Who Am I

The fair maiden and fiance to the prince was in a deeply troubled posture as she asked a question that could very well confirm her deepest longing,

"Who are you?" she posed in quiet conviction.

To this, her masked rescuer, turned villainous tormentor, known to her only as 'the man in black' replied,

"No one of consequence."

It's not important.

If you have not seen the movie "The Princess Bride" then stop reading, rent it, watch it, and fall in love. It's probably funnier and more beautiful than anything I'm writing anyways.

The beauty of the scene I just described is that his statement is true. All the while, the audience knows that behind that mask is the man whom our fair maiden 'Buttercup' had given her heart and devotion to years ago. Inside that 'man in black' is Wesley, the one that she has desperately missed and longed for even for years after his rumored death.

But the man in front of Buttercup is not Wesley; it is another man whose only purpose is to reunite the man inside him and the woman he loves.

The 'man in black' is of no consequence; and neither am I.

I am just a villainous creature in whom Christ dwells as he cries out to the world, and often to me, to be reunited in a love that we know even deeper than our understanding. A love that goes deeper than our sins.

But too often, I try to steal His Glory for my own. I want to be remembered. I want to prove myself to God; show Him how cool I am.

I was challenged as I read the story of the returning of the 72 disciples.

These men had just traveled the country side preaching in towns as they healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, and any other miraculous thing you can imagine. And they are excited. These men come running up to Jesus saying 'look at this!' 'look at all of these cool things we did in your name!'

And my heart echos in an eight year old voice, 'God, look what I can do. Am I special now?"

Jesus' response? 'Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'

(I already love you.)

His love is not dependent on the cool things we do. Whether I am a spiritual mogul or just a bumbling vagrant still chasing apocalyptic candy, God's promises do not change, His love does not waver.

My walk can't save me, Jesus already has.


Only God knows why I am on this journey.

I am no one special.

Most days, I would challenge Paul to an arm wrestling contest over the title, 'the worst of all sinners.'

But

here

I

am.


Christopher Andrew.