Joanna and I found an interesting story in the PARADE magazine insert of the Sunday paper. It was featuring the young actor Shia LaBeouf.
See article: http://www.parade.com/export/sites/default/celebrity/2009/06/shia-labeouf-mixed-up-life.html_71192264.html)

For his age he has been incredibly successful and has already made millions of dollars working with some of Hollywood's biggest names. At 23 and on top of the world this young man confesses his insecurities,

"I know I’m one of the luckiest dudes in America right now,” LaBeouf says. “I have a great house. My parents don’t have to work. I’ve got money. I’m famous. But it could all change, man. It could go away. You never know."

Parade writes, "When LaBeouf is feeling insecure, he sometimes stops his bike on the side of a busy road to see if people passing by recognize him. He is scared that they won’t. " Shia adds,

"Actors live dependent on being validated by other people’s opinions."

This insecurity is masking a form of pride with which we all can struggle. We love ourselves and want to be loved by others to such an extent it begins controlling our actions. How interesting that Shia has everything Americans seem to desire including fame, fortune, popularity, youth, and an exciting career, and yet he is still insecure. Wait a second, aren't these very things (fame, fortune, popularity, youth, etc.) what we desire as solutions to our problems? If only I had a better job...If only I was rich...if only.... But Shia has all these and he is still fearful.

"Sometimes I feel I’m living a meaningless life,” Shia LaBeouf says, “and I get frightened.”

Is it possible that even after obtaining all that life has to offer a person could still live a meaningless life? Shia LaBeouf isn't the only one who thinks so. Jesus said, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt. 16:26)

"I don’t handle fame well,” LaBeouf says. “Most actors on most days don’t think they’re worthy. I have no idea where this insecurity comes from, but it’s a God-sized hole. If I knew, I’d fill it, and I’d be on my way.”

According to worldly standards Shia has everything! No wonder he doesn't know how to fill it. None of what he has accomplished or obtained has filled it, and again, he has everything. How interesting that he recognizes what is missing as a God-sized hole. Incidentally, we all have a hole similar to his. It comes from a broken relationship with God, and no amount of worldly stuff or effort on our part can ever fill such a hole. Shia could buy any item, act in any film, date any woman, use any drug, and the hole would remain. It's a God-sized hole and only God can fill it.

Jesus said to another rich young man years ago who also wanted to fill that hole, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me" (Luke 18:22). This young man went away sad. Jesus was not saying he could buy his way into heaven, he was identifying how the things of the world were keeping him from coming, following, and obtaining what truly matters, eternal life.

Shia is ready for the Gospel. Are you? It is the only way to fill the hole. Understand, all people have sinned, (Rom 3:23) thereby creating the hole. The penalty for sin is death (eternal separation from the one who can fill the hole) (Rom. 6:23). Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins (Rom. 5:8). He is the one who can restore you with the God the Father.

Jesus calls us,"come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest...and you will find rest for your souls." (Matt. 11:28-30).

"Jesus Christ is a Savior who is now alive in heaven, and each [person] should think of Jesus as speaking directly to him or her, saying 'Come to me...and I will give you rest'. This is a genuine personal invitation that seeks a personal response from each one who hears it." --Wayne Grudem

How will you respond?

Consistency

What is it about human nature that causes us to react in ways contrary to our core beliefs? I have no problem believing the chair I am sitting in will hold me up, because its designed to hold me. It always acts in consistency with what it was designed to do.
I watch ants sometimes with my daughter. You never see a renegade ant. There is never an ant doing something other than you would expect. They always act in consistency with what they are created for.
But humans are different. Humans though created in His image are unlike God. they do not act in consistency with who they are. God does. While his actions at times may surprise us, when they are considered according to his word, and his character, they are always proved right and just. Shouldn't humans created in his image be the same? We would expect this to be true. We do act differently though. We are prone to error. Why is it? Leslie Vernick a licensed clinical social worker has this to say about human nature,

“Our beliefs, whether they be religious or otherwise, form the interpretive lens through which we view all incoming information. This lens colors the data in a way that reinforces our beliefs, and it forms the foundation for why we tend to think a particular way about a situation.”

This is what we should naturally expect to find, however for humans its not always true. We do not always act according to what we believe, or with who we say we are. Why not?
To answer this question we need to get down to the core of our humanness. What is the truest thing about us? Vernick continues her thoughts,

“We don’t always think according to what we profess to believe…instead, we think according to what we really believe, deep down in our hearts, regardless of whether those beliefs align with the truth set forth in God’s Word. For example, on a rudimentary level, all humans believe that we don’t need God and can make life work on our own (This belief is our prideful, sinful nature). As Christians of course, our interpretive lens of life should come out of our relationship with God and his Word. He seeks to transform us and renew our thoughts so we can interpret things truthfully, as he would have us to.”

What do I glean from Vernick? We are created in God’s image, but fallen, sinful creatures. That is why we instead of acting according to what we profess to believe, we act out of our sinful hearts. This is the core of who we are.
Christians must live with a tension of “Now, but not yet”. We are saved from sin, and in one respect free from the bondage of sin, however we are not free from sinning. In our weakened, fallen state we still struggle. This is why we do not walk in consistency with who we are.

I struggled with this as I met a fearful Christian woman at the hospital last semester. this woman has congestive heart failure. She was afraid and could not sleep. Afraid of dying. But should Christians be afraid of dying? Could that be a sinful fear?
If I visit the woman with congestive heart failure and she claims to believe the promises of Christ, (namely eternal life, no more suffering, new body etc.) why would she worry about death. If she really believed this teaching at her core why would stepping into eternity be frightening? It should not be, but it is. This is why I believe our fear can be sinful. Fear can control us and cause us to act based on emotion and not on truth. We should not fear, but we do because we are fallen, sinful creatures. God understands this and is patient with our sin. He has gone to great lengths to forgive us of our sin. there is much grace for us found at the foot of the cross.

May we walk consistently with what we claim to believe, so that God will receive glory when others see His presence in us.