Acting the Fool

Actors are people who preform to an audience in plays and films. A good actor can lead an audience to believe they are something they are not.  The ancient word for an actor is, ‘hypocrite’.

In the Christian life, we should NOT be an actor.  Our walk should be without ‘hypocrisy’ – we should not hide behind a mask.  Being a spiritual-actor is a complete waste of time.  We can fool many people into believing we’re something we’re not, but we can never fool God.  He sees behind the mask and knows exactly who we are and what we are thinking. 
True, it is often necessary to put on a mask when dealing with certain people and circumstances, and even commendable to put on a brave face in adversity.  However, we can go too far with acting and soon life becomes a continual performance with our true self only emerging when backstage (in private).
We gain nothing by fooling those around us.  In fact, we have much to lose (real relationships need real people – actors only pretend).   We should relax about appearances because in the end an account of our lives is only given to the One who has witnessed our entire performance (on stage and backstage).  Being ‘hypocritical’ may fool some, but who are we really fooling?

Beautiful Wisdom

The beauty pageant was in full swing, but all went silent when the pageant host asked the Miss World contenders a very curious question.  ‘What do you think is more important: beauty or wisdom?’
All the girls agreed that wisdom was the most important.  The host then asked, ‘Which of these have you spent more effort trying to acquire?’  All the hopeful Miss Worlds smiled towards the audience showing their perfect teeth and wisely declined to answer.

So much time is spent at gyms and beauty salons, and so much money invested in products that promote and emphasize our outer beauty - but how much time do we spend on acquiring wisdom? There is nothing wrong with beauty.  We should endeavor to look our best and keep our bodies in excellent health - but as with most things, it’s a question of balance.  We should remember the Word of God is wisdom and wisdom is the essence of inner beauty.  Outer beauty fades but wisdom goes into eternity – thus the Word of God is the ultimate beauty product. 
If we don’t spend time acquiring wisdom, we are destined to become old fools.    How imbecilic to spend all our energy and resources on temporal outer beauty that eventually fades and completely neglect the inner beauty that will be our reflection for eternity.

Painting a Self Portrait

The easiest portrait for artists to paint is a self portrait.  All they need to start is themselves, a mirror and the right light.  They know their features intimately; moreover, they can feel how they look.  When an artist is ready to paint, they are always ready to model.  They also have the added luxury to rework their own image until it is exactly the way they want.  Alternately, there are many problems in painting someone else’s portrait.  The subject may not be around when the artist wants to paint and when they are they can’t sit still.  On completion, the subject is rarely satisfied with the finished result.

As Christians, we should be working on our own soul-portrait by looking into the mirror-of-the-Word, illuminating ourselves in the light-of-Truth, and painting with brushes-of-Faith. However, as we work on our own portrait there is a temptation to dabble with other people’s portraits.  When we hear an inspiring message, we are often guilty of thinking, ‘what’s-his-name’ should have heard that; it would have done him a world of good.  But we should stop trying to paint other people’s portraits in the colours that appeal to us and concentrate on our own Christian image.    
As long as we are alive, we are a work in progress.  If we use the right techniques, eventually, our soul-portrait will have a striking resemblance to that of Christ and when we exhibit ourselves to the world people will start asking (without coercion) what joyful colours and compassionate techniques we used so they can apply them on their own soul-portrait.

Where We Focus

Two bird-watchers (birdos) sat relaxed on a hill with binoculars raised.  One birdo was looking skywards and the other was focused on the valley below.  Suddenly, the birdo looking into the valley jumped in rage. ‘Did you see that blasted cat?’ he growled. ‘No doubt on its way to eat some innocent bird!  Doesn’t it make your blood boil?’
The other birdo shrugged her shoulders.  ‘Sorry, didn’t see it.  I’ve been focusing on that magnificent eagle flying peacefully above us.’

Are we stressed or relaxed?  The answer is determined by the focus of our thoughts.  Stress and worry can be easily justified - at times, this world is a horrible place filled with many injustices.  However, if our thoughts are focused on worldly things, we eventually get a grim, pessimistic and bitter outlook to life that will infect everything we do.
Alternatively, if we focus our thoughts heavenward to God (confident in the knowledge that He can take care of all the injustices of life) we will soon become filled with an inner peace. This relaxed mental stance results from focusing on the fact that we are not getting what we rightly deserve (judgment) and receiving that which we don’t deserve (divine kindness and mercy).

IQ Test

We label a person an imbecile or a genius on the basis of an IQ test.  This classification depends on the number of questions correctly answered in a given time. 

There is also an IQ test that eternally classifies us genius or morons.  God has given us a certain amount of time (life on earth) to answer one simple question - what do you think of Christ?  Our answer will determine whether we are an eternal genius or an eternal moron.  Isn’t it amazing that the IQ test that really matters has only one question – Do you believe Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your wrong doings and died on your behalf so you may have everlasting life?  One correct answer can make a foolish believer wiser than the most brilliant unbeliever.

