Form or Reality? (Part 1)

This is a recurring question that has been going through my mind for several months now. I’ve been wondering if many of us have actually settled for a “form” of Jesus and not the “reality” of Him? When I read through the gospels this seems to be a concealed question Jesus had upon encountering people. Why else would He say on so many occasions, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow Me”? He knew that it was all too easy to follow a form of Him and not the reality of Him. So He painted a picture of what it meant to follow the reality of Him and then waited to see who would opt for the narrow road.

The rich young ruler, the Pharisees, even Jesus’ very own disciples were questioned as to their level of devotion to the person of Jesus Christ. Many were willing to follow a form, a concept, an idea, a principle, even a good cause, but very few actually followed the reality of the person of Jesus Christ. Those like the rich young ruler found out soon enough that form wasn’t going to cut it with Jesus, and because he wasn’t willing to deny himself, he didn’t even get on the narrow road. The Pharisees seemed not to be able to discern the difference between form and reality, and to the letter, devoted themselves to following principles and a good cause. These were the very roots Jesus was exposing in them and wanted to pull out and burn. They were blinded by their own self-righteousness and really did believe they were on the narrow road even to the very end. Jesus’ fan club began to disperse once He wasn’t willing to serve their idea of what the Messiah should do. Even those seemingly close disciples backed away once the heat of following Him started intensifying. Only a few faithful followers remained on the narrow road. 

I don’t believe we’re all that different. We have our idea or form of God that we’re willing to follow and most of us do it very dutifully. The problem is Jesus didn’t invite us to come and follow our idea of Him or His cause, but rather, Him! That means the reality of who He is. That means wherever the Father leads Him, we follow. That means His character, not ours, radiating through us. That means denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, and following Him.

I believe most of us are asking ourselves the wrong question. If we are asking, “What I am doing with what I’ve been given?” then that will automatically lead us to following a form – the principles, our idea of God, the cause of Christ. However, if we ask ourselves, “What I am doing with Who I’ve been given?” then this will lead us to following the reality - the person of Jesus Christ. This will lead me away from being in love with my idea or form of God and being in love and devoted to the person of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps this is as good a time as any to ask yourself, “What am I doing with WHO I’ve been given?”