I have a certain kind of disorder that the American Psychological Association has yet to diagnose: I cannot suck on something. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but whether it be a popsicle, a sucker, or that wonderful goo that’s left on your fingers after you eat a bag of Doritos, I just can’t suck on things. This is most evident with things like lifesavers, gobstoppers, jawbreakers, and candy that you’re supposed to suck on. I just stick them in there and after about 30 seconds, chomp. I can’t help it.

Well, you’re all familiar with Tootsie Pops I’m sure. Those suckers coated in a sweet outer shell with a glob of tootsie roll in the middle; they’re the ones that all the chinsey or old people hand out on Halloween. Seriously guys, if you’re a bit mature in age you need to hear me say this: kids do not want to get Tootsie Pops. Nerds, candy bars, these things are great. Not Tootsie pops.

The thing about a Tootsie Pop (yes I’m actually going somewhere) I stick them in my mouth, and the outside isn’t all that bad. It’s sweet like a normal sucker (although nothing outstanding), but then my chomping disorder kicks in and I just bite right into it. And, disappointment of disappointments, the middle stinks! The outside is better than the inside! Brothers and sister, that just isn't right. If you’re going to hide something in the middle of a sucker, if you’re going to make a person labor through the outside to get to the hidden inside, then the universe demands that the middle be a better prize than the outside! And that is why I hate Tootsie Pops.

Well, last Sunday morning we tought about the centrality of Jesus, the centrality of the Son of God. Centrality is a word that the Church uses a lot but that the rest of the world has kind of given up on. So let's define it in case it sounds a bit foreign. Centrality refers to “the quality or state of being central; ...tendency [for something] to remain in or at the center.” (Webster’s New International Dictionary, 1950)

The God of this Universe designed every molecule, every solar system, every one of the billions of galaxies, and he designed every one of us (yes, we are designed) to have his Eternal Son right smack dab at the center of it all! That’s what it means to talk about the centrality of Jesus. The Father’s wonderful purpose is that everything be about Jesus.

Yet, is it possible that we have organized our lives in a way that seriously resembles a Tootsie Pop? Is it possible that, instead of having the Infinitely Glorious and Delightful Son at the center of our lives, is it possible that we have displaced him with something far, far, eternally less glorious? Is it possible that, like me biting into a Pop only to find utter disappointment, will God examine your life only to find that your outer life appeared normal, but truly, you were centered around nothing? If your life and faith are just sweet candy shell and that's as good as it gets, if the outward things weren't ultimately all about the inward reality of Christ, well the whole thing is worthless. Christ, and only Christ, deserves to be the Center of your life! Everything is about Him.  What a shame that there is so much Christ-less Christ-ianity.