HOW TO GO FROM LOUSY TO GREAT – in a thousand little steps.

 

HOW TO GO FROM LOUSY TO GREAT – in a thousand little steps.

YOU GOTTA’  BE LOUSY BEFORE YOU CAN BECOME EVEN BAD – AND BAD BEFORE BECOMING FAIR – AND FAIR BEFORE BECOMING GOOD – AND GOOD BEFORE YOU CAN BECOME GREAT.

I hear people, who are preparing to start a new venture or a career, talk about the potential, and how they hope to become really good at what they will do. They might even privately hold dreams of grandeur, wealth and fame. You can talk and dream all you want because talk is cheap, and it costs you very little – except maybe a little embarrassment later. But you had better realize the steps to greatness before you begin, and count the cost (see Luke 14:28)..

 

A neophyte might see everything as a maze, an obstacle, a puzzle. And when developing a lifestyle, a worldview, or a method of living their life, they likely will have to decide how far they are willing to go to solve their puzzle of life and how much of a commitment they are willing to make. They are often considered ‘lousy’ at what they do. But if they stick with it long enough, they might even become a rookie. The cost is low, here.

A rookie might see everything as an exciting challenge, an opportunity filled with promise. They will likely have decided the hard work is worth it and have made a full commitment to succeed and have a do-or-die attitude. They are often considered ‘bad’ at what they do. But if they stick with it long enough, they might even become a pro. The cost is modest, here.

A professional might see everything as a work of art or a scientific achievement. They likely don’t see hard work as a chore, but as a pleasure – as no work at all. They are busy refining their craft into a calling. Their calling is now who and what they have become. Their life goals are now about discovery and exceeding limits. They are often considered ‘good’ at what they do. But if they stick with it long enough, they might even become a legend. The cost is high, here.

A legend has exceeded the realms of the normal. They have become great at what they do. Sometimes they are seen as ‘unreal’, no longer of this world. Speculations and stories are circulated that mystify and create even greater and more mysterious legendary tales about them and their accomplishments. You have paid the price, here.

A similar thing can be said about becoming a Christian, except a wonderful and amazing thing happens for those who choose to follow Jesus: They are fully equipped from day one! Then the work begins as they begin to learn how to follow Jesus.

 

A new Christian convert could be compared to the neophyte. However, unlike the neophyte, they will definitely see everything as a maze, an obstacle, and a puzzle. As they are developing this new Christian and spiritual lifestyle, worldview, and method of living, they absolutely will have to decide how far they are willing to go to solve this puzzle of a spiritual life and how much of a commitment they are willing to make BEFORE they start. They are often considered ‘lousy’ at figuring out what to do and how to do it. The cost is extremely high, even from the start. (The convert must completely surrender themselves to God and His cause. They must forsake their former identity and, as the Bible says it, ‘die to self’ and become a new creation being conformed to the image and with the mind of Christ.)

A rookie Christian might see everything as an exciting challenge, an opportunity filled with promise. They will likely have decided the hard work is worth it and have made a full commitment to succeed and literally develop a do-or-die attitude. They are often considered ‘bad’ at what they do. But if they stick with it long enough, they might even become a servant. The cost is extremely high here.

A professional Christian, as we see in the postmodern church, will most likely have drifted off the path of a disciple of Jesus. They see everything as a work of art, an efficient business model or a spiritual achievement. They likely don’t see hard work as a chore, but as a pleasure – as no work at all. Furthermore, they are busy refining their calling into a craft. Their craft is now who and what they have become. Their life goals are now about discovery and exceeding limits. They are often considered ‘good’ at what they do. And if they stick with it long enough, they might even become a legend. The cost is extremely high, and is never worth it.

There are no legendary Christians, except those who are created only in the minds of cheap professional Christians.  They will have escaped the calling of Christ for servanthood. They have become great only by the standards of the natural and sensual, base desires of humanism. Sometimes they are seen as ‘unreal’, no longer of this world, but it is an illusion. Speculations and stories are circulated that mystify and create even greater and more mysterious legendary tales about them and their accomplishments, but they are fabricated and misleading. They have paid the price of falling away into apostasy, here.

UPSIDE DOWN – INSIDE OUT

The Word of God, according to scriptures, is the very ‘Breath of God’. It is and always has been counter-cultural and considered by most as counter-intuitive and enigmatic.

So, it should come as no surprise, when comparing a natural or humanistic view of the matters of life with a Biblical view of those same matters, they are at least converse to one another if not completely at odds.

Consider what has been said about in this article to this point from the view of Matthew 23:6-12, (from the New Living Translation version of the Bible):

How they (the professional Christians, the so-called legendary Christians) love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the reserved pews in the synagogue! How they enjoy the deference paid them on the streets and to be called ‘Rabbi’ and ‘Master’.  Don’t ever let anyone call you that. For only God is your Rabbi and all of you are on the same level, as brothers. And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven should be addressed like that. And don’t be called ‘Master,’ for only one is your master, even the Messiah.

The more lowly your service to others, the greater you are. To be the greatest, be a servant. But those who think themselves great shall be disappointed and humbled; and those who humble themselves shall be exalted.

(Please see Matthew 23:6-12. Please note: I have added, for definition and descriptiveness, the words contained in parentheses in the preceding two paragraphs.)

AND THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST – AND THE LAST, FIRST

I pray that you, the reader, will consider that this article is not just random thoughts and ideas I am expressing, but it is a reminder that Christianity and the Kingdom of God are not of this natural world. Everything that is seen comes from what is unseen (see Hebrews 11:3). And that His Thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His Ways are greater than our ways (see Isaiah 55:9), and that He alone is the way to life. (see John 14:6).

So that we must purify ourselves of the things of this world, have the mind is us which is in Christ Jesus, and take on the form of a bond-servant of Christ and walk by faith and not by our natural sight.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young