Starting From the Top

Suffering sells.  It's the hottest commodity that will ever be.  I'm reminded of a notion I've heard when discussing the [alleged] war on drugs where one said "you have to get rid of pain first to get rid of drugs...and getting rid of pain permanently is impossible."  That statement is what keeps organizations like Narcotics Anonymous and most (if not all) churches in business....selling this formula...the reality of pain must be maximized, addressed, and profitable for the pained and, most importantly, the practicing healer.  This is not to say that groups create pain to draw people into noticing their product, but it is to say that there are falsehoods about alleviating and dealing with pain that are sometimes promoted.  And one thing that is promoted a great deal is the perception of a start.

For example, this slavery-induced thought that's flooding American churches that a person has to suffer, start from the bottom, or experiencing any other negative or poor beginning to win, be on top, or whatever successful is...is a complete lie.  That notion doesn't even take into account of how "started" or "the bottom" are defined.  Additionally, it shrinks our thinking into temporary and earthly logic, and doesn't consider the truth about our creation.  Still, many of us have accepted that relatively humble beginnings are valid excuses or are the springboards for success.  Truly, both thoughts have holes and aren't related to the intent for our lives in any way.

Consider this:  the Bible states that we were made in the image of the Lord God...having dominion, power, and godlike qualities (Genesis 1:26-27).  Jeremiah 1:5 says that we were formed in this image by this same God before we were even in our mothers' womb. So the reality is is that none of us "started" from the bottom...but we all started on top.  The question is where do we see our start?

Do we see our start in being born in a tough situation like a financially unstable or abusive family, or do we view our start in being created in the image of the all-powerful God?  The perception of this is the beginning to experiencing God's best for us.  Because if we reject the notion that we were created or started from greatness...despite of our natural surroundings...then how can we possess the faith required to move mountains?  But, if we receive that truth, then it is also true that we never started from the bottom.  Perhaps we have tailored our mission of self-deliverance so much to what we see in our refrigerators, closets, and bank accounts, that we've forgotten that those necessities and more have been ours in abundance from the beginning.  Obviously, entering into this earthly realm in sin has disrupted this (Romans 5:12); but through Jesus Christ our victorious beginnings have been restored to us all (Romans 5:17).  We just must simply believe that the abundance of life through Christ is already in motion.

Always know this...you could never start from the bottom if you were created by the King.