i am not

I’m reading Louie Giglio’s I Am Not But I Know I AM, and I’ve come to a point where blogging must commence. The premise of his book encapsulates humanity’s miniscule stories occurring within the greater story of GOD and reminds us of our finite yet life-changing roles from within the story that has already been written and is currently advancing within the script.

Giglio references the story of Moses, wherein GOD reveals Himself as I AM (Exodus 3.14), and portrays the humble and reverent Moses as I am not. Giglio then moves forward to the story of John the Baptist in the New Testament. John, being the forerunner to Christ and already with a following of disciples, is spearheading the way for the Messiah to enter the story. His message was so profound that others were wondering if he was the Christ, but John knew who he was…he was I am not…just like Moses.

And when the Christ becomes the main character in the story, John humbly assumes the minor role in the immediate story saying, “He must become greater, and I must become less” (John 3.30 ESV). John relinquishes his stature for humility—he removes his crown to seat Jesus on the throne because he knew Jesus was the One Who would fulfill the prophesies he had been proclaiming: Every valley shall be lifted up and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken (Isaiah 40.4-5 ESV).

The valleys (those who are humble and meek) shall be lifted up; the mountains and hills (those who are lofty and prideful) will be made low…everyone shall be on the same plateau before the Christ who will baptize you either with fire (the chaff) or the Holy Spirit (the wheat). John, according to Giglio, was a “little leader”…a lieutenant manning the bridge before the Captain arrives…a human story within GOD’s story.

Matthew Henry creates this picture with John as the morning star—bright and glorious amongst the darkness—and Jesus as the morning dawn. The sun rises from its horizon and consumes the stars that precede it. The sun cannot be revealed without the stars before it, and John was the necessary precursor to Jesus…not forced to submit to Jesus’ revelation but joyfully relinquished his glory for that of “he who is mightier than I…the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie” (Luke 3.16 ESV).

How essential is the need to make “He must become greater, and I must become less” the driving force of our lives? How more essential is the need when considering our own tiny stories next to the story that GOD is currently unfolding? This epic story is NOT about me. I am not. God is the Great I AM. His great story is advancing.