There is only one Creator, only one worthy of true adoration and worship, only one whose name will be proclaimed into eternity. The rest of us are created beings, here for His pleasure and purpose. He is eternal. We are here today, gone tomorrow. He is essential. We are dispensable and disposable. Only God is God.
John the Immerser (the Baptist) understood this, telling the crowds who came to his baptism, “‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” (He was speaking here about Jesus.) He continued, “I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel” (John 1:30b–31).
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That was the whole purpose of John’s ministry: that Jesus might be revealed to Israel. Once that was done, John’s mission was completed. As he explained to his followers, who seemed concerned that Jesus was gaining more followers than he was, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30, NASB).
But we are always lifting up people. We are like the followers of George Whitefield, who wanted him to perpetuate his memory by forming a denomination named after him. They were concerned that others would get credit for his work. But his reply remained the same: “No, let the name of Whitefield die, so that the cause of Jesus Christ may live … Let the name of Whitefield perish, but Christ be glorified … I have had enough popularity to be sick of it.”
May we also learn to be sick of popularity. A glimpse into eternity would heal our shortsightedness. And a glimpse at God’s throne would remind us who He is and who we are not.
Have we forgotten that, in ourselves, we are wretches, and the only good that comes out of us is because of Him?
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