The Secret is Out by Bryan Craig
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV
I just celebrated another birthday. It’s interesting how the older you get, the more birthdays stir reflection and self-examination. My birthday happened to fall this year one day after Charlie Kirk’s Memorial Service, which was quite a sight to behold and to absorb. I really did not know that much about Charlie Kirk or his political views other than he was very conservative, but the one thing that is obvious about his life is that he loved Jesus Christ and sought to make Him known. It was surreal to hear so many political leaders proclaiming Jesus Christ over and over again.
This seems to be another example of our gracious Lord turning something intended for evil, for good. It also reminds me of the truth, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24 ESV. I am not a political activist, for I have never believed the world will be saved by our politics and policies. I have always believed that what the world needs is more Love, which means the world needs God, who is Love, and His Son Jesus Christ, Who is the pathway to that Love.
I pray that millions of people who have given their life to Christ are questioning the depth of their faith. I pray also that millions of people who are lost and deceived and searching for meaning will consider that Jesus Christ has a life for them. I pray also that evil is exposed for its darkness and its lies and that scales will fall from blind eyes to see the light of truth.
Our ministry, Influencers Global Ministries, draws people to John 15, where Jesus tells His disciples what will be needed in this world of tribulation. It is an intimate, abiding relationship with Him, and with His Spirit. Jesus says that He calls us “Friends” if we abide with Him. This is real. This is true. And it is not a Facebook friendship, but a deep, intimate friendship, one where secrets can be shared.
“When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 ESV
This is how we go from being a “Believer” in Jesus Christ, merely ascribing to His existence and death on the Cross, to entering into His death by releasing control of our very lives and trusting them to Him. This is a “secret place” between us and the Lord, where He helps us understand that He knows our secrets…our secret sins, our secret fears, our secret dreams. And it is also a place, where He reveals His secrets to us. Much like Jesus would talk in parables to the crowds, but when He was alone with His disciples, He would explain the parables, He wants to reveal deep truths to us, His followers.
I remember when I first started reading God’s Word, seeking Him. I was 30 years old. I was amazed at how some Scripture seemed to apply exactly to some situation or some thought I was pondering. It was my first experience with the Secret Place and my friend, Jesus. Then, I remember how I would pray, and He would nudge me toward doing something. At first I questioned whether this was just “me” or if it was “The Lord.” I remember a pastor one time saying that if you have thought about doing something good for someone else, it is the Holy Spirit, because “you’re not that good!”
Back in my early experience of learning to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice, I started testing these thoughts I would hear during prayer. They were nearly always about relationships… “You need to forgive someone.” “You need to send someone some encouragement.” “You need to help this person with a need.” I decided to start acting on these notions that came during prayer, and every time, I came to realize they were, in fact, from Him.
Lately, the Lord has been sharing more secrets with me. He tells me that the secret to Life is Death. The Disciples knew this, Paul knew this, Charlie Kirk knew this, Jesus modeled this. Even though we believe in Jesus Christ, even if we are fairly bold in our proclamation of this, we must spend time with Him in our secret place to discover what we are holding back. Is it a secret sin? Is it secret ambition? Is it a secret dream? Is there a strain of self remaining that taints His work in and through us?
If we can die to self, be crucified with Christ, we can live a life of freedom, a life of the fruit of the Spirit…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. This is real life. This is the kind of life that will change the world.
I pray that millions will begin to see that Christianity is not a religion. It is not a sect of rules and judgment and hatred for those who don’t believe the way we do. No, it is a life of love and honor and worship and death to our old ways of thinking and living so we might walk in heavenly places in the here and now.
I think some are reading this who are looking for such a place, and you may have been looking in the wrong places. Come to Jesus and give Him your life and ask Him to speak to you in secret. He loves you and wants to give you the life you’ve always longed for. While we were all sinners, Christ died for us…all of us. (See Romans 5:8)
The secret is out…Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. (See John 14:6) He really is. Don’t trust me. Find out for yourself.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” Acts 17:24-27 NIV