Reflections on 2023 (part 2)

I Corinthians 6:9-11

When a caterpillar enters its cocoon and then emerges as a butterfly, the transformation is both amazing and beautiful. There is barely any resemblance of the former creature. Can you imagine seeing a butterfly with its bright beautiful wings and all it did was walk around on twigs and leaves? We would assume that there was something wrong with its wings or development. Imagine for a moment we could ask the butterfly why it was walking. Then, to our amazement, the butterfly responded, "I miss being a caterpillar".

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Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

I Corinthians 6:9-11

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I briefly mentioned this in my last post, but as I reflect back on this past year, I am amazed at the number of times I have heard someone talk about setting aside their Christianity so that they could behave in a way that they acknowledged was not Christian. In that moment, they missed being their old self so much that they wanted to return to being who they were before Christ. To an outsider, it is just as ridiculous as the butterfly from the introduction.

When the world tells Christians that they need to check their Christianity at the door, we get fired up and are quick to respond that we cannot take it off and on like it is a garment. We tell them that being a Christian is who we are. My question is this, How would the world know we cannot take it on and off if we willfully behave like we can take it on and off when it suits us? We are setting an example that we are not butterflies who cannot return to being caterpillars, but rather actors who put on and take off a costume.

Paul wrote to the church at Colossi, "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus" (Colossians 1:27-28). Christ in us! Let that sink in for just a moment. Something that is inside you has become part of who you are. In this case, Christ becomes so much of who we are that He changes who we are. No true Christian decides after salvation that they want to go back to being on the road to Hell. So, why do we decide to have moments in our lives where we willingly run back out into the middle of that road so that we can behave like the world once again?

The sad part of this is that when we do so, the world does not see Christ in us and they miss the hope of glory. For that brief moment when we satisfy our sinful nature, we point people away from Jesus. Think about cussing someone out because of something they said. Then, five minutes later the opportunity arises to tell this same person about Jesus. Do we think they would listen to us? Of course not! We silenced our witness for a moment of sinful satisfaction. Is it worth it?

Father, help me to not live life in such a way as to satisfy my sinful desires and in the process turn people away from You. May I die daily to my own desires for the sake of others coming to salvation. Forgive me for when I have done this, and I pray that you would redeem those situations for Your glory.