Wicked (onstage or on a screen), The Wizard of Oz (the 1900 book by L. Frank Baum or the 1939 film), or The Wiz. Whichever version you prefer, you are probably familiar with the man behind the curtain.
Turns out the “Wonderful” Wizard of Oz is a fraud; an ordinary man who had no power to grant courage to the lion, a heart filled with love to the tin man, a brain filled with wisdom to the scarecrow, a way home for Dorthy, or righteousness to the wicked.
So where does that leave those of us who still lack courage, loving hearts, godly wisdom, and most importantly, righteousness to overcome our wickedness so we can find our way home to heaven?
Maybe we need to become more familiar with the power of “AS”.
“As” may be one of the most powerful words in the Bible to transform us. “As” appears all over the bible. Once you see it you can never unsee it.
Wonder how much Jesus loves you? "AS the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." (John 15:9) How much does Jesus love you? As much “AS”...wait for it…God the Father loves God the Son, and not one bit less. Pause long enough to let your brain explode and your heart melt in response to that. You and I are loved by the Father no less than he loves his only begotten son.
Wonder if God cares about your limitations and pain? "AS a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust." (Psalm 103:13) How much compassion does God have toward his children? As much compassion “AS” a loving father has toward his helpless, infant child.
Need to overcome the shame of your sin? AS far AS the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12) How far has God removed the guilt and shame of my sin from me? As far “AS”. I remember hearing how if you start traveling east you never reach a point where you would start traveling west. But if you start traveling north there would be a point where you would start traveling south again. The distance between the East and the West must be infinitely greater than the distance between the North and the South. Because God has removed my sin as far as the east is from the west, he will never count it against me. My guilt has been eternally pardoned and shame removed infinitely far from me.
Are your thoughts filled with complexity, ambiguity, and anxiety? "AS the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9) How high are God’s thoughts above mine? As high “AS” the heavens are above the earth. I don’t know how high that is but it calms me down, knowing his wisdom is perfectly orchestrating everything according to his wise and good purposes.
Are you doubting if God’s Word still has authority in a culture that has rejected objective truth? “For AS the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10–11) How much success will God’s word have? As much success “AS” rain and snow have sustaining life on earth by irrigating it flawlessly.
Struggling to love someone different than you? Therefore welcome one another AS Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:7).
How are we to welcome one another? “AS” Christ has welcomed us. How is that? Not just with a cordial tolerance of an otherwise repulsive sinner. Christ pursues us, throws his arms open wide, pulls us in tight, and never lets go.
My friend, Dane Ortlund points out that the greek word for “welcome” in Romans 15:7 is the same one Matthew used to describe how Peter pulled Jesus aside with urgency in a foolish attempt to correct him. It is also the same word Luke used to describe how Priscilla and Aquila took Apolos aside to “explain to him the way of God more accurately” in Acts 18. In each case, they pursued with intentionality, pulled someone toward them, and embraced them personally. That’s how Christ welcomes us. And that’s how we are to welcome others.
Need motivation to love someone difficult to love? “Walk in love, AS Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)
How am I to walk in love? AS Christ loved us. Whenever I don’t feel like loving anyone but myself, the power of “AS” draws my attention back to the cross where Jesus' love for me resulted in a fragrant aroma to God.
Have you grown bored with the story of the cross? "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
What happened on the cross? God the Father treated God the Son AS if he had committed every sin of every person who would ever believe. That is not the best part. Because he did, God now treats every person who would ever believe AS if we had never sinned.
Falling to temptation and feeling powerless to change? Just AS Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)
How much power does God supply to walk out your new life in Christ? As much power “AS” God used to raise Jesus from the dead. Every day is a new opportunity to develop new habits empowered by the same power AS the resurrection of Christ.
The power of “AS” changes us. In fact, the more familiar you become with the power of “AS” the less wicked you become.
You might even find yourself singing lyrics like, “Because I knew You, I have been changed for good.”
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