For those outside of Christ, they think we are people who think we are perfect and unblemished. It's not true! Christians fail just as much as those outside of Christ. I fall and fail all the time. The pressure we have put on ourselves to be perfect in our steps, to make sure nobody thinks that we have sinned. It's pressure that is ridiculous, it is something we Christians have put on ourselves.
I will tell you that my failures are bad, if I didn't have Jesus to intervene for me I would be a mess. He's the only thing to me in this world that makes sense. My policy is and has always been, you get what you see. A person who will never try to live his life to impress anybody. I'm a work in progress that is being constructed by Christ himself. That's it and nothing more. And to him I am grateful!
We are shocked when another Christian has repented of a sin and has embarrassed their family and brought on all sorts of problems for others. I understand it's hard to bring out something that you've hidden for some time. Shame in front of other people is a horrible thing to bring about, but when you boil it all down its the work of Satan. Yes, we made the choice and we knew the decision was wrong but that's where God knows it's his time to step in. He comes down and takes care of everyone who has been hurt in the situation.
One of the stories in the Bible that really showed me the grace of Jesus was the story of the woman caught in adultery. The teachers of the law were really waiting for this girl to make this mistake. They were ready to catch her and exploit her in the eyes of everyone around. They really were not to concerned about the woman but they wanted to know Jesus' view on the matter. They wanted him to blaspheme the law and they wanted him to say the wrong thing. As they approached the first step of their legalistic soap box they picked up a stone and started their speech about stoning the woman. According to the law of Moses the woman should be put to death for such a sin. Stones were ready to be hurled, but Jesus bent down and started drawing in the sand and said the words that bring me great relief. "He who is without sin, cast the first stone!" Stones were not launched, but dropped. Amazing!
We Christians have become stone throwers. We are ready to launch quick with our gossip and our finger pointing. Jesus was the one without sin, he was the only one who had the right to cast the first stone. But he didn't, instead he flung grace. He didn't do anything we would've done. Standing there he rewrote the law of Moses and continues to erase all the laws and writes the word grace on each page.
I have come to know the love of Christ, yet I am imperfect of showing such a love. I am a lost sheep in the dark forest of life just like every human who has ever roamed this Earth. I am a mess but I am saved by the blood of Christ. I will always believe in Christ and I will always know he expects me to strive for good always but he knows the test for perfection is hard and very difficult to ace. He became the curve for all of us to pass, to all who compete in the race and hang on to the finish line the reward is eternal life. And the best thing is it doesn't matter if we ran or walked the race just as long as we finished. There is no ribbon at the end just two pierced hands waiting to give a hug. Amen!
