Curiosity




Act 19:17  It was soon news all over Ephesus among both Jews and Greeks. The 

	realization spread that God was in and behind this. Curiosity about Paul 

	developed into reverence for the Master Jesus. 



	I was watching this program with the kids the other night about this man 

that is in the process of transforming his body into the image of a tiger. He 

has tattooed most of it and had multiple surgeries to restructure his face and 

implant fangs, claws, and long, course whiskers and eyebrows. He has plans to 

cover his body somehow with fur and he carries around this long tail. It's his 

desire to eventually have to walk on all fours, and he will not be finished 

until he looks exactly like a tiger. Needless to say, there is no way this man 

can go anywhere at all without causing a stir of curiosity and wonder. This is 

not something he will be able to easily reverse. He is destined to carry with 

him, in his transformation, this disturbing, unsettling wonder of how in the 

world anyone could ever come to the point of choosing such a radical appearance 

and lifestyle. His obsession with taking on the image of a large cat has driven 

him to extreme measures, and in doing so, he will forever draw curiosity to the 

nature of the person within that could choose such a way of life. While 

discovery of that person may be very interesting and the subject of extended 

study and research, there will not be found in him evidence of, and the way to a 

productive, uplifting and victorious life. 


	While this "cat" man may represent in an extreme way the wonder inspired 

by what has consumed a person, there is interest and a wonder that is carried by 

every living person. To go anywhere that includes crowds of people is to be 

presented an endless source of wonder about the person within each body and what 

has brought them to this place in their lives. Weight, clothing, grooming, 

countenance, verbal speech and body language are all representations of what has 

been their obsession and where they have chosen to commit their time and 

energies. Also, in this presentation of themselves, there is a resulting element 

of inspiration that cannot help but influence those around them in some way. 

They may not have chosen such a drastic outward appearance, but the thing that 

has possessed their passion and their desire will have produced evidence of 

their choices. This object of their obsession is the real influence that touches 

those around them with its reality in their life. 


	There was an object of obsession in the heart of Paul that totally 

consumed him and directed his every choice in life. It was not possible for him 

to keep the evidence of this obsession from being seen. He was consumed with the 

desire to take on the image of the Lion of Judah and would not be content until 

the transformation was complete. Included in this change was the ability of the 

Lion to dominate any opposition and, when confronted by enemy challenges, there 

was no competition. He won every time, and in doing so, totally humiliated his 

opponents. As people were drawn in their curiosity to Paul in wonder of what 

caused him to appear and act so, there could only be a response of fear and 

reverence for Paul's obsession, the Master Jesus. Though Paul might be the 

visible representation of his passion, interest in him would always lead past 

him to the real essence of his life. 


	The further we are drawn into relationship with our Master and the more we 

learn to continually honor Him, the more we will begin to take on His appearance 

and His ways. We will be unable to avoid the curiosity given to the person we 

become as the world around us is effected by His actions through us. We will 

display the joyful countenance of one who is experiencing the rewards of 

righteousness in His presence. Obsessed with being transformed into His image, 

we'll find ourselves on an endless adventure of going from one glory to the next 

in taking on His characteristics. As we experience this progression, though, and 

as there is an increase in attraction to the evidence of His presence in our 

lives, may each person that is drawn to us find the source of our 

transformation. May our every point of interest be a directive to the way of 

true, victorious life in Jesus. Totally consumed with His image and His 

likeness, may any curiosity of us result in discovery of Him. 




9/05/04