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We have all seen the articles, videos, books and seminars. There are more people to share their view of the right way to do or be anything than there are was to be. Ecclesiastes 12:12 says “ And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh”. We desire to compile the ways to do and be more than we were yesterday and how to get to who we think we want to be tomorrow. All the while wasting the single greatest resource we have in this moment, who we are today.
We are never able to measure up to the expectations and ideals of others. We don’t even measure up to our own. We pretend to be who we are not so others won’t see who we are. Some people hide secret lives for years and when they are exposed they often have a sense of relief that the charade is no longer necessary. The toll of lies and deception warp truth and displace love. The cost of being someone other than you are is the destruction of who you are. Trying to fit a boa constrictor into a birds nest or an eagle into a cockatrice den is hardly feasible. Yet we attempt a similar act when we cease to be who Jesus designed us to be.
Designed is a key word. Designed means made with a purpose. It means only able to operate and function properly within the boundaries of its completed conception. As humans we are created originally in the image of God the Creator. His likeness is upon our makeup and His essence throughout our being. Simply by being, we are the message He presents of Himself. He said “Let there be light”. He accomplish all of His purpose and according to His perfect plan, established all that is. And He saw that is was very good, very good. Perfection existed in His presence. Love did not emanate from Him. He is Love, with a capital L. His purpose has often been declared to be to have intimate loving fellowship with His highest creation, man.
It is superfluous to describe the impact of sin on this plan. It is rampant around and in us. His plan included the knowledge of the disobedience of Adam and Eve and of you and me. His redemption was purposed from before the the world began. His mercy endures the cost and His grace restrains His judgment. Today He sees His perfect plan continuing its proper purpose and sees us coming to Him in His time through His blood. Sin is our choice. Believing His word is our choice. Repenting is our choice. Living each day for Him and repeating His message are our choices. It is not our message about us or others who have reformed themselves to become worthy of His attention. It is the message of Him; His love; His plan; His forgiveness; His redemption; His salvation and restoration and His perfect purpose being completed just as He planned from the beginning.
You are His message. You are either an example of His marvelous, unfathomable grace, or the warning of the consequences of hypocrisy to the unbelievers and deceived. His message is the purpose of His messengers. Is our message still Christ or is it once again me?