The Lamborghini and the Yugo

We are in a universe with a seemingly infinite number of objects. I’m using the word “object” in its philosophical sense of “something intelligible or perceptible by the mind.” Let us suppose, for a moment, that there existed a universe that consisted of only two objects.

One is a Lamborghini.
http://www.lamborghini.co.uk/home/
The other is a Yugo.
http://balkansnet.org/yugocar.html

Question : Which is the most worthy and valuable object in that universe of two objects?

Answer: The Lamborghini of course.

Now lets suppose that by some means these two objects in this two object universe were suddenly given the ability to contemplate an object, feel something towards it, and compare and value one object in preference to another.

Question: Would it be wrong for the Yugo to contemplate itself instead of the Lamborghini?

Answer: Yes, it would be wrong. The Lamborghini is the most valuable and worthy object in that universe. The only way the Yugo could attempt in anyway to attain to “Lamborghini-hood” in this universe would be for it to contemplate and hold in its mind, and prefer the Lamborghini. That would be the only way it could attempt to relieve itself of some of its “Yugo-ness.” To contemplate its own “Yugo-ness” would be to prefer the lesser and less valuable object in its universe.

Question: Would it be wrong for the Lamborghini to contemplate itself instead of the Yugo?

Answer: No, it would not be wrong. Again, the Lamborghini is the most worthy and valuable object in its universe. For the Lamborghini to contemplate the Yugo would be for the Lamborghini to aspire to a less worthy and less valuable state. It would lessen its own nature that way. It would descend into
“Yugo-ness” that way.

So what does this consideration bring us to? Very simply, an understanding of one of the harder sayings of Christ:

“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. “ Matthew 10:36-38

Those who know Christ by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God (by grace) know that, as scripture says,

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,... “ Colossians 1:15-19

“Before all worlds” (before all created objects), there was the self-existent Godhead of three persons and one essence. 1.) The God the Father, the eternal, absolute, and invisible deity, who is invisible by being unexpressed. 2.) The co-eternal self-expression of the invisible God, God the Son, in whom God "was pleased to have all his fullness dwell." And 3.) the eternal subjective self-awareness of the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit of God. The Godhead existed before all created objects, and was the creator of all objects. Hence the Godhead is more worthy and valuable than all created objects. All created objects derive their existence from the Godhead, whereas the Godhead has eternal self-existence.

The self-existent God brought creation into existence and called it “good” six times and “very good” the seventh time (Genesis 1). He did that because “no one is good - except God alone” (Mark 10:18). Then he capped it by making man in his “own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” God brought creation into being so that it would be a kind of mirror that he could admire and contemplate himself in. This mirror includes the minds of human beings that he creates.

The ability to contemplate an object, feel something towards it, and compare and value one object in perference to another, is, practically speaking, what we call worship. By right of Creatorship, God has preeminence to all we value, hold worthy, and worship. The fact that the eternal Son had to become incarnate to tell us this (“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” John 14:9) tells us that we have indeed been very “into” our own “Yugo-ishness.”

We have that “Yugo-ishness” by thought, by word, by deed, and by inheritance. It is, for the most part, all we perceive until the Holy Spirit of God reveals to us that:

“God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” Colossians 1:19-22.

The cross of Christ - both the one he took up and the one he bids us take up and follow him with - is for our “Yugo-ishness” It is so that we might attain to “Lamborghini-ship by adoption” (Romans 8:15,23). He took on our “Yugo-ishness” for our sake, so that he might give us the blessing of being able to contemplate him, feel towards him, and compare and prefer him to all other things. To love him with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind, and thereby love our neighbor as ourselves. It is only by “Lamborghini-ship by adoption” that we are even a wit capable of doing any of that. And that was “the joy that was set before him.” (Hebrews 12:2).

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.” Psalm 113:1,2

Have I an object, Lord, below
Which would divide my heart with Thee?
Which would divert its even flow
In answer to Thy constancy?
O teach me quickly to return,
And cause my heart afresh to burn.

Have I a hope, however dear,
Which would defer Thy coming, Lord-
Which would detain my spirit here
Where naught can lasting joy afford?
From it, my Savior, set me free
To look and long and wait for Thee.

Be Thou the object bright and fair
To fill and satisfy the heart,
My hope to meet Thee in the air,
And nevermore from Thee to part;
That I may undistracted be
To follow, serve and wait for Thee.

G. W. Frazer(1840-1896)
Little Flock Hymn book.

Comments can also be sent to tbpflsj@comcast.net.
Not getting the context? Click here.