“You Complete Me”

               

            Sounds like a line from a romantic movie (i.e., chic flick) doesn’t it? In fact, I think I heard that line recently in a movie trailer. So okay, I can buy that. After all, isn’t that the very idea in Gen 2.18-24? It was not good for man to be alone, for alone he is incomplete. Therefore God created a “helper suitable for him,” someone to complete him, such that the two become “one flesh.” She not only completes him, but he completes her. So I can buy the movie line. I’m not as “romantically challenged” as some may think. I’ve even taught the Song of Solomon! I even enjoy Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan movies (such as Joe and the Volcano). So if you find someone that you feel “completes you,” than praise God. But let me get to my point. I was reading just now in Colossians chapter two and came to verse ten, which says of Christ, “and in Him you have been made complete.” It reminded me of the movie line, and of how we look for completeness in all the wrong places.

Before you read on, stop and dwell for a few moments on the thought that “in Him you have been made complete.” Did you think about it? Do not read on until you do, even if it means you do not read any further.

Now if you’ve thought about it and have come back to this, how does your own life fit the statement? Do we really comprehend what it means for our lives? How would our lives change if we really believed that Christ, and only Christ, completes us?

Of course, most Christians know—intellectually at least—that only Jesus can complete us. I think most will readily acknowledge that no person, no human relationship, no activity, no job, no hobby, and no possession can ever really complete us. But do we really believe it? Let me come back to the romantic, love relationship. If there was anything in this world that could complete us, it would have to be a loving relationship—finding our soul-mate, falling in love, become “one” with someone else. And certainly relationships can be very fulfilling and meaningful. That is God’s intent. God has designed us this way. Marriage is meant to be deeply meaningful, joyful, and fulfilling—and to get even better over time. In fact, the marriage relationship of a man and a woman is the closest thing on earth to the relationship we have with Christ (Eph 5.31-32). That says a lot about relationships, at least as they were designed to be, as outlined in Eph 5.22-33. After describing, however, the beautiful relationship of the ideal husband and wife in Eph 5, Paul concludes by saying, “but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church” (vs.32). Thus, even the ideal marriage is only meant to be a picture (a “shadow” perhaps) of the one relationship that will truly complete us—the relationship between us and Jesus Christ. Jesus completes me. And, at the risk of exposing my romantically-challenged tendencies, that’s no cheesy line from a movie. It’s the real thing.

 

© 2007 Randy Hohf