“Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body,” 2 Corinthians 4:9-11.

“Yet in spite of all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but rather in deception,” declares the LORD,” Jeremiah 3:10.

Sometimes I think that we somehow portray to those around us that we are something that we are not. We are always putting forth a mask, a spiritual one mind you, of another “us.”

Now, that’s not to say that as we are identified with Christ, that we are being changed from glory unto glory. This is not to say that we aren’t reaching towards a new man, and that the old man isn’t being chipped away every day.

But are we real with the others that are our friends? Or do we somehow stuff our feelings deep down inside so that no one sees the flaws in our armor?

How are we ever going to truly talk with others if our portrayal to them isn’t real about who we really are?

How can we be compassionate or identify with others if we somehow elevate ourselves above them?

Yes, of course, we are to point others to Christ, and to present that our lives now are hidden in Him, but how are we ever going to be able to “weep with those who weep, and to rejoice with those who rejoice,” if we claim that everything is always just perfect?

Must we always wear our fake Christian smiles and declare that we are something that we are not?

Tell people that we are triumphant and victorious in our pursuit in living a life following after Christ, but wipe off our plastic smiles and spiritual plastic surgeries. Forget about the “name it-claim-it theology,” and place your hope and faith in Him who is able to do far more than what we may think or believe.

Be honest enough that every day we wake up that we are still human beings with human flaws and short-comings. And perhaps then, our lives will become more real in our search for becoming all that we are meant to be in Him.

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?

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