We all live in a world of mirrors, like in a house of mirrors at an amusement park. One mirror makes you appear tall and thin, another rotund. Let us not be so concerned about what our image appears to be to others. Instead, let God own your image, and his work will be made manifest. Don't sell out to the lowest and cheapest bidder!
"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day" (Matthew 6: 34). There is a fork up ahead. One way is very wide and seemingly easy, the other quite narrow. Which direction will you choose? Before we move beyond this fork in the road, we must never sell off our good conscience, our very beings, to the things that are dark and questionable in this world. Not everything is tainted by darkness, though.
When I was younger, I chose at one point to take the wide road in the fork ahead instead of the narrower road. I was at sail, so to speak, to be swept to and fro by every wind of temptation. I didn't know it then but God was patiently waiting for me to respond to his calling so my life might take on some real meaning and purpose, not to mention being blessed.
Let's digress here a minute before we continue this topic. Do we ever wonder why there is so much brokenness in the populace? Consider this: "For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing and their eyes they have closed" (Matthew 13: 15). What was it that did this, especially after they have tasted of the heavenly bread? This verse continues with this: "Lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them" (Matthew 13: 15). Why have our hearts grown dull? "And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their UNBELIEF" (Matthew 13: 58). I must say that we need to become agents of blessing in this world of non-blessing, of brokenness. We must attempt to free those who have sold out to either ignorance or laziness. Unfortunately, we live in a culture that has evolved into mistrust and suspicion, which makes it very difficult to see truth. But the Lord of glory has said he is the truth, and the truth will set us free. Free from what? Free from selling ourselves to this world's philosophy.
The following speaks about when we have that "For Sale" sign up: "The enemy has pursued us. He has crushed our life to the ground. He has made us sit in darkness and gloom. Therefore our spirit despairs within us; our heart is appalled" (Psalm 143: 3-4). Sound familiar? Scourge the enemy of your soul with positive thinking, with the power of the Holy Scriptures. Let the enemy know that you will no longer submit to every pleasure under the sun. Let him know that now your delight will be in the law of the Lord. Perhaps you can even thank Satan for reminding you of your need to know God Almighty.
To finish, let the world know that you are not "For Sale" by your behavior. You know true joy and happiness are not spatial, like the Nasdaq or a piece of real estate; they are behavioral. Some may boast of power, money, or fame and fortune, but rest assured, they will vanish someday, and you will see them not, says the sacred scriptures. When chastity and humility cross-fertilize, we then throw away that "For Sale" sign. It really boils down to trust. Look at our currency and see what is written on it. There are two persons I trust. One is me and the other one isn't you. Please don't take that personally. Make it a great day for yourself!
