Deception

It is frightening how easily we are deceived.

We begin at the foot of the cross: How great the grace of God to make spotless a sinner like myself! In joy we take steps to live out our new found spotless identity in Jesus. We live for Jesus wholeheartedly: with our emotions, with our time, with our mind, with all we have! May Jesus shine forth!

But like a subtle breeze developing before a storm, hardly perceived -in fact, enjoyable at first- the whisper of lies begin. So soft on the heart. 'Keep working, keep giving all you have. What a slave you are!' As they keep coming, our prayers for strength and vitality begin to disappear behind the darker clouds of self-thoughts. But still all this happens silently, at this point.

The winds pick up. Suddenly, it doesn't feel like it did before. The joy- where's it gone? The silent and repetitive prayers to God showing dependence on Him are blown away. The first sounds on thunder are heard in the self-congratulatory praise as the clouds have now fully obscured any sight of the cross.

The rain starts to fall. Standing in its midst, my own strength apart from Him begins to wash away. Like face paint, the deception is washed away. Cold, wet and at the mercy of a storm, who am I? The grace of God is like rain, washing us from our pride and deception, leaving us exposed to our true selves.

The rain ceases, the clouds part, and the cross is seen for what it is. The crucifix: a well-spring of life. Never shall I depart, I pray.