Christ as He really is

There is great uproar over the Olympic opening ceremony mockery of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, as well there should be.  Remember though that the painting itself is an inaccurate portrayal of this celebration of the Passover by Jesus and his disciples just prior to His betrayal, arrest and crucifixion (followed by His resurrection).  The outrage that is felt is due to the mockery and degradation of Jesus and his disciples, not the painting.  Satan and all those influenced by him cannot create anything, they can only remake or twist the truth of God and the creation of God.  

This is exactly the “blueprint” of man’s fallen nature as seen in Romans 1:18-32.  The display on Friday night is the result of 300-plus years of Enlightenment thinking in France. (To more fully understand this, look at the two revolutions during the late 1700’s — one for liberty and freedom in America and the other for the elevation of man’s reasoning and supposed utopia in France.) While unrepentant and sinful men continue to “circle the drain” in their sin of rejecting and denying God, repentant people and Christ followers also should see the warning here for us.

We must not recreate Christ in any image or form other than revealed in Scripture.  We must not fashion a “Christ” of our own making to which we pledge our love, devotion and service.  We must not lessen the commands of Christ nor the calls of God to holiness (I Peter 1:13-16) 

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who has called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy.” 

Our call is to stand in and on the truth, live out the truth, speak the truth — all in love, grace and mercy.  I read this morning Ezekiel 2-3 where Ezekiel is called and empowered by God to go to the unrepentant and rebellious Jews who Ezekiel is told are not going to listen to him.  If this was the call to Ezekiel then, what is our call?  It is to share and tell even if we are unsure of the reception of the message of truth and life.  Just make sure it presents Christ as He really is, not some recrafted image we have made.

Pressing on…

Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor