“It’s not the destination. It’s the Journey.”
Matthew 9:1-8
Jesus Heals A Paralyzed Man
Key Highlights
God has not placed a middleman between the two of you.
No one can hold your past against you.
Not all sin leads to death.
Failure is not fatal.
Consider the concept of sin as the act of missing the mark. Rooted in Biblical teachings, sin signifies a lapse from the divine design for your life—failing to tap into your God-given potential, failing to hit the target. Imagine a person shackled by their sins, trapped in a cycle of self-doubt, fear, and regret, just like the paralyzed man from the scriptures. This person symbolizes a state of stagnation and inner turmoil.
A Life in Stasis
This individual is stuck, paralyzed by their past mistakes. They struggle with self-doubt, question the benevolent intentions of God, and live in the fear of repeated failures. Time after time, they embark on ventures, and time after time, they falter. Victory eludes them like an apparition, and despite their best efforts, they find no respite, no breakthrough.
Their hearts echo with the throb of uncertainty, the dread of the future, the weight of life’s finality. Be it the next step to take, the path to follow, or the shoulder to lean on, they find themselves caught in an abyss of unknowing. Their spirits are crushed, drained of hope, primed to surrender, ready to relinquish the fight. They are cornered by their failures, mistakes, and missteps. Fear has rendered them immobile, stagnant, timid.
The Healing Proclamation
Yet, in the midst of this crisis, Christ speaks to the paralyzed man, proclaiming, "Your sins are forgiven." What does this mean? What is the deeper truth embedded in this divine pardon?
"Not all sin leads to death." There are the seven deadly sins, the primitive urges that pull us down, keep us bound to our basic animal instincts. But then, there are genuine failures and mistakes that we encounter in our quest for success, for achieving a goal. The former tarnishes your nature, while the latter, your spirit, your confidence, your faith.
The paralyzed man epitomizes the effect of these sins. He is ridden with the belief that his failures are too colossal, too crippling to enable any further attempts. He has capitulated. And in this moment of surrender, what does Jesus say to restore his faith, his self-belief? He reassures, “Your sins are forgiven.”
This message is about you…
Reflection on Self-Forgiveness
You may have ventured forth, tainted by the naivety of youth, believing life to be simple, success to be guaranteed. You may have dreamt of an easy path, a path free of obstacles, a journey marked by the ease of conquests.
Reality, however, often paints a harsher picture.
Perhaps the job you aspired to was offered to another candidate. The competition in your field could have been fierce, unforgiving. The world might have turned a blind eye to your talents due to lack of experience. Maybe your product found no buyers. Rejection. Denial. Failure. These become your reality.
Every setback, every failure, folds you deeper into yourself. You retreat into a shell of self-protection, guarding against the pain of not living up to the successful persona you once envisaged. Fear of repeated failures, fear of loss, may eclipse your drive to forge ahead, to win.
This is a debilitating issue as it perpetuates stagnation, breeding poverty, constriction, and suffering. Yet, remember Christ’s words, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Defying Naysayers and Gatekeepers
Why did Christ's proclamation incite the ire of the Pharisees?
The Pharisees, in their self-appointed roles as the custodians of truth and morality, hold a certain perception of themselves. They believe they are untouchable, immune to the struggles of the ordinary masses. They have deluded themselves into believing they are indispensable intermediaries between God and mankind.
C.S. Lewis once remarked, "The more pride we have, the more other people's pride irritates us." The Pharisees were affronted at the audacity of a man absolving himself of his sins. In their eyes, sinners had to stand before them to seek redemption. Only after a public atonement could the Pharisees grant them forgiveness.
This inflated sense of self-worth rendered them indignant when someone sought to forgive themselves. They considered it an affront when someone had the courage to accept their failures, learn from them, and move forward. They could not bear the thought of someone bypassing them to seek God directly.
Life Amidst Humans
God, however, does not believe in intermediaries. The only connection between God and you is His way—His spirit and wisdom. The Pharisees, despite their stature among the people, did not have exclusive rights to God's forgiveness.
Jesus, a humble man, offered God's forgiveness, which posed a threat to their influence. For them, the idea of God operating outside their purview was unacceptable. This is typical of anyone who delves into a subject; they invariably end up enforcing it, be it God or science.
Jesus, the Newcomer
Jesus, thus, became a threat to the Pharisees' power and influence. He was the newcomer, the competition they felt threatened by. Their territorial instincts kicked in, fueling their fear of losing status, resources, and influence.
But in God’s eyes, all men are equal. Regardless of worldly hierarchy, God’s gaze sees no high-born or low-born. Those who attempt to act as intermediaries between God and man are mere jesters in the eyes of the Divine.
No one has been vested with the power or authority over your spiritual autonomy. No one can act as a liaison between you and God. Your past, your failures, your mistakes, are yours alone to bear, and no one can hold them against you.
Life in Perspective
At the end of the day, you don’t owe anyone anything. Your existence is not indebted to your parents, spouse, boss, or peers. You may love them, and they may love you, but the essence of your life is your own, untouched by obligations or entitlements. This truth applies to your successes as well.
Just like a seed that has been sown, watered, and nurtured, it grows not out of obligation but as a part of life’s natural course. The fruits it bears are not owed to the sower but are available for anyone present at the time of the harvest.
Life’s Open Invitation
This profound truth echoes in Christ's proclamation to the paralyzed man. His forgiveness is not just an absolution of sins, but a divine nudge encouraging us to rise, reassess, and continue on our journey. This is the Way of Life saying, “You may have faltered, but it's okay to keep going.”
Life invests its evolutionary force within us, not for us to regress or stagnate, but to thrive and make things happen. We are not here to merely exist or live an easy life. We were created to shape our destinies, to pursue success and face the inherent failures that come with it.
Failure is part of the path to success. It is a checkpoint, not a dead end. Life does not wish for you to stop trying to flourish. The consequences of not following through to success will remain, reminding you to be diligent in your endeavors.
But amidst the challenges, remember this—the fear of future failures does not serve you. It only serves to paralyze you, to hinder your progress. To this ailment, Christ offered a simple yet powerful remedy: “Your sins are forgiven.”
So remember, despite your past failures, despite your present challenges, you are free to keep striving. Forgiven and free, you can continue on your journey, knowing that you are worthy and capable of making things happen. The essence of life is not to avoid falling but to rise every time we fall. And in this endeavor, rest assured, you are not alone. Your sins are forgiven. Keep striving, keep living.
Restoration and Refinement
It’s crucial to pause and reflect on the factors that led you to this state of defeat - the environment that shaped you, the cognitive biases you unknowingly embraced, and the naïveté that clouded your judgment. These elements amalgamated to skew your perception of reality, pulling you off the path of self-growth and fulfillment.
You found yourself caught in a milieu that prized short-lived pleasures over purposeful living and diligence. This environment, filled with hedonistic influences, led you to disregard the wisdom of the hard-working, upstanding role models in your life in favor of the seemingly more exciting but reckless ones.
Unconsciously, you gravitated towards peers who mirrored this apathy and nihilistic worldview, in school, at the park, and in the online realm. This cultivated a culture of mediocrity within you, leading you to chase fleeting pleasure, status, and ease. This insidious web of anchoring bias and cognitive ease conditioned your mind, shaping your worldview, and defining your efforts.
Caught in this cycle, you embodied not your authentic self but a reflection of those around you. Their flawed perceptions and lifestyle became your own, their programming setting the rhythm of your life. However, remember this - it was the programming that failed, not the real, uncorrupted self lying dormant beneath the rubble of these misguided beliefs.
Naivety, acting as the final stamp of approval, convinced you that your indiscretions were permissible, that you remained unblemished despite your lack of discipline, consistency, and awareness. This misguided belief has now brought you to a crossroads - a point of defeat that forces you to question your assumptions and leaves you ripe for transformation and refinement.
The journey of refinement is not for the faint-hearted. Many men hesitate to embark on this path without a compelling motivation. It is usually only severe defeat or trauma that propels most individuals toward self-critique and growth.
