As human being we tend to lean to our own understanding, and to our own opinions. We have been taught so much over the years and have 'Picked and Chosen' those things in which we desire to embrace and thrown out those in which make us uncomfortable, or cause us to have to change. Sound familiar?
When I preach and teach it is not uncommon for me to ask those listening to put their hands up in front of their faces and say "This is a mirror and now you must ask yourself in whom do you see? Do you see Christ and the Word, or do you see yourself in all of your glory?" This is not a comfortable question and it is a question that one will either embrace or run from.
Many today claim that they love God and love Jesus. many claim that they know the truth and yet live like the pagans. Many today love the world and all that it has to offer and only give God part of what He deserves and that is "All of us." Last week while teaching in at the Juvenile Center we heard the same thing we often hear "We love God and He love's us no matter what we do!" I stepped back and looked at Judy and said to them "Do you see my beautiful wife back there?" They all turned around and nodded 'Yes.' I went on to share with them "Tonight when she asks me if I would take her to dinner what would she do if I told her 'Not tonight darling I have a dinner date with another young lady." Would I seriously think that she would say "Okay honey, I'll keep the lights on for you, Love you!" Amazingly enough they all recieved it. But what about us? Would we reject this analogy because of what we have been taught, or would we embrace it and change?
In 1992 something huge tool place in my life. I had formed all of my opinions about God, Jesus, Religion, Heaven and even Hell. I leanded on all of the teachings that allowed me to love the world and myself instead of truly loving Jesus. What happened is simple "I looked into the mirror of truth." The truth was that I did not love God, Jesus, my wife, my children or anything else as I espoused. I loved Pete and his kingdom. My wife loved me enough to finally put me in a postion of showing that I loved her and was willing to do whatever it took to show her. I would either go to a Bible Study, or we were through. Did I desire to change completey? "No!" I wanted to change just enough to satisfy Judy and make things better. To show my love at the least expense to me. God worked in a mysterious way.
It was a God things for sure. I now had to look intently into the mirror. The mirror was the Word of God, and when I looked back at myself I did not like what I saw. I saw the man I truly was. I saw that all that almost all that I had ever been taught was not truth and I needed to change. I began reading and embracing the Word for what it says instead of what I had been taught and what I wanted to hear. The mirror of truth exposed all things. What is amazingly awesome about this time in my life is that I have never quit looking into the mirror of truth. Daily I read His Word and daily I like what I see. I like what I see that it is and has done in my life. The person I see is Jesus in me. This would not have ever happend if I had not been willing to let the Word examine my life daily.
Today I meet and share the truth with many people on a daily basis. I am reunited with alot of people who knew the old wretch that I was and see the change in who I am in Christ today. It seems the majority are drawn to hear what I say, and are amazed at the change, but soon drift away. They, like I was, do not desire to hear the truth anymore. They have built up their on foundation on what they have been taught and the opinions they have formed in this life. Sadly they walk away and find themselves saying they love Jesus, but embracing the world. How about you? Are you truly desiring to love teh Lord as we have been created to do? Do we truly desire to be His, and desire to know Him more? Then get in His Word daily. Believe what it says and run from the things you have been taught. If what you believe and what you have been taught is allowing you to "Go out to dinner with someone or something rather than Jesus", then flee from it and sek the mirror of truth.....His Word. I know by faith that you will begin seeing who God created us to be "His image."
