"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.Hebrews 12:1-2
I have been analyzing why there are so many wounded Christians? Why there are so many people who do not want to know about Churches, Ministries, their families, or even friends? In my analysis, I concluded that many Christians who decided to stop going to Church or parted ways were hurt by people in places of authority within the Church. They were hurt by their brothers in the Faith, by relatives or friends, and blame God for everything those people did to them.
This led me to ask myself the following," If I have also been hurt by people of authority; Why am I not distilling poison out of my wound?" Why I'm not using it as an excuse to get away from God, speak ill of my neighbor, or jump from Church to Church? And there, the Holy Spirit ministered to me. The difference is in the following question: When you were injured, who did you have your eyes on, on the man, or God?"
Men (and when I speak of men, I speak of human beings in general, including women) make mistakes. Pastors, leaders, and people who occupy positions of authority are humans who feel and suffer like all of us and as humans, can act incorrectly. Not because they occupy positions of authority and are exempt from sin. They should not do it because they should be an example and live what they preach or profess, but that does not exempt them. "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!" 1 Corinthians 10:12
We have to be careful not to put anyone on a pedestal or put all our trust and hope in man. When we put our trust in a man, the moment they fail or say or do something we don't like, we feel disappointed and hurt. This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes.They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.” Jeremiah 17:5-6 Sometimes, we admire a person so much for the way they are and their charisma that we fall into idolatry and encourage vainglory in others. Unfortunately, this happens a lot in our Christian community. We sheep set our sights on Man and not on God. There are many reasons why people go to Church. Many go to a Church because the Pastor preaches beautifully, the Pastor is dynamic, the Pastor does not yell, the Pastor does not preach about negative things, and the Pastor or the leader gives me personalized attention, among other reasons. Unfortunately, only a few goes to seek God.
Sadly, I have to say that there are very few times that I have heard a Christian say: I go to such a church because there I am in the presence of God, or I go to such a church because the owner of that altar is the Holy Spirit. And much less say I go to Church because I thirst for the presence of God, thirst to know him, obey him and serve him without preconceived agendas, or I go there because I have a genuine desire to serve in Spirit and Truth and not to look for positions or positions.
Very sad to see how we have turned our eyes away from the one who loved us first, the one who redeemed us even without us deserving it. Why is it so easy for us to set our sights and trust on a man (who by nature is sinful and treacherous)? And yet it is so difficult for us to set our sight on Jesus (who was willing to pay the price and give his Life for us carrying our offenses and sins)? "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. He will be like a tree planted by the water, which spreads its roots by the stream; he will not fear when the heat comes, and his leaves will be green; in the year of drought will not be distressed, nor will it cease to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8
Our trust and our gaze should be only for God. Because even if man fails or betrays us, we will not lose sight of the reason for which we are called. God chose you, not you chose Him. He paid the price, and it is He who removes and puts, only he moves us from one place to another. Do not make decisions for injuries or to please men. Base your decisions on the Will of God in obedience to Him. He is the only one who does not fail you.
By having your eyes on Him, you will see beyond the one who hurts you; you will even be able to forgive. As long as you have your eyes on a man, you will live enslaved and never be free.
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