I am a Jesus pusher!!! One might think God’s plan is to do something to eliminate our helpless state. In other words, He will move us from “the poor in spirit” condition into the Kingdom of God (Matthew 5:3). But that is a misunderstanding of His plan. Jesus is not going to change our helplessness. This state of poor in spirit was the intent of God from the beginning. The Trinity, in the creation moment, intended us to be dependent upon God. The disaster of sin is the declaration of independence by mankind. Man denied his helplessness and sourced himself. The shift is to admit our helplessness and embrace it.
There are some vivid pictures of this condition that may help our understanding. No one can deny the strong crucifixion language of Pauline theology. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which 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). This language strikes a blow at our independency, separation, and self-sourcing. We do not die and then resurrect from the dead. We embrace the reality of death (helplessness) and remain there. Then the life of Christ can live through us. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. I must stay crucified. The difference in my life is I live by faith in the Son of God. A Biblical definition of faith is “invoking the activity of the second party.” Up to this time I have invoked the activity of the first party, myself. I live in this helpless state of continually, constantly invoking His activity in my behalf. Jesus is my source! I am a Jesus Pusher!!!