Driving in Our Car

Cars are a means of transport – they are a wheeled vehicles propelled by the use of a motor. 

Our spiritual life is like a car.  When we first believe in Jesus Christ we receive one as a birthday present.  God supplies unlimited power to our car’s super-engine.  If we wish to go places in our car (spiritual life) we must firstly get in (1 John 1:9), turn on the ignition (faith) and place our foot on the pedals (personal motivation and drive).  The steering wheel is our volition and it is up to us in which direction we head.  However, God does not leave us to drive round aimlessly – there’s a map in the glove box to direct us (Bible), but we must read it to be of any use. We also have a radio (a still small voice); if we listen, we’ll get regular traffic reports and know which roads to avoid.
God has designed a uniquely individual spiritual life for each of us.  It saddens Him when we leave our spiritual-car in the shed and choose to walk (doing everything by our own energy) or worse, go hitching for a lift (rely on the power of others).

Pulling the Trailer

A trailer has no engine.  It was never designed to be a self-powered vehicle. They are designed to carry loads and can only move if attached to a source of power.  If our trailer has a heavy load and a long way to travel, we attach the trailer to a car because we know it won’t get far if we try to pull it ourselves.

Our trailer (Christian works) is attached to our car (spiritual life). The one should naturally follow the other (if we are thinking right things we will naturally do right things).  When God is the power in our spiritual life, our works should never exhaust us - our burden should be light.  The first priority should always be our relationship with God - He is the source of power.  If we are becoming tired, maybe it is because we left our car (spiritual life), unhooked the trailer (Christian works) and are trying to pull it ourselves.  The sad truth is, if we are pulling our trailer (just doing works), we are going nowhere in our car (spiritual life).  Soon, we’ll become exhausted and hinder everyone on the road.  Eventually, other people will need to take our load because we are too fatigued to carry on.

Lessons Learnt

Angels were created in paradise.  From the very start they enjoyed God’s unrestrained love and blessings.  They knew nothing of suffering, sickness, aging or pain.  These concepts were as alien to them as colours to a blind man.  A being who has never suffered cannot truly understand suffering.
On the other side of the coin, humans are born into a corrupt world filled with suffering, violence, deprivation and pain.  However, as Christians, we are told that when we die all these horrible things will pass away.  We will enjoy God’s unrestrained love and blessings.  We will never again feel pain, we will never again suffer and we will never again get sick.  It is beyond our mental ability to fully grasp how wonderful it will be.

Human history is lesson-time for both angels and humans - lessons that God never desired to give.  However, when a being is created with absolute free-will, rebellion is bound to occur.  God is dealing with the repercussions of sin once and for all - so the issue will never reoccur in eternity.  He is also proving to all His creatures that a loving God must condemn sin if He is to remain perfectly fair, just and righteous.
As angels watch human history they witness God’s grace in action.  We humans are the recipients of grace in our self-induced classroom of suffering.  But we mustn’t think that mankind got the short end.  For those who believe in Christ, human history and suffering is thankfully a short lesson.  Following this, we have eternity to learn the wonderful lessons of what it means to be the recipients of God’s unrestrained love and blessings.

On the Knife's Edge

Knives have the potential of being misused, and if you carelessly pick one up by its sharp edge you are sure to get a nasty cut.  However, without them, working in the kitchen, eating at the table and numerous other jobs would be immensely difficult.

There are many things in life that have the potential of being misused and abused - money, sex, drugs, television, electronic games, cars, social life, music, books, fashion - the list is long.  Just as with knives, they all have the possibility to be misused.  As Christians, we are often guilty of completely banning legitimate things because they have the potential to cause harm.  However, blanket-banning legitimate things solve nothing.  If the Bible says they are suitable and beneficial, they are here to stay.  Our children should be taught how to handle life’s-knives so they don’t injure themselves.  If everything with potential to be misused is banned, we shouldn’t be surprised when they mishandle these things later and injure themselves.    Education is the key - God has given us biblical instruction on misuse and abuse to aid us in determining the safe side of ‘life’s knives’.

Spiritual See-saw

A see-saw is a plank balanced in the middle by an upright support in such a way that each end can alternately rise and fall.  To function properly a see-saw needs an equal load on both ends.  A single person on a see-saw is just a dead weight moving nowhere. 

Our spiritual life is like a see-saw.  God is the upright support in the middle that never moves.  The plank is our spiritual life.  On one side we must balance - ‘studying the Word’.  On the other side - ‘spiritual production’.  One without the other results in either a dead-spiritual-life or the production of dead-works.  Study without production is like a tree that never bears fruit.  Works without study inevitably results in the production of wood, hay and stubble to be burnt at the ‘Judgement Seat of Christ’.  As with most things there must be a balance.  However, one does come before the other - learning the Word of God always comes before production.  Yet if there is no production (applying those things we learn) there will be no movement.  Our spiritual lives should always be in motion.  If it is one-sided we shouldn’t be surprised when we become a spiritual dead weight moving nowhere.

