The Man In The Mirror
Matthew 5:3 (NIV) - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Sometime in the future if an artist were to try and encapsulate our era
they might just sculpt an image of a man with both arms wrapped around
himself in a loving embrace gazing into a mirror and kissing himself.
We are not just self-centered we are proudly self-centered. We are not
just selfish we are recklessly self sufficient. Jesus said “Blessed are
the poor in spirit.” Our generation shouts its own message of
blessedness. “Blessed is the man who is always right." "Blessed is the
man who is strong." "Blessed is the man who rules." "Blessed is the man
who is satisfied with himself." "Blessed is the man who is rich."
"Blessed is the man who is popular." “Blessed is the man with the
largest church.” I am reminded of a bumper sticker that was popular a
few years back that declared, “He who dies with the most toys – wins!”
The problem with that thinking is that he who dies with the most toys –
still dies. Naked we came into this world and naked we will leave this
world. Our popularity, power, and possessions will fade away like a
summer mist.
Our hope is in the Lord! Our store house is not
of this world and is not found in self! Narcissism, even when promoted
as self-love in the church still leaves us with the emptiness of this
world and robs us of the kingdom of heaven. When we replace our search
for righteousness by a search for happiness, holiness by wholeness,
truth by feelings and ethics by feeling good about ourselves the Church
of Jesus Christ suffers loss and all that remains is self. To all of
this Jesus speaks above the roar of our fleshly proclamations, “Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
What will your eyes behold when you look into the mirror of the future?
What about your children and friends, your coworkers and neighbors, the
man you passed on the street, will they see that sculpture embraced in
self love and admiration or will they see the one that left His throne,
walked among sinful men, was rejected and crucified because God so loved
the world? Will they Jesus when they gather around the final resting
place of your life or will they just fight over your stuff?
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