When I was a kid something captured my imagination that made a big impression on me: professional wrestling. Yes professional wrestling! Typically as a young boy I was into superheroes (Batman, X-Men, Iron Man etc) yet here were human beings seemingly doing super human things. Every successful wrestler entered the arena and made their way to the ring like a rock star – accompanied by their very own theme song and fireworks. Once they got in the ring the action began and I watched many ‘gimmick’ matches growing up seeing them jump off of ladders and cages; and fighting with tables and chairs. But the point was that these men were gladiators, overcoming even the greatest odds to prevail victorious. The champions, those wrestlers who won or successfully defended their titles seemed like the most courageous and most celebrated human beings in the world; or at least the world of wrestling, which becomes particularly engrossing, absorbing the viewer into its menagerie.
I will admit it still remains a guilty pleasure of mine, even though my appreciation for it has changed over the years, as I grew up and learnt that who these men were was little more than glorified stunt men and came to the conclusion that the world of wrestling was nothing more than fantasy, an escapism the same as any action film you would go to see at the cinema. But at the end of the day its purpose is to entertain, and if it achieves that then it doesn’t matter whether it is real or not.
And so I get to the point of this blog: The Bible teaches that we should love God and not the world.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father in not in him.” 1 John 2:15
Life can entice us to become distracted from God. Sometimes life is like the world of professional wrestling full of smoke and mirrors, drawing us in as we become captivated by its glamour or its artificial appeal - the lifestyles of our peers, our siblings or even of celebrities who are treated both as demi gods and as freak shows in a sick perverted obsession we have both in aspiring to be like them and being insane with jealousy. The Christian life can be hard, going against the grain of society. Sometimes that means sacrificing having a relationship if it meant disobeying God; sometimes it means putting others first and being selfless with your time and energy; sometimes it means being openly persecuted for not conforming to the status quo or being misrepresented for what we stand for. Yet the Bible teaches us that the glory that awaits us is immeasurably greater than the fleeting pleasures of this world:
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18
One man who had all the fame and riches the world could offer was the guitarist Brian Welch, better known as Head in the band Korn. For a decade Head played with Korn all over the world in front of thousands of adoring fans; their albums went multi-platinum and he became a multi-millionaire. Yet with the fame and money also came access to drugs and the darker side of life. Brian’s emotional and spiritual life withered and died as he intoxicated himself with drugs and surrounded himself with sycophantic people. He lived a life without limits and without rules and ultimately it became his prison. Trapped into an abusive lifestyle of excess Brian became depressed and even suicidal. Truly what the Bible says about gaining the world had become a reality in Brian’s life:
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself.” Luke 9:24&25
Thankfully in 2005 Brian became a Christian and found life, joy and freedom in Jesus. He now uses his musical gift for God as well as sharing his testimony to encourage others to pursue a life of Christ.
It is hard to explain to the world, as the world is alien from God, but the Christian life is ultimately the most rewarding and fulfilling. To know that you are an adopted child of God, a co-heir in the riches of God’s kingdom and glory along with His Son Jesus Christ; to be loved by the creator of the universe, not for what we do but for who we are. So many people are futilely trying to find self worth in the world – in their careers, relationships, in their wealth or qualifications. Conversely, this world slowly but surely kills us off one by one, through stress, through disappointment and through rejection. Yet God does not reject anyone who comes to Him through Jesus! Hallelujah that we have such a gracious God. Life is to be enjoyed and shared but each of us have a decision to make – are we going to live under the deception of the world, with its fleeting pleasures and its artificiality like the world of professional wrestling, or are we going to live in the reality of God’s Kingdom – in His love, grace and Spirit?
