But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthian 11:3, NASB 1995)

In my five decades of adulthood, I have never witnessed a more confusing time. But I choose not to belabor the sources of this confusion. Focusing on the bad news would lead down the darkness of an endless rabbit hole. Instead, I would like us to focus on the way out of this deep morass. It has always been the only way out. It is the way of light.

The Father of Lies’ deceits are too abundant to number. But there is only one source of unmixed Truth. Simple, pure devotion to Him – to Jesus – clarifies the mirkiest of waters and dispels every lie.

How? It moves our attention from ourselves to our true and Living Hope (1 Peter 1:3); the Author and Perfector of our Faith (Hebrews 12:1-2); The true Head of the Church and Lord of the Universe (Col. 1:15-23).

In a further application in his letter to Colossae, Paul writes:
Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. (Col. 3:1-4, NASB)

I have been to the Center, and it is not us. The Center is Christ alone.

In the words of 12-step programs, focusing on Jesus as Center removes from us “the burden of self.” The Holy Spirit fills the void, transforming us into Christ’s likeness, exchanging our death with the Living Christ, “our life.”

Knowing the difference
Paul’s formula includes a call to seek “the things above” – Kingdom things – and avoid the world’s affairs. But how can we tell discern between worldly and heavenly things?

First, setting our minds on things above leads to actively loving God and others, not dwelling on abstractions. Secondly, it leads us into “being about our Father’s business,” as the boy Jesus said to his parents. Read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 for a clear application of how this works. Ask God for the grace and love to apply its truths.

Us vs. Him
The Christianity many churches are selling today sounds nothing like this. It’s about us, not about simple, pure devotion to Christ. I say this not to evoke guilt, but because it is the greatest barrier to freedom and contentment.

A Poem: All About Us

All About Us
Have you heard
All about us?
We are everywhere us
Talking about us
Reading about us
See there!
That was us
On the Television
(I could swear that was
Just us on the television)
Everywhere us
Talking about us
Reading about us
Sleeping with us
Plotting with us
Working and breaking up
With us.

Have you heard
All about us in the streets
The check stands and restrooms?
We walk these places alone
But we always have us
To think about.

Has the Earth heard
All about us?

Oh yes
But long ago shut its ears
Dug in for the
Long journey
Living somewhere
Under a pile of stones.
Once a year
The Earth comes out
Of its hole
Looks nervously
To see if we're gone
Then disappears

In our shadow

Six more years of us.

Have you heard
All about us?

I have.
In the Great
Meeting Hall I heard
All about us
Every story about us
Story after story
All about us.
And I waited
To hear about
Someone else
Because I've already
Heard all about us
And frankly
I'm bored with us
Because we can't
Get past us
To any real news
Can't hear or see
All that's waiting
Just outside
Of us.

In his letters, Paul centralizes Christ’s cross (ex. 1 Co. 2:2). He then follows with the ongoing, active relationship between Jesus and His Church, which leads to our maturation as His followers. Without this daily submission to His Lordship, we become transactional Christians. We accept Christ’s blood as atonement for our sins but fail to move into the fulness of simple, pure devotion. And it’s this devotion that gives life true meaning, that frees us.

You don’t buy your first home and then never move in. Christ intends to dwell with us, to take up residence within us. But what does he find when He arrives?

How to move forward
I understand your reluctance. When I gave my life to Jesus, He took the deal far more seriously than I did. He intended to tear down all my false, worldly constructs and replace them with His reality. The nerve! But what was my alternative? The madness of the world and its countless fictitious centers? No, there is only One True Living and Holy object upon Whom you should set your mind and heart. He is pure love and grace. He is Lord.

So, ignore the devil and all his abstractions and distractions. Fix your mind where your soul will find true contentment.

If you will allow Him, Christ Jesus will be closer, more immediate and intimate, and a greater comfort than any mere human can ever be. I speak from experience. I have been in places of pain and loneliness where no friend could reach. But Jesus has.

You don’t need a theological degree or even a great knowledge of the Bible to understand this. If you remember one thing in your journey with Jesus, remember: Take your eyes off yourself and place them on Christ. It is then that the fog of this world’s confusion will burn away and you will see clearly where to take your next step.