The World on Your Shoulders

Greek mythology fascinates even the most ignorant of history’s pupils. The myriad of stories of the gods and their conquests intrigue and captivate people from all walks of life—artists, archeologists, authors, and historians alike.

Fortunately, modern day admirers don’t believe the fables as valid historical events (hence the term, mythology). But in our state of intrigue we often forget that the ancient world very much believed the historicity of Greek gods. Their worldviews and philosophical frameworks revolved around these gods, and they’d often hold debates to theorize about the greatness (or lack thereof) of their favorites.

One of my choice characters of Greek mythology is Atlas. Atlas exemplified strength and guts when he stormed the heavens, but was punished eternally by Zeus to bear the heavens and earth on his shoulders.

I’m convinced the ancient Greeks loved their gods because they could relate so well with them—their trials, impulsive tendencies, weaknesses and strengths. They weren’t perfect; neither are we.

Regrettably, my fascination with Atlas revolves around my familiarity with his punishment. No, I haven’t been sentenced to bear the heavens and earth on my shoulders for eternity. But I often live as if the heavens and earth are my burdens to bear.
I exert, though often subconsciously, a posture of self-righteous pity and gloom because of unending responsibilities birthed from my control-freakness. Woe is me! I have so much to do and if I don’t complete my check list, the world as we know it will fall down around me!

Of course, this posture reeks of selfishness and vain conceit. Though a wildly unpopular notion, the world keeps spinning round and round regardless of my presence. Any activities I contribute to it may benefit those around me (slightly), but ultimately, my efforts exist without meaning, much like Atlas’.

God often reminds me of my fallibility and stature to get me off my high horse. Though He loves me unconditionally, He doesn’t need me. I am not a foundational commodity necessary for the continued operations of this world. Nor does God need me to accomplish His Gospel purposes. I am but a breath in the timeline of history—here one moment and gone the next.
Depressing to think about, but it’s absolutely true. The GOOD news, however, is only half the story has been told.

Though God doesn’t need us, He chooses to love us and include us in His glorious plan of redemption. Christ died so we could die to our sinful selves and live again in the true and eternal life He bestows.

 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:17-20

When I act like a savior, God reminds me Who really is. I am nothing without Christ. I take that back: I’m forever lost in the abyss of hell without Christ, who literally took on the world to save me. Christ’s world-bearing served a purpose (unlike Atlas’ and mine)—to rescue the world from its deteriorating sin and inject His life into it for eternity.

Christ bore the sins of the world, not as an unrelenting punishment to bear, but as a single act that bears eternal ramifications for those who believe. By bearing the world’s sins on His shoulders on the cross, He reconciled us to Himself; and in turn, empowers us to be agents of that reconciliation.

Jesus bore the burden, we reap His victory. Jesus died so we could live. Jesus acted; we get to act on His behalf for the rest of our time here.

The world is not mine to bear because Jesus already bore it. I get to surrender to His victory and represent Him to this world; but that can’t happen until I squash my pride and attribute it to Him. He is THE God.
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What part of the world are you bearing unnecessarily on your shoulders today? Will you surrender it to God who bore everything for us on the cross and live in the victory He secures for us in Christ?