Answering accurately

Jill Carattini

 

I remember filling out the small card of questions thinking more about the consequences of each answer than the most accurate one. It is somewhat ironic that one of the most defining moments in the life of a college freshman—sharing a single room with a complete stranger—is largely determined by overly optimistic answers on a single sheet of paper. When it comes to defining oneself, objectivism is often a struggle.

An article aimed at preparing freshman for the experience of a college roommate bemoans the fact that many fail to report accurately when asked simple questions that could help them avoid serious tension. Do you smoke? Do you stay up late? Do you listen to loud music? Administrators insist that honesty (the kind that looks beyond the best-case scenario) will get problems dealt with before they become an issue. But who really wants to answer a vehement "yes" to "Are you a messy person?" particularly when they're in the market for a roommate. It's hard to own up to being a disaster to someone who will have to share it with you.

Yet, beyond the obvious desire to show ourselves to others in the best light possible is the complicated dynamic that we often simply see ourselves in the best light possible. Some may insist living with a roommate will help them stay neat; others may just really think of themselves as a clean and organized person when they are altogether not.

The human capacity for self-deception makes me really nervous. Or, I should specify, my own capacity to be self-deceived makes me incredibly nervous. Our ability to see plainly into the places where others exist blind and indifferent extends well beyond roommates and college questionnaires. In honest moments, that I can see clearly where so-and-so's trouble lies, that I can verbalize the problem she is entirely avoiding strikes me with a twinge of dread: what, then, is the trouble she sees so clearly in me? Other times, and probably more often, the blind spots in my own personality are forgotten in the midst of my lamenting of the blind spots of someone else: How can she not see that this is the problem? Will he ever be honest with himself?

Scripture is full of similar pleas to God: "How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?" (Prov. 1:22) "How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?" (Jer. 23:36). The scriptures also offer compelling images of those in the troubling midst of self-deception. It is difficult to read the book of Jonah without coming away with the image of a stubborn, deceived prophet. Yet, even as I walk away from him in a righteous huff, I wonder warily about the seaweed wrapped around my own head; I wonder how many times I've prayed from the unfamiliar belly of a darkness God in his mercy allowed to swallow me.

As the psalmist gave a description of the wicked, perhaps he also trembled, however slightly, at the small part of himself that mirrored it: "There is no fear of God before his eyes. For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin" (Psalm 36:1b-2). God sees every blind spot we operate with and every lie we tell ourselves. While we are pointing out every flaw of our neighbor, God is seeing every flaw of humanity (including the one part of humanity we do not see) and loving them (and us) anyway. Bowing to Him, as Hagar discovered in the desert, is bowing to the God who sees. The question we must be sure to answer accurately is how long can we go about our lives in blindness?

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[Copyright(c) 2005 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. A Slice of Infinity is a ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.]

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The Good Shepherd is always near (2/2)

George Hawke

 

David’s Shepherd: The roles that David saw in God are similar to those of a shepherd, which David knew from his youth. This thought is expanded in Psalm 23, which begins with this metaphor: “The Lord is my Shepherd.”

 

David realized that God provided all his needs (Ps. 23:1), including rest, refreshment and restoration (vv. 2-3). He should not be afraid or worried because God guided and guarded his life (vv. 3-4). In fact, God was always available to help in all circumstances. He wrote, “You are with me.” Similarly, his ancestor Jacob, who had also been a shepherd, acknowledged “the God who has been my shepherd all my life” (Gen. 48:15).

 

Our Shepherd: This illustration is repeated in the New Testament where Christ said, “I am the Good Shepherd” (Jn. 10:11). Here Christians are likened to being Christ’s sheep. This means that the Lord knows all about us (vv. 3, 14, 27), guides us (v. 4), feeds us (v. 9), protects and preserves us (v. 28), lays down His life for us (vv. 11, 15), gives us life in all its fullness (v. 10), and gives us eternal life that cannot be taken away (vv. 28-29).

 

Like David, believers can say “the Lord is my Shepherd.” We should know that He is always present to help us no matter what the circumstances are, because “we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care” (Ps. 95:7).

 

Jesus told His followers “I am with you always” (Mt. 28:20). He told Paul, who was facing much opposition in Corinth, “Do not be afraid ... For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you” (Acts 18:9-10). Then, in turn, Paul reminded the believers in Corinth, “Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you?” (2 Cor. 13:5).

 

The Lord has promised that He will never leave us nor desert us: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (Jn. 14:18). We become more aware of His nearness as we surrender to God and resist Satan (Jas. 4:7-8). In fact, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (Rom. 8:35-39). Like the Good Shepherd that He is, He promised, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).

 

In times of turmoil and trouble it is good to know that our Lord is near and that He cares for us. We do not need to ask Him to be with us, He already is. He is our Shepherd. [Concluded] 

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[Courtesy: Grace & Truth Online]

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