Eph 1:10 for an administration of the fullness of times, to head up all things in Christ, both the things in Heaven, and the things on earth, even in Him,
Paul’s great discourse in Ephesians highlights a vital principle. Part of Christ’s prodigious work is to head up the universe in Himself.
The verb “ to head up all things” is the word duo, “anakephalaiomai”.
Kephale is the noun, head.
Ana, is the preposition “ doing or bringing up something once again.”
Christ’s stately reconciliatory work brings back all universal things under His headship.
Currently, many things, through sin, are not under this headship. But Christ always works, and one day in the new heavens and earth, will be the Supreme Head.
Phillip 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
That at the Name of Jesus every type of knee belonging to things in heaven, on earth, and subterranean places should bow.
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And every type of tongue will confess outwardly as an inward recognition of the Supremeness of Him, that Jesus Christ is Lord unto the glory of God the Father.
Reflecting back on thirty three years of spiritual progress I end on one thing. I, being the head, instead of Christ, has been utterly destructive.
I don’t condemm those who sin. I understand them. Sin is the medicating of pain and a misguided attempt to experience God through its pleasure.
Christ saved me, an agnostic kid, at twenty five.
I quit Vanderbilt University as a junior. My life was a disaster. A severe stutterer, a drug user of ten years, alcohol for fifteen, an addict to pornography, enveloped with a spirit of rejection and profusely insecure, I had hit rock bottom.
Pain has caused me to be exceptionally independent. The independence of human civilization from God is the greatest curse, I discovered.
Independence is a way to protect myself from pain. Often hurt as a kid, I self-programmed to think“ this time I will do it my way.” Independence! Or, “I will never let so and so hurt me again.” Independence, once again!
I know what is better for me. I know better than the other guy. Heck! I even know better than God!…..and so I lived like this.
When meeting Christ I was decidedly independent and knew what was best.
So many were my defense mechanisms against pain and rejection. So calloused and bitter was my heart against people.
I have been an obedient Christian since the “get go.” I am as passionate about Jesus now as I was thirty-three years back. Since my first pursuit of Him, I have never become wearied. I have obeyed Him in everything which He asks.
Yet, my spiritual progress has been a protracted battle of seeking my own ways.
There is always something which I thought I knew better than God.
I have battled with ungratefulness in one way, or anger in another way, demanding that God should do this and that, in such a time or fashion.
I confess to these inward struggles engaged in me till today.
Independence from God has detained me in demonic bondage, and sickness, longer than needed. I should have been free years back.
I did this to medicate myself from further pain. I deceived myself to be independent from the One who never wants to hurt, but rather heal.
Are we not blinded like this? Woe to us, sightless creatures of strongholds and habits.
Being protected from this wonderful God, under the arrogant banner of independence is a great curse. We run from Him who wants to heal and jump to the hands of him who destroys.
We are duped to think that we know best. Oh yes, of course even better than God! With our mouths we say “never”, but with our lives we live the lie.
As fugitives from God we ended up in hell, abhorring the One who saves.
I can say, that I slowed down my freedom through obstinate independence.
Now I see that God knows better than me. Christ is the head, and not I.
Independence, stubbornness, and arrogance are all products of the head. If I am the head, then Christ is not. If I know better than Him, He will allow me to heal and free myself. He will let me guide myself. So are the failed exercises of mankind. Their historical repetitions and observation have served little purpose, since civilization stills flee from God through independence.
I, being the head instead of Christ, band aided my wounds and prohibited God from reaching them, keeping them fresh and raw.
Independence has kept the gashes of childhood tucked safely away, unhealed and bleeding, by stubborn refusal to surrender something God asked for. Woe to me, confused to forbid God from touching something He so much wants to heal.
So I am learning!
Absolute surrender to Him at every moment is the key to healing. There is no other way.
He is the head. I am not. He thinks better than me. He knows me better than me. He sees the future better than me. He provides better than me. I don’t need to protect myself from Him. He is not out to hurt me.
Humanity’s curse is that it’s the head and not Christ.
The head of humanity is blind and deaf. Its thoughts are dysfunctional.
Its strongholds have suckered mankind to flee from the One who heals. “God wants to make your life boring, and rob you from having fun,” so the head retorts.
Oh the joy, of not being the head anymore. Fifty seven years this had been my role. I had to help God out. Sometimes, He did not know what was best!
For the next fifty seven Christ will be. He looks and hears for me and tells me what to do. I simply follow. The whole burden is gone!
Mt 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration (paliggenesia) when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration (paliggenesia), and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
The regenerative work of Christ is called paliggenesia; that is “to bring back to Genesis”. Creation in Genesis had no sin or bondage. Through reconciliation, sanctification and regeneration, God brings us back to our beginnings at Genesis.
Full access only comes though to those who are not the head.
God was the head before Adam sinned, but when he fell, Adam became the head, and so now we have a many-headed humanity.
Are you the head or is it Christ? Be blatantly truthful with yourself and with your God.
Jose and Mary Alvarez 