I am a Jesus pusher!!! The Scriptures’ cross-style message is continuously calling for death to self-sourcing; we must carefully give guidance to this death. “Death to self-sourcing” must never be seen as “death to self.” While we might often use this phrase, we must understand it in light of the carnal context, the being of sin. “Self” is not evil within itself. God made you and me a “self.” He called it “good!” Jesus did not die to eliminate “self” but to save “self!” He wants to save us from ourselves. “Self” elevated itself to the position of God. It is not “self” that is evil; it is the nature of self-promotion or self-exaltation that is destructive. We are “poor in spirit.” The moment we discard the reality of our helplessness and promote self as adequate, destruction takes place. Our helplessness united with His sufficiency experiences the full potential of our existence. Jesus does not want to destroy “self;” He wants to save “self” from “itself.”
Often we have confused self-sourcing with human nature. We see the expression of self-centeredness and say, “It is human nature.” No! It is not human nature; it is carnal, sinful nature. God did not create Adam with the carnal, self-centered nature. However, he did have human nature, which God never intended to be sinful. Sin is a parasite that attaches itself to human nature. We do not need it; it is not natural to us; it is destroying us. As we investigate the use of “your” in our verse (Matthew 5:16), we understand Jesus did not speak concerning ownership as in what belongs to us. He said God made our person’s uniqueness without self-sourcing, which is “self” embracing its state of helplessness. In constant acknowledgment of this aspect, the self responds to Jesus. “You are the light of the world,” a Jesus pusher!!!