Up Front and In Charge

What does it mean to be upfront? 

By definition it means to be the first in line, the first to receive, or a position of privilege. At a banquet, perhaps you'd be the one sitting at the head table, with the best dinner set and served the best food.  In the not too distant past, white Americans were "upfront."  They sat at the front of the bus, entered through the front door, were given higher paying jobs, and better schools and books.  By definition, someone upfront would be the one in a position of leadership, the one who called the shots and who made the decisions in which all others would follow.  By definition, someone upfront would be the spokesperson.  In a jury, that would be the foreman, the one who spoke for the group.  Politically, it would be your congressman who represents you, his district or state.  By definition, someone up front would be someone in a position of superiority in some shape, form or fashion.  It would be someone considered better, more fir or stronger than others.  That strength may come in the form of physical might, battle strategy, weaponry, or psychological advantage.  Often those who perceive themselves in a position of strength use their strength to take over, control or oppress others.  As the world says, "only the strong survive."

 Yet man's thoughts are not God's thoughts and man's ways are not God's ways.  Man makes his decisions based on the satisfaction of his lusts and carnal desires.  The very imagination of man is evil continuously.  The thoughts and ways of man are opposed to God.  But there was one man who knew the thoughts and ways of God.  This was His Son, Jesus.  He is truly a man up front and in charge. (Eph. 1:18-23)  This man who is up front and in charge was raised from the dead.  God raises dead men.  He casts down prideful men.
While the world says, "only the strong survive," God says the weak survive because the strong lay down his life for the salvation of the weak.  The strong bear the infirmity of the weak.  Christ bore the sin of the world.

So what does it truly mean to be upfront?

To be upfront means to be sent to the frontline of the infantry, to be the frontline of defense, to be sent to face the adversary face to face.  To be upfront means to be expendable, to give or risk your life for another.  It means to put aside your needs, wants, desires, hopes, dreams and aspirations to help another.  To be upfront doesn't make you the spokesperson, it makes you God's messenger, and you speak only what you hear God saying, without adding to and without taking away.  To be upfront doesn't place you as head, it brings you under submission.