I like individualism so I like the 21st century.
The 21st century being individualistic is a gift from God. It is a pleasure and privilege to live in this individualistic 21st century. I believe that God has been leading the history of this world. It is God who allowed us to have individualism.
Humans have been learning the vertical structure through their relationship with God. However, God showed us that we can have a horizontal structure with others through our vertical relationship with His son, Jesus Christ. It was a revolution.
People have become so used to the vertical relationship; it produced people who saw themselves as privileged groups with vested rights. However, God taught us individualism and introduced a concept of the horizontal structure 2000 years ago when Jesus came to this world.
History of Creation: Adam and Eve were part of the horizontal structure. Eve was the one who helped Adam. In this context, the one who helps is the one who humbly serves but “the helper” was misunderstood as a slave in the context of the vertical relationship. In the human point of view, women were looked down because Eve was created after Adam but in God’s point of view, the appearance of Eve was the end to the history of Creation. In the climax of creation, God put Eve there by creating her last.
We have this history that made us misinterpret serving as obeying and then history fell because of human pride and so Jesus came to this earth. He came in the same figure of a human, being treated equal with us, he bore the cross to save us and to give eternal life. All of this to show that the vertical relationship was not the only relationship we were to have with God.
God, let us have a horizontal relationship with Him as His children. He told us that we are one with Him. Even though He told us that we are all equal in Him by introducing the concept of the horizontal structure, people still live with the vertical structure in mind in the 21st century.
This is God’s grace. Oh, Lord, you are the one who is leading history in this world. You are the one who brought the concept of the horizontal structure in human history. We are equal. Women and men are equal. Everything is equal in God. However, there are still people who keep the vertical structure with their own power, materialism, and knowledge. Power is also something God gives us to let us serve Him better but we misuse the power and act as if we were God. We try to control everything by seeking and obtaining wealth. They don’t know that the more they have and use in this world, the more God demands of them If we have a lot of knowledge…if we study hard and obtain many degrees, we need to share what we learn. In this world, knowledge is not power we can take advantage from. This is what God gave us to use for serving others. How miserable it is to see people abusing gifts that are for their benefit.
God’s kingdom.
The vertical relationship with Him.
His Kingdom.
The horizontal relationship with Him.
Lord, help us live for your kingdom. Let us follow your words and serve you by serving others. Paul told us to treat others better ourselves. Encourage us to always remember this and be like Jesus who came to earth to serve and not to be served. Help us experience the ways of serving for your kingdom and let us be in your kingdom always.
For the kingdom,
Young Ohm