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Thursday, August 15, 2013

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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