Lovers of Self
I remember going to see a waterfall as a little kid. We stood there, staring at it, admiring it, talking about how beautiful it was. That's how we enjoyed things back then. Nowadays, if you go see something beautiful, the first thing that goes through your mind is to take a picture of yourself in front of it. Our culture has become so self absorbed that it feels totally normal for this to be our first instinct. We take hundreds and hundreds of selfies. After all, we need plenty of material for our social media pages devoted to, that's right, ourselves.
This is exactly what the Bible predicted would happen. In 2 Timothy 3, Paul says, "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self..." (vv. 1-2). He is talking about the church, warning Timothy that things are going to get really bad in the end times because people will come into the house of God thinking only about themselves. They'll be narcissistic, selfish, arrogant, and unappeasable.
Honestly consider, when you go to church on a Sunday morning, what are you thinking about? What are you looking for? Are you hoping the worship team will sing the songs you like, the pastor will fix your problems, and the message will make you feel good? I've been a pastor for over 30 years, and some of the most miserable people I know are the ones who cannot stop thinking about themselves. They come to church gatherings looking to consume, and they turn every conversation onto themselves and their problems. No matter what I say or do, it is never enough. This is not how God wants His people to live.
The Secret to Joy
I want to teach you that the secret to finding joy in Christ is to get over yourself and stare at Him. It's like pushing that little button on your phone that takes it off of selfie mode and onto something far more beautiful. This is what David is talking about in Psalm 27 when he says:
"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple." (Psalm 27:4)
He says God, all I want is to dwell in your house and stare at you. This posture has been lost in this generation where we feel like we have to be in the center of every picture. And then we wonder why we're unhappy and unfulfilled! It's because we're staring in the mirror when we could be staring at the One who dwells in unapproachable light, with thousands of angels worshipping Him day and night.
Dead to Self, Alive in Christ
Jesus came to rescue us from ourselves. Francis Chan was leading me into misery. All Francis wanted to do was think about himself, and it led to death, depression, emptiness. But God offered me freedom. He made a way for me to kill Francis Chan and take on the very nature of Christ! When I became a believer, that's what I came into agreement with. I don't want to be in charge anymore. I don't want to be consumed with self, I want to be consumed by Christ. That's why Paul says in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." That's the picture of baptism. My old nature has been buried with Christ. Francis Chan is dead, and now I'm free to live by the Spirit.
"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." (Romans 8:6)
You will never know true life if you refuse to die to yourself. The same Jesus who said, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" also said "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." They go hand in hand. That's why Satan is doing everything he can to get you looking at yourself, in love with yourself. Don't be deceived! And don't be ignorant of his schemes. Follow the example of your Savior. Withdraw to quiet places regularly to pray. Take your eyes off of yourself and fix them on God. Go about your life, not looking to be served, but to serve. That is how you will find the life, joy and peace that your soul craves.
As you finish this article, read this passage slowly. Behold your King, and worship Him. Invite Him to put to death all that remains of self, that He might live in you.
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11)
