Read: Titus 2:11-14
I have permanent double vision. Even with a prism lens over my right eye, my vision is remains crooked. My eyesight is never upright (erect, not bent or curved). Pulling into a spot at church, regardless of my best intentions, my Kia ends up parked crooked between the lines. One time a church parking attendant called this to my attention. I replied, “Sorry, that’s as good as it gets.” My vision it is bent and curved.
MY SPIRIT IS CROOKED
Both upright physical vision and upright spiritual living are impossible for me via my own resources. I am crooked and permanently bent with sin. Gift Gugu Mona (a South African poet and writer) wrote, “There can be no one better than yourself, so be the best version of you because no one is born to represent another.”. Sorry Ms. Mona, you are dead wrong. Our versions are permanently bent, crooked and flawed by sin. This changed when I found new life in Christ. I was reborn into His version, meant to represent Him every second of the day. Born to reflect Him and Him alone.
THE BEST VERSION OF HIMSELF IS IN RUINS
The prophet Isaiah recounts being transported to heaven. With horror, Isaiah realizes that the best version of himself is in ruins before an eternal and holy God. “I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: …And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” … the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:1-5) Isaiah is perfectly right when he acknowledges he is lethally ruined by sin. He tries to live a self-controlled, upright and godly life, but he is fatally crooked.
WHAT TO DO WHILE WAITING
Like the Cretins in the Book of Titus, we exist in a confusing, crooked world, hardened by evil. The clock ticks away while we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus. What are we as believers to do as the minutes pass by?
Jesus Christ, didn’t come teach us to be the best version of ourselves and give us pointers on how to be nicer people. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good. God knows that even with all our best intentions, we are not upright. We are bent, crooked and downright wicked.
COME TO THE END OF YOURSELF
What is the remedy? Kara Tippitts discovered it: “When you come to the end of yourself, that’s when something else can begin.” Only by His grace can we come to the end of ourselves. Become redeemed and purified to be His possession, His people.
Christ’s purpose was to redeem us and purchase our freedom from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a chosen and very special people to be His own possession, who are enthusiastic for doing what is good. He alone is the One Who changes and empowers us to be upright and spiritually park straight between His lines. We no longer have to live crooked.
Suggested reading – Kara Tippetts’ book: The Hardest Peace: Expecting Grace in the Midst of Life’s Hard