The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. JOHN 1:5
The idea that God sees the intimate details of your life in their entirety and shines a light on the dark parts may be disconcerting to you. The Lord has an unobstructed view of your sins, ugly thoughts, and wounds. That thought can be embarrassing and scary.
But remember, you've been thoroughly and eternally forgiven through Christ's sacrificial death. His soul-penetrating gaze is not to condemn or shame you; instead, it is to identify what continues to injure you, how you defeat yourself, and the ways you remain in bondage.
If you've ever wondered, What's wrong with me? or Why does this keep happening -What am I doing wrong? the Lord knows and wants to help you. Others may reject you, but He will will never abandon you. You are not alone in this world. God sees you, and He cares for you profoundly. He watches over every intimate detail of your existence, so He can minister to your most pressing needs and deepest hurts. So
allow Him to shine a light on the things you'd prefer be left in the dark. He will speak to your spirit, fears, calm your fears, bring understanding to areas of confusion, and set you free from all that holds you back.
Jesus, thank You that the light You shed on my life sets me free. Amen
- Dr. Charles Stanley Trusting God with Today.
Dr. Stanley hit the nail right on the head in his opening sentence. It's very disconcerting.
Yet the deeper truth is found nearer the end of that devotional.
"His soul-penetrating gaze is not
to condemn or shame you; instead, it is to identify what continues to injure you, how you defeat yourself, and the ways you remain in bondage."
To have new alive eyes that see brings to mind a common saying. "I can't unsee that!". Some, I would dare say even myself at times, try our best to shut them again and try to forget what we have seen. Another common saying goes well with it: the truth hurts.
When we are given a new beginning, a new body in Christ, we need a new owners manual. While it's the same one that lead us to Christ in the first place, it's now taking on the true flavor of the original Author.
We would follow Adam and Eve in our first reaction to the knowledge we now possess...attempt to unsee the truth but also realize quickly that's not going to happen.
It's hard facing something that God says that He needs to change in us. Again I am reminded of various episodes of M*A*S*H where the storyline was far from jovial. Seriousness often came into the show after Potter and B.J. came.
A gradual understanding began to be introduced to the real effects of war and the psychological ramifications of it...soldiers who couldn't come to grips with the things they were commanded to do. I know of one such episode, a soldier was broken not because of a battlefield engagement but rather he killed a man over a pair of boots. He couldn't unsee the series of events nor could Colonel Potter find the words to console him.
We are in a spiritual war. We can't unsee the effects of the sin nature we carry until our dying day or the day the Lord returns. We can live in denial. We can pursue pleasures of this world to try to drown out the effects. We can order our lives in such a way that things that disturb us about sin are more than an arms distance away. We can do all that and still have to remember the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places that are relentless. We can do all that and still have to remember that we will have to give an account of our lives before Jesus.
Acknowledging what Jesus sheds light on in our lives and turning them over to Him for their destruction is always the best thing to do. Taking up our own cross and following Jesus means we can't possibly carry anything else. Trusting in the Lord with all your heart And not leaning on your own understanding really becomes a very real thing.
Our own understanding is so inadequate to the task of transforming us into the character of Christ.
Our own understanding isn't able to follow Jesus with what He reveals that He says needs to change or go away.
We need a local Church that preaches the whole counsel of God to be a part of and we need to trust and obey. We need to realize that in every step of the way Jesus stays with us as the Good Shepherd that He is. People may tell us that we will be alone but in Christ that's an impossible thing.
The revelations of my inner man have scared the mess out of me but Jesus, taking me by the hand, is taking me through it all with a promise of a much greater life on the other side.
The same is true for you if you just let Jesus lead, don't be afraid of the things you see because He is with you.
Trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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