You might ask, "Why is there a picture of a weed on a her blog titled, