I don’t know about you, but I can periodically find myself in a cranky mindset. So many things can irritate me. The problem is that I don’t often recognize it right away. I become very critical on multiple levels. And the longer it goes on, the shorter my patience levels. This is where I have found myself in the last several months. I have been highly irritated by so many people and, ironically, it’s because I think they are critical people. So, as I have been ruminating about their flaws and ramping up my heart rate, I realized how unpleasant I have likely been to be around.
Of course, we are wise to be critical thinkers when assessing the opinions and advice of others whether it’s a personal relationship or scrolling through social media sites. And recognizing the good from the bad is an important part of that. Some people are just negative, self-righteous, judgmental or simply angry. It’s probably good to avoid these types of people if you don’t want to get sucked into the fray. However, it’s impossible to avoid this completely if you’re going to be living in this world, unless you are a total recluse unplugged from twenty-first century reality.
Well, I had an epiphany last Sunday while sitting in church. It should be second nature to me by this time, but how easily we forget the long-standing truths we have learned. As I was sitting there, more in body than in mind, my Lord reminded me that I have had my eyes in the wrong place. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to learn this lesson. It is so easy to fixate on people and my perception of their gigantic flaws. I can stand back from the maddening crowd as if I’m not one of the flawed.
My heart was convicted of my lack of reverence for the only One who is flawless. “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together…for God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ.” (Colossians 1:15-17,19). Wow! Why would I choose to look at anyone else and expect such comparable standards. He is the only One whom I should be looking at. Myself, and every other human being will be disappointing in some way. “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standards.” (Romans 3:23) And yet, we are not without hope. The whole reason the invisible God embodied the visible Jesus was so that we may actually know him. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17).
He is the key to a more contented mindset. And while he can’t fully be known, he has revealed himself, his character, his nature, his love, his promises, his plans for this world, in the Scriptures. When our sins are forgiven through our faith in Jesus we are promised eternal life. We spiritually benefit from that in the here and now but we remain flawed (sinful) until we leave these bodies behind. It’s called the “already, not yet” in theological terms. His indwelling Spirit gradually changes us in this life to reflect more of his nature and less of ours. “But, whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” (2 Corinthians 3:16-18)
But, we will never fully be changed while here. This is why allowing ourselves to be impacted emotionally by others irritating flaws will hinder not only our peace but our purpose in this life. We are all in a state of flux. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) So, once again, I will be intentional to have my mind set on the right Person and by his grace, stay there a bit longer this time…