Who We Really Are - Who We Want to Be
Dear Kindred Spirits in Christ,
As I believe it is for most of us, I have moments where I question myself - what I've managed to accomplish in life, and where it all stands in this particular time and place. Do I do enough for God's Kingdom? Do I have a positive impact on those who move within my circle, or at least within my reach? Sometimes I think so. But not always. It is written in John 4:44 that not even Jesus Christ Himself had honor in His own country. One explanation offered is the factor of familiarity.
Those who watched me grow up, with all the pitfalls and mistakes of youth, already have a preconceived notion of who I am. Those who are aware of my adult downfalls probably view me from a tarnished perspective. Do you feel this way, at least sometimes?
2nd Corinthians 5:17 states: Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature - old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. And we know this to be true. Yet we still slip and slide, veering off course at times, if only in our thoughts.
I cried out to God, years ago. "How could I have done such things?" Unfortunately, it was all too easy...In an earlier blog, I wrote about forgiving ourselves, which is often the hardest thing to accomplish. I think we have to remember that we are mere shadows of our true selves, here in the flesh, with all its hang ups and temptations.
Isn't it wonderful that upon true repentance, we start anew, in that very second - not only forgiven, but with a cleansed page in our personal chapter of God's Book of Life. People do not forget, but God does! People may hold the past against us, but Father God does not! So, who are we in the community of Christ? We are His children, uniquely created and formed in His image, with destinies to be completed, beauty to be explored and thankful for, even in the midst of the darkness surrounding us. We are brothers and sisters, bound by the blood of Christ and set free because of it. We are spirit and flesh, with both good and evil upon us - and within us - if we fail to stay repentant and focused on above. Let's rejoice in knowing that the day is coming when we will finally attain what we want to be and become who we really are for all eternity...
Love Always,
Marti