Just Ordinary People

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A few days ago, I was having a conversation with a friend turned brother from South Africa, Brandon. The topic centered around broken families and absentee fathers, diving deep into our experiences behind the cold, heartless bars of some of South Africa's most notorious prisons. The surprising reality is that underneath the outward appearance of some of the most violent offenders the country has to offer, we see just ordinary people -- just boys that have turned into men by age rather than by growth and development.

We began to discuss how one could turn off humanity and commit the atrocious acts that put them behind bars. The sad reality is that most people are simply mirroring the reality that life has given them. I recall being in a prison and hearing a guy say that in the midst of hurting someone he was happy to see someone else hurting the way that he was hurting. I must admit, the saying "hurt people, hurt people" is unfortunately true.

We see all over that based off of the nature of one's environment, our minds tend to go from compassion to survival. It is the environment that we are raised in that usually dictates how we process and deal with trials and tribulations.

As we journeyed deeper into our discussion, I noted that even the people that were raised completely "normal" based on the societal standard also sometimes struggle with the same erratic behaviour. What would make a child raised in a so-called "perfect family" venture off into the abyss of a fallen society? What would make a man with a loving wife and beautiful home still feel the need to run away? What is this invisible nightmare that we are all running away from?

To make matters worse, we have thrown a religion into this chaos. One could make the argument that religion is the manipulated attempt to use God to cover our faults and failures, using the never-ending grace of God as a vice, leading to our demise and destruction.

If we are being honest, we'll see this to be true in the lives of most preacher's kids. How could people so close to the standard of love be so far away from bearing the fruits of that love? As my brain searched frantically for the answers, one phrase popped up in my mind, "The whole earth groans." I rushed over to Romans 8 to study more.

"22 We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the first-fruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God’s sons)." Romans 8:22-23 AMPC

As I began reading, it clicked for me. The whole earth groans in eager expectation for the sons of God. The earth we see was made based off of faith -- Based off of the faith of a God that spoke things into existence.

"2 The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day." Genesis1:2-5 AMPC

And until now, the earth and the people that live here groan in desperate need and longing of that Father. The reality is that from the people with "perfect" fathers to the fatherless, we are all crying out for that Father and Founder of humanity. From the homeless to the people raised in mansions, we are all desperately seeking a home.

"15 If they had been thinking with [homesick] remembrance of that country from which they were emigrants, they would have found constant opportunity to return to it. 16 But the truth is that they were yearning for and aspiring to a better and more desirable country, that is, a heavenly [one]. For that reason God is not ashamed to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob], for He has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:15-16 AMPC

Unfortunately, we have made up our own standard in a religion that focuses so much on our talk and so little on our walk. So we have our own version of God and Christianity, but if we are being honest, the same problems that plague the atheists remain under the surface of the shallow religion we have constructed.

"19 But I will come to you [and] shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will perceive and understand not what the talk of these puffed up and arrogant spirits amount to, but their force (the moral power and excellence of soul they really possess). 20 For the kingdom of God consists of and is based on not talk but power (moral power and excellence of soul)." 1 Corinthians 4:19-20 AMPC

Paul says that to those who walk after the Spirit, there is no condemnation or sense of wanting to escape. It is the dictates of the flesh that have controlled us, leading many to experience perpetual desire for escape.

We have tried religion on our own terms, using God to comfort ourselves. And yet, we continue to feel hopeless while claiming to be living a new life based off of hope. We have truly served ourselves while claiming to serve God, leaving us feeling abandoned while preaching that we will never be left alone. We have told everyone about our Father but are still rushing to find comfort and validation in the same places as the fatherless. Our made up religion and religious practices have filled our schedules but left our hearts and souls feeling empty, feeling that there is more.

"13 If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody). 3 Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 AMPC

We see an example of a true father in the Bible, Abraham. The world was created by faith and now we are all looking for a father that exemplifies the characteristics of the Creator of the world.

"3 By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible." Hebrews 11:3 AMPC

Through Abraham we see what it means to abandon the logic and desires of the flesh -- to live a life of complete surrender and trust in God. Abraham wasn't thinking of himself or the things most dear to him, but living under the love and conviction of the One who he himself calls Father.

"8 [Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go. 9 [Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise [of God, though he was like a stranger] in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God." Hebrews 11:8 -10 AMPC

This is the true father that has left his example for us. Through abandoning the patterns and customs of this fallen world, we also abandan and forsake the anxiety, depression and loneliness that comes with it.

The truth is that we are all just ordinary, broken people and the only true path to healing lies within the arms of our Creator. A true journey of faith reconnects us back to our Father and gives us the sense of belonging that we are all searching for. This is the way we gain access to the peace, love and joy that we are all craving.