Raising Our Glass

When someone has done something worthy of praise, it is customary to fill our glasses, raise them and make a toast to honour their achievement.  To be honoured with a toast by a dedicated professional is usually far more meaningful than a toast made by an empty-headed drunk.

God is perfect and everything He does is exceedingly worthy of our praise.  However, before raising our souls to heaven to praise God (in prayer, communion, etc) we should make sure we are sober (in fellowship - 1 John 1:9).  We should also fill our souls in awareness of the reason for which we are praising Him - otherwise we toast God with an empty glass.  The more our soul is filled with the Word, the more meaningful our praises are to Him.

Whip of Judgement

Anyone who has handled a whip knows that it should be handled with great care.  A whip can cause nasty injures.  When used incorrectly, the whip can flick back at the same speed it was lashed out.

God has given each of us a Whip of Judgement.  It is never to be used on others.  Its purpose is to aid in self restraint.  With correct use, our whip (judging self) will not injure but encourage personal advancement. 
We are strictly forbidden to misuse our whip to judge and criticize others.  In fact, God has made sure that should our Whip of Judgement be used incorrectly, it will snap back to injure us at the same speed we lashed it out. 
At times, God allows us to see into the lives of those around us, not so we can judge them but to intercede (with prayer) on their behalf.

Cluttered

A home is a constant battle to keep clean.  If we sweep things under carpets or shove stuff into cupboards it won’t be long before our home is again a mess.  We may have hidden the clutter but a surface clean at best is only a temporary solution.   Periodically, we must have a good spring-clean because a cluttered home can never be an organised home. 

Our soul is our permanent home.  Just like any home it gets messy everyday (with sin and many other issues of life).  We may dress neatly and put a smile on our face, but this is only surface cleaning.  When we don’t deal with our sins and unresolved issues they mount up.  Our souls are soon filled with garbage (depression, jealousy, fear, bitterness, etc).  We can’t clutter our lives with unresolved issues and sin - nor can we shove them into compartments of our soul and pretend they’re not there.  A cluttered soul is an unorganised soul.  Periodically (daily if possible), we have to deal with these problems before the Lord, otherwise our lives will always be one big mess.

Artists & Vandals

Both artists and vandals leave behind their mark.  So what are some differences that separate them?  Artists create while vandals destroy.  Artists leave their mark in appropriate places while vandals don’t care where they leave their mark.  Artists try to inspire, while vandals demoralise.  Artists endeavour to add to beauty, while vandals take from beauty. 

We should ask ourselves what we have created that is worthy of exhibition in our own lives and in the lives of others.  If we reflect and find that we always expect encouragement from others yet never give it; demand help yet never offer it; insist on honesty but deal in dishonesty; always take but never give; ambitiously charge forward not caring who is knocked down - then we are not artists, we are vandals.
 If our life is a trail of devastation and broken relationships, we have certainly left our mark - much to the detriment of everyone who has known us.   God desires that we all be Artists-of-Life.  We are to encourage and inspire – to build people up and help them look heavenward.  God wants us to live a life that creates many ‘spiritual artworks’ that He will exhibit forever in eternity. 

A Christmas Illustration

Over the years Christmas has lost its Christian focus.  Yet amongst the Santas, elves, Christmas trees, stockings and presents is a wonderful illustration of the true meaning of Christmas.

Santa is a joyful giver ruling benevolently from the North Pole - God is a gracious giver ruling benevolently from Heaven.  Santa reads all mail sent to him by children of the world then tailor-makes gifts for each individual child – God listens to every prayer sent to Him by His earthly children then tailor-makes blessing for the individual needs of each.  Santa has elfin helpers working towards Santa’s goals – God has elect angels that work tirelessly for God’s glory.
 The Christmas tree is a place where wonderful gifts can be found - the Tree of Christ (the Cross) is where the greatest of all gifts (eternal salvation) can be found.  If a child is nice or naughty determines whether their Christmas stocking is filled with presents or coal - whether we follow God’s plan or our own, determines if our lives will be filled with blessing or self-inflicted-misery.
Christmas is a joyful time.  As Christians, every day should be celebrated as Christmas and we should be filled with the Christmas (Holy) Spirit.  Our ‘daily cup’ should be overflowing with Christmas cheer (the fruit of the Spirit).  When thirsty people desire a drink, we can lead them to the first Christmas Tree where God presented Himself as a gift - a living Sacrifice.  He became humanity (the babe in the manger) and wiped away the ‘penalty of sin’, so all who believe (in Christ) may receive the gift of everlasting life.