About a week ago I was thumbing through my journal and stumbled upon this entry from December 31, 2010: “What will be my resolution this year? Most likely to not let other’s moods, demeanors or treatment of me affect my mood or my outlook on life.” I must confess disappointedly, I have blown this resolution to smithereens on several occasions since January 1, 2011.
Morose and sullen personalities often rub me the wrong way and I react by becoming morose or sullen myself. But how can I shine as a light when I so easily allow my light to be doused by the extinguishing blackness of others? It is in that blackness that the light most needs to shine. The light of Christ emanating out of a person’s life pierces through the suffocating darkness of another person’s soul. It is this light that dawns into an otherwise perpetual night in many a heart.
People that are surly or unruly with me often cause me to draw away so as to shelter myself from the abuse. Given that it’s not a physical abuse, should I still draw myself away from them? With the light of Christ discussed above also comes a warmth that can chase the chill of darkness away from the surly and unruly. But if that light is purposely withdrawn, not by the Lord, but by the Christ-follower, then how are the surly and unruly to ever experience the grace of God? It may very well be this grace that provides the warmth needed to melt the cold heart of stone to reveal the vulnerable and fearful flesh underneath.
And yet, of course, there are those with the hearts of stone that are so stubborn that it may take several light-carrying Christ-followers invading this person’s life to finally chip enough stone away from their heart to open it up to God’s grace.
Endurance, though, is the challenge. What if I invest much of my life and yet see no results? To that ever-burning lament, I would remind the suffering Christian warrior of Philippians 2:14-16:
Do all things without grumbling or questioning that you may be blameless in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the Word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (ESV)
So take heart, dear sojourner, you are not alone, many of us are desperately trying to chip away at stoney hearts and coming away with more bruising than chips on the floor (think about that, it’ll come to you). But God will eventually prevail, even in all our frustrations, to reveal Himself to the heart of stone that still has a spark for the Truth.
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