I sit in the chair I laughingly refer to as my 'throne', in my room in the quiet morning. I'm getting ready for the day. I look into the mirror of God's Word and see the true reflection of my soul and intents of the heart. I see my blemishes and my imperfections reflected there. Then, sometimes, I reach for the concealer: for my bad attitude regarding a certain matter, I put on silence, hoping it won't leak through. For my impatience, I put on, well, usually silence again, hoping my frustration doesn't show to any onlookers. For my unkindness, I hate it if my family sees it sometimes, but I certainly don't want anyone else to see it- I might conceal an ungracious heart with a smile in front of strangers. But, when the Light shines bright and unforgiving, it exposes all my heart, all the blemishes.
I turn back to my physical appearance; it's a sad thing that I won't be blemishless on this side of heaven, I think to myself. I reach again for the concealer. But there is no reason I should not strive to be blameless of spirit.
Blameless... it's a word you don't hear much in this day and age. No one really wants to grow up and be blameless. Savvy, clever, powerful, influential, perhaps, but you rarely hear aspirations to be blameless, pure, wholesome, righteous, holy, sober.
Another day, I sit on my big chair again, getting ready for the day. I read my Bible... I wander around in II Peter. I land at a passage from chapter three...
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing; that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.
If we didn't think Christ was coming at all, it might be important to concentrate on being clever and getting ahead of the next guy; but since we do, "what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God...?"
Time is short; it's the invisible that matters, I remind myself so many times a day. Life can be dark; but Christ is Light and always Victor in the end. Since the end will be sooner rather than later, we should look forward to the Great Victory of His return, being diligent 'to be found by Him in Peace, without spot and blameless.'
That He (Jesus) might sanctify and cleanse it (the church) with the washing of the water of the Word. That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it would be holy and without blemish. (Eph. 5:26,27)
A blameless soul needs no concealers.
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| I like to write notes to myself, if you haven't noticed. I keep this one by my vanity table to help me remember that nothing is hidden from the Light. |
4 comments:
This reminds me of an idea I've been following for a while now, the idea of being completely transparent before God. The psalms put it in my head. They are so very human, the most human part of the Bible. In them is revealed every human emotion from the sublime to the diabolical, and all are laid before God with complete openness. The psalmist doesn't hide them, even when I certainly would. There is a wisdom there which is more than human. For one thing it isn't as if anything could really be hidden from God, of course; but also, He seems to want to bring things into the light. He wants us to lay everything out before Him instead of hiding some of it away in the dark. When I read the psalms it's as if He is telling me, "These men felt everything you feel, thought everything you think and more. They were both more holy and more evil, but they were wiser because they didn't try to judge themselves. They let me be the judge."
Someday, maybe soon, I'll write it all out properly. But this blog got me thinking. Thanks.
Mmm.... what good thoughts. "but they were wiser because they didn't try to judge themselves. They let me be the judge." I love that. I really look forward to reading your thoughts on this- hopefully it will be soon. And normally it is always you who gets to me thinking, so glad I could be of service for once. ;)
I really enjoyed reading this. I came across your blog because we share a mutual friend, Carmen. :) I am learning the lessons of living a blameless life - and so wish I had this wisdom when I was younger. It goes along with everything I try to teach my children, as they are all such impresionable ages. Trying to teach them to be their own person and be accountable for their own actions - and not going along with someone else's plan and misdeeds. Going to go look up 2 Peter in my own bible :) ~Denise
Oh, welcome to my blog!! Thank you for coming by and for commenting! I so appreciate it!! You are such a wise mother to teach your children this at a young age!
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