Self-criticism, however, is not a self-inflicted punishment; it's a vital tool for growth. It helps identify shortcomings, enabling you to rectify your path. This process should not be confused with self-deprecation. Recognizing your flaws is not an insult to your intelligence, but rather, it signifies cognitive maturity. This is a manifestation of the Dunning-Kruger effect, a cognitive bias that blinds us to our flaws.
Life, in its supreme wisdom, doesn't honor conscious recklessness or willful ignorance. There's a stark contrast between failing while genuinely pursuing success and making conscious, poor decisions. Life respects the former, as it signifies a commitment to bringing an idea to life, a willing sacrifice of energy to realize a concept. However, willful recklessness, masking itself under the guise of learning, is nothing but a futile pursuit leading to senseless hurt.
You must also learn to evaluate outcomes objectively without taking them personally. While emotions add richness to our experiences, being overly sensitive can leave you vulnerable. At the same time, becoming too objective risks turning you into an unfeeling automaton. Striking the right balance is key to successfully navigating life's challenges.
Many people have had to watch loved ones die while waiting for them to realize their potential. The surrounding decay and destruction serve as stark reminders of the urgency to take action. We were created by God for a purpose – to solve problems, to persevere, to rise from the ashes of defeat and seize the path of 'The Way'.
Life, in its infinite wisdom, continues to give us second chances. It's a cycle akin to a garden, where you plant seeds, reap the bounty, and start again. The moment you recommence the process of planting seeds – putting in the effort – life forgives your past and rewards your present endeavors.
So rise, dust yourself off, stand confidently in the truth of this wisdom, and proceed to do the necessary work. With this understanding, embrace your past, acknowledge your mistakes, and move forward into a brighter, more successful future that God intended for you.
Remember, when life gives you a second chance, you should give yourself one too.
The Art of Self-Mastery
In the journey of life, it is crucial to understand that our existence isn't meant to be a mere replication of those around us. Rather, it's about discovering our unique path and taking deliberate action towards making it a reality. Throughout this process, we must critically examine everything we've learned, leaning into the knowledge that propels us toward positive growth and discarding the rest. As Muhammad Ali said, "I hated every moment of training, but I said, 'Don't Quit! Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'"
Regrettably, many individuals shy away from the process of self-refinement. Despite their inherent potential for greatness, they remain in a perpetual state of mediocrity. They lack the discipline, the determination, and the willpower to tap into their innate abilities and talents. They fail to truly learn and master the intricate art of life.
As Michael Jordan astutely observed, "You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is good at shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything else you do will rise." This statement uncovers a harsh truth - most people seldom question or transcend the initial piece of information they receive.
Anchoring bias is a double-edged sword. It can be a catalyst, propelling us forward with lead information. Conversely, it can also cripple us if we fail to critically assess where that information leads. The key is to transcend the initial data, understanding that it is fundamentally a starting point. The failure to do so can lead to corrosive outcomes.
Denzel Washington once quipped, "Anything you practice, you get good at, even bullshit." This underlines the pervasive problem of living by misinformation. Unbeknownst to many, they've been thriving on misguided teachings from their early environment, which has likely caused them more harm than good.
Indeed, it is easy to become complacent and comfortable with mediocrity. You may excel at mimicking those around you or perhaps spending hours engrossed in mindless activities. It could be overthinking, self-delusion, engaging in unhealthy habits, or simply chasing ephemeral pleasures. You might excel at seeking shortcuts and talking a grand game, yet never truly delivering. But ultimately, these actions do little more than keep you stuck in a destructive cycle, leaving you broken, unfulfilled, unhappy, and unsure about the future.
However, this narrative doesn't need to define your future. Instead, it can serve as the impetus for change. As 50 Cent noted, "The things you go through make you who you are. So I don't regret those things. I don't regret them because I don't think I'd be who I am today."
Your past mistakes, failures, and missteps led you to this moment, shaping you into who you are today. This realization can be a catalyst for change, empowering you to perceive, comprehend, and appreciate the most valuable gifts life has to offer: Redemption, Salvation, and Life.
