by Audrey Wauson
Optical illusions are fascinating. They seem to be one thing when they really are another. The other day my husband and I were looking at the mountains and we realized that some days the mountains seem very large … like they are towering over the city. And on other days the mountains seem small, insignificant, and far away. Then we realized that it was an optical illusion. When the skies are clear, and all you can see is a light blue expanse in every direction, the mountains appear to be small hills and the sky appears immense. However, on cloudy days, especially on days when the clouds are hovering over the mountains and the sky is a dark gray-blue color. Then the mountains are a huge, massive landmark, enveloping the entire visual space of the city.
Some of my friends have family serving time in prison because of reckless behavior. Some of my friends have destroyed their health because of poor choices and bad habits. Some of my friends have lost their families because of selfish pursuits. Their problem is that they forgot that God is God. And like Samson, King David, Ananias, and Sapphira in the Bible, they just did what they thought was good in the moment. They became large in their own eyes. It looked like, at the time, they would get away with it. They forgot to have a fear of God; they forgot that judgment is coming. Their lives were really an optical illusion. In their own eyes they were big. But when the dust settled, when the clouds of self-importance were blown away, when the sky revealed itself, their true size, their true importance became apparent.
Sometimes I forget that God is God and I am NOT. Sometimes I forget that if God judged me according to what I deserve there would be nothing left of me. Sometimes I forget that I need to have a very large and healthy fear of God. I do not want to become someone else’s example of ‘what not to do.'
One of my husband’s favorite preachers, Mac Brunson, quotes a Greek proverb that says, “’The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine.’ In other words do not presume that because God has not judged you for your sin that He will not judge you tomorrow.” We need to confess our sins daily, plead the blood of the Lamb who was slain for our sins.
Optical illusions are fascinating. They seem to be one thing when they really are another. The other day my husband and I were looking at the mountains and we realized that some days the mountains seem very large … like they are towering over the city. And on other days the mountains seem small, insignificant, and far away. Then we realized that it was an optical illusion. When the skies are clear, and all you can see is a light blue expanse in every direction, the mountains appear to be small hills and the sky appears immense. However, on cloudy days, especially on days when the clouds are hovering over the mountains and the sky is a dark gray-blue color. Then the mountains are a huge, massive landmark, enveloping the entire visual space of the city.
Some of my friends have family serving time in prison because of reckless behavior. Some of my friends have destroyed their health because of poor choices and bad habits. Some of my friends have lost their families because of selfish pursuits. Their problem is that they forgot that God is God. And like Samson, King David, Ananias, and Sapphira in the Bible, they just did what they thought was good in the moment. They became large in their own eyes. It looked like, at the time, they would get away with it. They forgot to have a fear of God; they forgot that judgment is coming. Their lives were really an optical illusion. In their own eyes they were big. But when the dust settled, when the clouds of self-importance were blown away, when the sky revealed itself, their true size, their true importance became apparent.
Sometimes I forget that God is God and I am NOT. Sometimes I forget that if God judged me according to what I deserve there would be nothing left of me. Sometimes I forget that I need to have a very large and healthy fear of God. I do not want to become someone else’s example of ‘what not to do.'
One of my husband’s favorite preachers, Mac Brunson, quotes a Greek proverb that says, “’The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine.’ In other words do not presume that because God has not judged you for your sin that He will not judge you tomorrow.” We need to confess our sins daily, plead the blood of the Lamb who was slain for our sins.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Psalm 139:23,24
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Who may worship in Your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter Your presence on Your holy hill?
Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
Psalm 15:2
God, please don’t let me continue my life with any illusions about who I am. Please help me to remember who You are and have mercy on me, a sinner saved by the precious blood of Your Son, Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment