More Than Just a Stock Photo
Last week, when I was visiting a friend, we watched a few episodes of a nineties TV show that had a huge following while it was on the air—and has a bigger following now thanks to DVD box sets and Netflix. In one of those episodes, the main characters were sitting around showing each other what they’d bought for Christmas. One of them pulled out a picture frame, and when he did, one of the other main characters gasped: “That’s my dad!” She had seen the picture that came in the frame, and she was amazed that—somehow—there was a picture of her dad on sale at a local store!
As you might imagine, the rest of that episode revolved around her discovery that the pictures her mother and grandmother had said were her dad were actually stock pictures of a random guy. As she sought out the truth, she learned that what she had believed about her dad didn’t reflect who he really was. Eventually, she found out where he lived; and the show ends with her deciding not to meet him, in fear that she would be disappointed.
When I saw that episode, I thought about our relationship with God. How often do we settle for ‘stock photos’ of Jesus that other people recommend, without really getting to know Him? How often do we mindlessly adopt what other people think about Jesus, rather than letting looking to Scripture to find out if that’s really who Jesus says He is?
When we’re in the Christian bookstore and we see a picture or a mug that says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11), does that really mean that Jesus will give us lots of money and an early retirement? Or when people on Facebook post before/after workout pictures with the caption, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13), does that actually mean that Jesus will give us bigger muscles—or will help us do whatever we want to do? Is Jesus’s idea of a full life really “live, laugh, love”?
When we start to realize that our ideas about Jesus have been shaped by what other people think instead of by who He really is, it can be a scary thing. We might be afraid that finding out who Jesus really is will be disappointing. And if we’re following Jesus to always be healthy, to always have lots of money, or to never have any problems, we will be disappointed—because Jesus doesn’t promise that.
So, what does Jesus really say in those Scriptures above? Well, here’s Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NIV):
This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
In other words, ‘things aren’t going to go the way you’d prefer’ (the people of Israel didn’t want to be held captive in Babylon), ‘but my plans for you are bigger than what’s happening right now: seek me with all your heart—you will find me.’
Or how about Philippians 4:10-13 (NIV)?
I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Paul (the writer of Philippians) is saying that Jesus is the one who satisfies—no matter what we have or don’t have. We can be content—and we can find joy no matter what happens to us—through Jesus who gives us strength.
Jesus doesn’t promise that life will be problem-free and full of health, wealth, and success—what He promises is something better. He promises us Himself, and He guarantees us that if we turn to Him, we will find that we will never need anything else: because we will get Him!
So here’s the deal: if we never choose to hear from Jesus for ourselves—if we never get to know Him for who He really is, then we might find out that we’ve been worshipping a ‘stock picture’ of a random God. And if we live for someone else’s picture of God instead of finding the joy and fulfillment of a deep relationship with the very real, very personal God who wants us to know His love for ourselves, we will miss out on an incredible life—and on an incredible eternity. And that would be very disappointing indeed.