The pollution of sin thrives and multiples in a fallen
world. Unbelief clouds our judgment and keeps us separated from the grace of
God. There is a striking contrast between the prince of the power of the air,
ruler of this world and the image of God being the air we breathe. It makes me
wonder what we are choosing to breathe…
The enemy comes in on a whisper, speaking half-truths that
take root and cause spiritual blindness and deadens our souls. We become inured
to the beautiful life given to each one of us, and we squander precious moments
in exchange for the great lie.
The lie that tells we are greater than God, that our
self-presence here is more important than that of any one else. We, in this
culture, value achievement, competition, dominance, a d material acquisitions
over sacrifice, love and faith. Out gaze is perpetually stuck on our own
self-gratification. In essence we have become the evil queen from Snow White,
asking our mirror “who is the fairest of them all?” The mirror tells no lies…
but we still see what we want to see. Never asking what God sees in us. We will
disregard the image of the beautiful queen and trade it in envy, failing to see
our image melting into the decrepit hag as we seek to destroy those who ‘steal’
our glory or spotlight.
STOP. Our glory? It is a myth. Our triumphs are as temporary
as our struggles. How can we boast in either one? Just stop.
Psalm 119:132-133
132 Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those
who love your name. 133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let
no sin rule over me.
Back to the evil queen… she sought self-gratifying envious beauty
– all external and quite temporary – when confronted with the truth that there
was one fairer that she, her internal nature was revealed. Horrible, evil,
covetousness; she seeks to destroy the beauty of another. She is completely
polluted, corrupted by evil and she fails in her plot to destroy the light of
another. Destroying someone else does not restore life or heal the wounds you
carry, but it does reveal the presence of the “prince of the power of the air”,
ruler of this world dwelling in your heart.
That kind of destruction will wage war in your heart. There
will be a visible transformation, perhaps not as dramatic as the evil queen but
what lives in your heart IS visible and will pour out on those around you. This
tactic is perfected by the enemy’s quiet whisperings into our hearts and minds…
and can completely undo the grace and portion that God is waiting to pour out
to you.
As I gaze into the mirror seeking God’s truth for my life… is
it my destiny to be consumed and defined by my experiences? Do I live each day
presenting my scars – pleading for mercy for all my sins both present and
future? When is it enough? In all my brokenness, where is hope? What does the
mirror… strike that… what does GOD tell me about myself? Can I receive His
truth and love for me, standing here in all my iniquitous mess?
The true beauty lies in knowing that we get to choose where
we draw our breath. What fragrance do we choose to inhale? The sweet Holy
Spirit presence that is promised to us or the smell of death and decay that
hangs at the fringes of our atmosphere? What do you choose? When you gaze into
the mirror and seek God’s truth for you are you the fairest in His sight or are
you consumed with the false beauty promised to the evil queen and the prince of
lies?
We get to choose. Choose to seek His truth for your life;
His message of redeeming grace and unmerited mercy. Be transformed into an
abundant life overflowing with hope and beauty and joy… exceeding all expectations.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve
what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
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