Let me tell you something. I'm not perfect. I'm far from it. I'd dare say that I might just be one awful kind of person that people usually try to avoid. What do you think about that? It has a few implications when you say that type of thing.
Okay, let's look at few things. There a lot of people who say I'm good. I get compliments all the time; "You're such a sweetheart!" "I think you're the nicest person in our school." "You don't need to worry about doing things for yourself, you know." So first off, I'm saying that those are wrong--I don't deserve that type of praise. Not in the slightest!
Now, another thing is that I say people should avoid me--and they're not. That's a good thing, right? I happen to disagree with that. I'm doing a lot wrong, and there are a few things that have been bothering me recently.
Let's look at this again: I'm not perfect. I'm not. By any stretch of the imagination. If people are constantly saying such kind things about me (and yes, I'm so grateful that people are kind to me), then they aren't seeing the real me. Apparently, I'm the type of person that makes people say "Aw, he's so nice! But that's not for me," because I have not really done much to change the hearts of others around me. Granted, it's not my work that changes hearts (that's God, of course), but clearly it's important that I should be telling other people about the Gospel. It's quite literally the greatest news anyone could hear, and I'm keeping it to myself! So if people are looking at me and thinking, "There's something different about him," and they're not thinking, "Maybe there are some things I do differently," then I have failed. I have failed God, and this is quite possibly my greatest sin. Matthew 28:19-20 says, "'Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen." How many people have you reached out to? As a great poet once said, "Don't be afraid to stand out. That's how the lost get found."
... Okay, she might just be a singer that I enjoy. But she has a point. The greatest calling we have from God is to reach other people with His message; what greater thing could you aspire to? I challenge you (I've always wanted to say that; do I sound like a real religious speaker now? haha) to try to think of something more fulfilling that doing the work of the One who created you.
Here's another thing: people are supposed to be avoiding me. By that, I mean that I have a lot of flaws. A lot of unattractive flaws, and not ones I want to brush over, either. If I told people, when I met them, "Hey, I lie, and I cheat, and I don't even have the courtesy to throw people under the bus: I punt them!", they wouldn't like me much. And that's the type of treatment I truly deserve from others, because I'm not a "good person" (as if that really means anything). I need to make sure that I don't come to believe that I'm "good enough". There are a lot of people out there who happen to think that they're pretty good people. Where does that come from? Well, that's something called "self-righteousness". But when you say it like that, a lot of people seem to think it's a bad thing. You should be confident in who you are! God made you perfect the way you are! I have to picture Jesus preparing for a marathon, because that's quite a stretch of the Truth!
See, God sees the flaws you have. He sees all the things that are haunting you, and he wants you to give these things to Him. He's not saying that we're good--far from it! But He wants so much more for you, and He wants to change to you. Seriously. He loves you so much, that He wants to take away all these awful things and give you so much more. I'm also like that! I don't want people misunderstanding--I'm not religious because I'm good. I've only become good (at least, by the view of the world; I think I've made it clear that I'm not good) through God, and I want other people to experience the same thing I have. So, like I said, you too should reach out to others with the love of God!
Here's the turning point. If you haven't already written off what I've written on (and of course, I'm laughing at myself again), this might just be the place where you think I'm a little crazy. Here goes.
I'm supposed to be reaching out to other people with God's word. And people should be avoiding me. These aren't two separate thoughts. Not at all! I used to think the idea that "If you have enemies, you've spoken up about something you believe in!" was really stupid. I'm supposed to be treating people kindly, so how could they hate me? How would I create enemies out of those I give to? Now, I understand that much better.
Matthew 10:22 says "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved." Think about that. Hated. As in, the very thing I said was pointless; the very thing I said people should be avoiding at all costs. It's funny how much emptiness I actually feel with everyone liking me.
We were challenged to take up our cross and follow Jesus. That doesn't mean we're supposed to face the challenges of our everyday lives with Him. Think about what he said. Jesus said to lay down your burdens, but to take up your cross. Think about that for a second. Think. What does that mean?
Here's what I gather. You might get something different from it, but this is my own thought (though it's just as likely that God will say "Good job!" as he will "How foolish you were to trust yourself over me", isn't it?): He wants us to cast our worldly burdens to Him and carry the burden we get because of Him. Now, this can be a bit hard to grasp. I'm having trouble working it out in my head, actually.
He wants us to cast our worries to Him, but we should be worried. It's like putting down a boulder so we can carry a large basin of water home with us; there are much better things to toil over. We should have our hearts break at all that is around us. How can you look out into the world and not feel just awful? What are you doing to fix this place, this broken world? Moreover, why aren't you letting God do His stuff?
People are going to hate you for preaching. They'll call you judgmental. They'll call you bigoted. They'll call you a loser. They'll call you a freak. These types of burdens aren't just what we know we can face; they are what we are called to face. We live comfortably, when there was nothing comfortable about all the death people had to face in the past. But that's fine; God wants us to be able to face this with a joy instilled in us. He wants us to be able to face this while standing.
Ephesians 6:10 is a little famous, I guess. I've heard it in a few places, but there's one part that stands out (ahem) above the rest. Verse 13 says, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having endured all, to stand." You should be taking all these things--these ironic slanders against you calling you imperfect--and be above it all.
My life has been too easy lately. When I was overcoming my own issues, I felt so amazing when they were overcome. Now, I feel even more empty than I did before. I'm not allowing God to move me, and that's my own fault. I know that, in my own life, I need to reach out to others. If I'm not in pain each day, there's something wrong with the way I'm living.
What about you? Have you been failing God's calls for you? Do you feel like you're "good enough"? Are you trying to be happy with the things you have? Are you relying on yourself, or on other imperfect people?
My heart screams with all its might for you to allow God into your life.
