I once was lost, but now Im found. Not only was I lost, but like Joseph I was held captive. Like the children of Israel, I was sold for no cost at all. Sin was holding me captive and my brothers lust, greed, and pride sold me away to him. Bitterness & harshness had become my reality. Self-doubt, depression, and frustration were my only friends. I pondered, how much lower could I go? Yet they urged me to go lower. Before I knew it there was only darkness around me, my hope was easily snuffed out like a candle. My heart was hardened and now even my pleasure was in the darkness. I avoided the light because it only exposed the things I wanted to remain hidden. In the dark, I didnt have to look at the enemy. But in the light, it was clear the enemy was me. I couldnt blame others for my problems when I was in the light. There was no temptation there and no comfort in doing evil. In the light I hated myself, everything I now stood for and everything that I had become. In the darkness everything was acceptable, but here in the light you could actually see the destruction and deterioration of the very thing that was once so invaluable. Now its hard to look at my reflection in the mirror and walk away with any sense of peace or joy. I have allowed my circumstances, situations, and choices to push me to the point of not caring about anything or anyone, including myself. But in spite of the defiled reflection looking back at me in the mirror, the broken spirited image, the corrupted soul, there remains a voice beckoning for me. But who could possibly want me and why would anyone be calling me? Havent they seen me. Dont they see what I have become? Thanks be to God, that when he looks at me he doesnt see me as I am, or as I was. But what is it exactly that he sees? Surely its not the same image that I just saw in the mirror. My response is to retreat to the comfort of darkness, for there is cover and secrecy . But Gods voice warns, dont you know that there will come a time when there is no more darkness and there will only be light. Where will you hide then? Come to the light while there is time, so that you may obtain grace. Walk in the light now, so that when darkness is consumed you will have a place of refuge. But how can I stand in the light? My feet are filthy from the places I have travelled, my heart is jaded from the evil that I have entertained, my body is soiled with the guilty stains of deeds untold. My grace is sufficient. What is grace? The image you see in the mirror is not the same image I see when I look at you. My vantage point is different. There is a cross between where I sit and the place where you stand. In the light, it casts such a shadow over you that you look like my son, with whom I am well pleased. Instead of continuing to look at yourself from your vantage point, look from mine. If you see yourself the way that I see you, you would love yourself. You wouldnt allow the image you saw in the mirror to remain, but you would walk with a new and positive outlook in life. Not only do you look different from where I stand, but your problems disappear in the shadow of the cross. The guilt has fallen off, the bitterness turns into rejoicing, the harshness turns into confidence in the eternal salvation which is to come. From my vantage point, everything you went through and experienced shows you where my hand of grace and mercy kept you from utter destruction. Even while you were in darkness. There is not one place that you can go where I cannot see or deliver you. -Derian Jones
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 17:11:44 +0000
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