Jacob
2007-12-03 02:11:59 UTC
We human beings are quite good at deceiving ourselves. The Bible says
that the heart is more deceitful than anything else (Je.17:9). We can
make ourselves believe what we want to believe. Especially when we
don't like what we see in ourselves we would like to make ourselves
believe that we are in fact better or greater than we really are.
Let us just look at some circumstances in which we may deceive
ourselves.
Let us say we have understood doctrines better than many people around
us. As a result we frequently find ourselves being in the right when
we look at others who are wrong. This tends to make us think that we
are better than the others, forgetting that it is only our doctrines
that are better! There may still be a big gap between what we believe
as doctrines and how we are in our practical life. Don't we need a
reality check?
Or, we are in a good church with great preaching and lots of
activities. We feel quite great when we stand in the midst of the
others and join in worship, thankful that our church is so good. But
does it follow that just because we are in a good church we are
spiritual? We need another reality check.
Perhaps our pastor is a great man of God, and his sermons are so
touching! We know him personally and he has come to our house and
blessed us! Does association with a great man make us great? Reality
check!
We say we have one or two spiritual gifts. When we 'minister' others
are blessed! Do spiritual gifts make anyone spiritual? Or is it
spiritual fruit that make us spiritual? (Mt.7:22,23).
We are very active in Christian work, giving of our time and energy,
and people may think much about us. But isn't it possible that we are
hollow inside (1Co.13:3)?
Perhaps someone prophesied over us that we are someone special for
God. Even assuming that it was genuine, think of King Saul or Judas,
for example, who started with a great calling!
We can look back at some fantastic experiences we have had in the
past, perhaps? We saw a dream or a vision or heard God speaking to us,
or we have experienced a miraculous healing or answer to prayer. Do
such experiences make us special, or are these merely signs of God's
kindness? There may be other circumstances that tend to make us think
that we are someone special or great.
What is the basis of a good reality check?
What is really important is what God thinks about us, whether we are
special or great. And what makes anyone special in God's eyes depends
on his life, depending on how much he has taken part of the spirit of
Christ. Jesus certainly appreciated great faith. But great faith leads
to great lives, which can be seen, heard and touched by others around
us (1Jn.1:1,2). That is the ultimate reality check.
Let us not deceive ourselves. Reality may hurt, but it is the truth.
It is better to go through a painful surgery now than to suffer
eternal loss. Just as we change our physical lifestyle when a medical
test shows something wrong, shall we not mend our ways when the
reality test of our lives gives a warning?
that the heart is more deceitful than anything else (Je.17:9). We can
make ourselves believe what we want to believe. Especially when we
don't like what we see in ourselves we would like to make ourselves
believe that we are in fact better or greater than we really are.
Let us just look at some circumstances in which we may deceive
ourselves.
Let us say we have understood doctrines better than many people around
us. As a result we frequently find ourselves being in the right when
we look at others who are wrong. This tends to make us think that we
are better than the others, forgetting that it is only our doctrines
that are better! There may still be a big gap between what we believe
as doctrines and how we are in our practical life. Don't we need a
reality check?
Or, we are in a good church with great preaching and lots of
activities. We feel quite great when we stand in the midst of the
others and join in worship, thankful that our church is so good. But
does it follow that just because we are in a good church we are
spiritual? We need another reality check.
Perhaps our pastor is a great man of God, and his sermons are so
touching! We know him personally and he has come to our house and
blessed us! Does association with a great man make us great? Reality
check!
We say we have one or two spiritual gifts. When we 'minister' others
are blessed! Do spiritual gifts make anyone spiritual? Or is it
spiritual fruit that make us spiritual? (Mt.7:22,23).
We are very active in Christian work, giving of our time and energy,
and people may think much about us. But isn't it possible that we are
hollow inside (1Co.13:3)?
Perhaps someone prophesied over us that we are someone special for
God. Even assuming that it was genuine, think of King Saul or Judas,
for example, who started with a great calling!
We can look back at some fantastic experiences we have had in the
past, perhaps? We saw a dream or a vision or heard God speaking to us,
or we have experienced a miraculous healing or answer to prayer. Do
such experiences make us special, or are these merely signs of God's
kindness? There may be other circumstances that tend to make us think
that we are someone special or great.
What is the basis of a good reality check?
What is really important is what God thinks about us, whether we are
special or great. And what makes anyone special in God's eyes depends
on his life, depending on how much he has taken part of the spirit of
Christ. Jesus certainly appreciated great faith. But great faith leads
to great lives, which can be seen, heard and touched by others around
us (1Jn.1:1,2). That is the ultimate reality check.
Let us not deceive ourselves. Reality may hurt, but it is the truth.
It is better to go through a painful surgery now than to suffer
eternal loss. Just as we change our physical lifestyle when a medical
test shows something wrong, shall we not mend our ways when the
reality test of our lives gives a warning?