This life, as Bran from "Game of Thrones" asserts, is about reciprocity: "Everything you did brought you where you are now. Where you belong. Home." Life is an intricate dance of give and take, a delicate balance of controllables and influencers.
Your controllables are the elements within your power: your emotions, thoughts, and actions. These are guaranteed to yield results. Conversely, the influencers, which exist outside of your realm of control, are never a sure bet. You can't control external factors, which is why your actions may not always yield the desired result initially.
Your failures are not the end of your journey; they're stepping stones to the peak of your potential. In the words of Mike Tyson, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." While failures and obstacles can be tough to handle, they're integral to the journey of self-mastery. They test your resolve, resilience, and mettle, forging you into a stronger, more capable individual.
It's time to redefine failure - it's not a death sentence, but an invitation to learn, to grow, and to adapt. As Albert Einstein rightly noted, "A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." Thus, allow your past mistakes to serve as a springboard towards success rather than shackles keeping you in a perpetual state of stagnation.
How then can you walk this path to self-mastery?
First, practice self-awareness. This is about recognizing and understanding your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This heightened awareness helps you to recognize patterns, uncover blind spots, and understand your reactions to various situations. This increased self-awareness acts as a guiding light, illuminating the path toward self-improvement.
Second, self-discipline is essential. This is about cultivating the ability to control your thoughts, emotions, and actions to achieve your desired outcomes. It's about resisting instant gratification in favor of long-term gains. Self-discipline is the key that unlocks the door to a life of productivity, satisfaction, and accomplishment.
Third, cultivate emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence involves understanding, managing, and effectively expressing your own emotions and understanding, empathizing, and responding to the emotions of others. It's a powerful tool that can help you navigate the complex tapestry of interpersonal relationships, enabling you to forge stronger, more fulfilling connections.
Finally, never stop learning. As Brian Herbert said, "The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice." Embrace lifelong learning as a cornerstone of self-mastery. Equip yourself with knowledge, hone your skills, and continuously strive to become the best version of yourself.
In conclusion, the art of self-mastery isn't about achieving perfection. It's about constant growth, improvement, and evolution. It's about recognizing that each day presents an opportunity to learn something new, to become better than we were yesterday. As Paulo Coelho wisely observed, "When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too."
The journey to self-mastery is challenging yet rewarding. It is a lifelong commitment to personal growth and fulfillment. As you embark on this journey, remember to be patient with yourself. Progress may be slow, but every step you take brings you closer to your potential, closer to your dreams, and closer to the person you're meant to be.
We don’t know what everyone else is doing, but this is CHRIST MASTERY! This is what we’re doing!
This is God & Christ Centered.
This is Purpose & Results Driven.
This is your claws and teeth in the fight. This is what you use to survive and win the day; not panic, cowardice, or tantrums, not despair and desperation, not doubt or fear.
Do what everyone else doesn't, so you can actually have what they won't; which is ultimately being the successful, winning individual God intended you to be in the inspiration of your creation.
Being fundamentally sound is the most powerful thing you can ever do for yourself, and this is and has always been God’s gift to you. This is being saved.
Let this wisdom be your guide and support. Let this wisdom keep you going in the world and you’ll be seeing, creating, capitalizing, and seizing opportunities in no time.
Let’s go make things happen!
Godspeed!
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”
“The more pride we have, the more other people’s pride irritates us.”
“I hated every moment of training, but I said, “Don’t Quit!” Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”
“You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong then all you become is good at shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything else you do will rise.”
“If you just go out and perform and play, yeah you’ll be great every now and then; but If you play with structure, if you understand the rules that come along with that, the discipline that comes along with that, then you reach another level.”
“Anything you practice you get good at, even bullshit.”
“They fuck you up, your mum and dad. They may not mean to, but they do. They fill you up with the faults they had and add some extra, just for you.
But they were fucked up in their turn by fools in old-style hats and coats, who half the time were soppy stern and half at one another’s throats.
Man hands on misery to man. It deepens like a coastal shelf. Get out as early as you can, and don’t have any kids yourself.”
“You can’t solve your problems with the same thinking that created them.”