There is a child’s toy that seems to defy gravity. The toy is shaped like a bird and anyone can balance it with just a finger under its beak. It looks like it shouldn’t work or be so easy. But once the beak is perched on your finger it seems to float along wherever the hand moves. The trick, of course, is in the construction of the toy. The weighted wings are set low and swept forward creating a lowered center of gravity which makes it child’s play to balance. Many folks struggle along in life feeling like they are on a high wire, precariously balanced on a thin cable while buffeted by the winds of circumstance. Unlike the child’s toy they struggle to maintain their balance. The difference is one of centeredness.
Now, the world talks a lot about centeredness. Oriental and Eastern ways of meditation and exercise often focus on balance and finding your center. Modern culture is steeped in the rights of the individual to be or do anything they want. Both of these seek a centeredness of self which elevates the person. Any offense, any wrong word or thought, is seen as an assault on their personhood and their right to a balanced life. This is nothing new of course, choosing the path of self goes all the back to the dawn of humanity. Adam and Eve choose self over God because the fruit would satisfy their hunger, was pleasing to their eyes, and was desirable in its effect (Genesis 3:6, 1 John 2:16). They quickly learned how difficult it is to balance on the high wire of life while relying on self.
And then Jesus came along. The only person in human history that could have properly balanced life within Himself. But guess what, Jesus was not centered or balanced on self. Jesus said, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” (John 6:38, NASB95) And, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19, NASB95) You see, Jesus, God the Son, Creator of heaven and earth, the good shepherd, the name above all names, was not centered or balanced on Himself but on His Father. Priority number one for Jesus was not who He was, how He looked, or what He did, but on following, obeying, and pleasing God the Father. Saving humanity was not Jesus’ first priority, but it was His mission from the Father. Yes, Jesus loves us, but He loves the Father above all.
The difference between a child’s toy and struggling to balance on a high wire is all about the center. When we seek self-centeredness we can be easily toppled over. When we strive to center our lives, our loves, our choices, our attitudes, our time, our words, our desires, our will, and our focus on Jesus we are no longer swaying on a high wire but standing on the solid rock. People will still say hurtful things, circumstances of life will still blow our way, waves of struggles and challenges will still crash against us, but none of those will knock us down. Not because we’re so great, so smart, or so wise but because our center of gravity is Jesus and not ourselves.
We each choose whether to strive to be centered on self or be centered on Jesus. Sure, some will try to have it both ways, attempting to somehow balance the desires of self with the knowledge of Jesus. But in the end, it just doesn’t work. Jesus doesn’t want to be just another thing we add to our lives to make things pleasing or meaningful. He wants to be our life, to be our all in all, to be like the very air we breathe – that we couldn’t live without Him. But, the choice is up to you.
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