Some people have a hard time believing the Bible because it seems so unreal. But it could not be more real. It records us exactly as we are.
The Bible alone – of all the world’s religious books – reveals the nature of men and women accurately. Noah was a naked drunk. Abraham lied and Sarah doubted. Jacob was a cheater. Moses lost his temper. Aaron was an idolater. Rahab prostituted herself. Samson was a womanizer and David an adulterer. Elijah was depressed and suicidal. Peter betrayed Jesus and Paul argued with his friend Barnabas. This isn’t what you’d expect from ‘holy’ people, but the Bible reveals us for what we truly are.
Hollywood tries to hide the truth, but people like Charlie Sheen and Britney Spears highlight the reality of life. Washington DC attempts to cover-up its most famous. Money doesn’t make a person happy, fame doesn’t eliminate problems, beauty is much more than appearance and neither a perfect life nor perfect people exist.
Fortunately God doesn’t expect us to be sinless. He knows we are sinful, but He looks beyond our weaknesses and sees us through a different lens than we see ourselves. He sees His children through the death and life of His Son Jesus. He thinks of us as what He makes us to be, not what we think of ourselves or others think of us.
Only unreal people try to be what they aren’t. Only a fairy tale would seek to varnish truth. And only God sees past what you’ve been and done. He accepts you just as you are, but once you come to Him in faith, He sees you for what He’ll make you to be. He sees Christ living in you.
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
Where Living Begins 