three stand out in my mind).

1. Don’t allow pop-religion to fool you with its imitation of Christ. A surface knowledge of Christ gives people worldly wisdom—a kind of knowledge that resonates with their carnal instincts. We have to literally swim against the flow of present day Christianity to be able to get to the good stuff that Christ hides from casual seekers.
    
2. Cultural Christians focus on getting everyone to be like them. This is why evangelical-political alliances try to legislate morality. True conversion results in personal transformation, as opposed to societal conformity. When Jesus reigns within, we are no longer obsessed with being right or trying to get others to be right. Instead, we are focused on pursuing a deeper understanding of God’s grace and mercy!
    
3. Our understanding and definition of what is valuable dramatically changes. We are no longer enamored with things. Now life is about relationships and reflecting to others the grace that we have been shown.

Millions today are being bamboozled by religious hucksters who wade in the shallow waters of spiritual ignorance. They major in convincing unsuspecting and gullible souls into believing that their warped ideas are God inspired.

“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death” (proverbs 14:12, NLT).

In your search for meaning and truth, go deep! Ask Christ to reveal to you the hidden mysteries of wisdom and knowledge.

Rich DuBose writes from Northern California. Photograph by Cottonbro Studio, with Pixabay.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.