Self-deceit.
Deceiving
ourselves seems strange, doesn't it? And yet, it is an art we perfect from our
youth, carrying it on through to adulthood.
We tell
ourselves we aren't that bad. We have to tell ourselves that, don't we?
Justifying our actions day by day, accepting in ourselves so many sins- calling
them good, calling ourselves good.
Recognizing
our own shortcomings isn't easy. We most certainly do NOT appreciate them being
pointed out to us by others- that just puts us on the defensive. Recognizing
our day to day failures to comply to a standard that seems all but impossible,
but at the same time comprehending that it should be possible in the world that
was meant to be, and the world that will be, is a good thing. We are being
refined, and the only way we can be refined is by the knowledge we need
refining. The knowledge we need a refiner is paramount. We are not our own
refiner, taking credit for refining out the impurities in our lives that would
keep us separated from God. We must strive to keep ourselves in the refiner's
reach, never picking up the refiner's tools thinking we can take over the work
and help the refiner out a bit.
Our
refiner knows just how to do the very intricate job necessary to make us wholly
God's. While we might believe the refiner should cut along the line of our
excess attitude, our refiner might have the knowledge that cutting away that
excess would do no good if the underlying, deeper heart work isn't worked on
first.
Exposing
our deepest, darkness self-deceptions may be necessary before real refining can
be done in us.
We are
told to renounce the HIDDEN things of dishonesty, NOT walking in craftiness.
Some believe that to be crafty is a very good thing, but if that craftiness
means cheating anyone in any way so that we get the better of someone- even a
deceitful someone- is wrong.
2Co
4:2 …renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in
craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of
the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of
God.
Anything
in the darkness of our lives, anything we try to hide from others or ourselves
will be made known. The motive that compels us will not be glossed over in any
way. If we live to seek the praise of mankind and not the praise of God, it
will be manifested.
1Co
4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who
both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest
the counsels of the hearts…
Every
work, every secret- good or bad will be known in the light of God's
righteousness. Scoff at the very idea of God, He knows the reasons why. A
scoffer may have a deeply wounded heart being repaired, while a self-righteous
person may refuse to see any need for repair in their lives. One may appear to
be godless, while the other appears godly, but in truth they are the opposite.
Secrets,
things even hidden from ourselves- by ourselves- these will all be exposed.
Ecc
12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep
his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc
12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret
thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Mal
3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I
make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that
serveth him.
Mal
3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the
wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
God knows.
It is NOT the one who proclaims their Christianity- it is the one who LIVES
their Christianity. It would be better to not say a single word about God and
live for God, than to preach God and not live for Him. People see through the
fallacy of preachers and not doers easily. I would rather not be known as a
Christian if it means my whole life is my blowing hot air and having no real
substance at all as one who belongs to Christ. I am a sinful, struggling human
being who chooses to believe that God's only begotten Son died to save me from
my sins of which there are many.
Luk
12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable
multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say
unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees,
which is hypocrisy.
Luk
12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither
hid, that shall not be known.
Luk
12:3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in
the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be
proclaimed upon the housetops.
NOTHING
shall be covered, nothing shall be hidden, anything we hide will be known- we
must realize we cannot hide ourselves from God, not ever. If we have secrets
they will be known- they are already known.
Rom
2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers
of the law shall be justified.
Rom
2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the
things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto
themselves:
Rom
2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their
conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or
else excusing one another;)
Rom
2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ
according to my gospel.
Is the law
written in our hearts? God knows where it is written.
Heb
4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any
twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and
of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart.
Heb
4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but
all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to
do.
A
discerner of thoughts.
A
discerner of intents.
All things
are manifest to God.
All things
are naked and opened to God.
Cover
yourself up in clothing you think no one can see beneath, and you will still
not hide a single speck of yourself from God.
Rev
20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the
books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and
the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,
according to their works.
All the
things written in the books of God are truth, undeniable truth. Every single
work- the true work- the motive behind all work is revealed. This is why people are going to proclaim they
do the works of God, and God is not going to know them at all- because the
intents of the heart are revealed to God and He knows every single person who
thinks they are getting away with deceiving others and themselves.
Please,
Father God, please most Heavenly God, please refine us so we are made YOURS.
Take away the blindness from our eyes to all things that we are trying to hide
even from ourselves- anything that would keep us from being truly, and wholly
YOURS. Let every secret, let every hidden thing be known to YOU and please,
work in us so that we have all the faith we need to trust You to complete in us
all that we cannot complete in ourselves. We will not despair, keep us from
despairing of ever being YOURS, keep us from ALL evil that would separate us
from YOU. We surrender all to YOU. We
choose YOU, keep us in YOU! All through the grace, the forgiveness, the mercy
of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!
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