Nvisible

“The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.” Proverbs 15:33

This past weekend I finished school. It was a momentous occasion and Friday night I celebrated by walking my laptop computer from the breakfast table to the office. Michael and I discussed how wonderful it would be to finally have our eating area back to normal.  Then today at noon I went home and quickly carried it back to its familiar nesting place over the past 16 months. My heart was about to burst with thoughts God was speaking to me, so I opened up the laptop and began to write.

Being a big star or making a mark in history has never really been an aspiration for me, yet I do find myself struggling with desires to be recognized for my efforts in life. You know the symptoms…the work hard for a treat treadmill.

All humans struggle with the desire to be seen and heard and feel important to somebody else in the world. As Christians I believe the Lord puts within us a desire to make a difference in someone else’s life for His glory.  Yet, today’s world has created a new desire within us - the desire to be famous and known for our glory. Jake Halpern has authored a book titled, “Fame Junkies.” He talks about the dark obsession Americans have with fame. I never thought about this obsession being the reason for some of America’s time draining addictions, but it makes sense.

I don’t think that Christians are immune to this obsession with fame.  It creeps into our lives in the most subtle ways. They are quite different for us as individuals and may seem very innocent at first. People Magazine is right there accessible on the end cap at the grocery store checkout and screams at my senses as I check out; “Jon Gosselin Gets a NYC Bachelor Pad!” or “Simon Cowell Wants Paula Back on Idol!” It is the most reliable resource in Hollywood, right?  My fingers gently slide across the cover and before you know it that magazine has slid into my hands and I’m thumbing through the pages. No one is exempt from the drama of today’s celebrity gossip. We all have well developed appetites that must be fed, but at what cost.

“…for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” 2 Peter 2:19

The cost we are paying is the struggle within ourselves to achieve, be known and accepted. We crave recognition from someone in our lives to tell us we’re enough, to tell us that we have a gift that is worth something and that we can be someone important and unique. Billions of dollars are spent marketing to our cravings… which can really only be fed through humility.

You are the star of the Universe
Nothing outshines You
Yours is the Glory
You are the one true Celebrity of history.
You are everything.

I want to be invisible.
I never want to stand in your way
Give me a heart of humility
Transparency
‘Til all that I see is You.
-Jamie Harvill & Gary Sadler

I have listened to that song at least 50 times.  The first time I played it, my heart jumped.  It was one of those knowing moments within my spirit when God spoke to me and said, “Get this June. This is the answer to your struggles.” It isn’t a new concept to me, but the way it was framed. It was a God-moment.

God is the Star! Becoming invisible and letting His glory shine through us will cure the cravings. It is quite the contrary of what society teaches us, which says if we want to be successful and be known we must market ourselves and be somebody.

God’s way is the way of humility and the path of brokenness.  It’s not easy. Our flesh cries out to be noticed and yet in order to be found we must allow our lives to be lost in Christ.

“For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One)…”Philippians 3:8b

Let Jesus be the true celebrity and let nothing else stand in the way of that relationship.

Become transparent. Be Invisible.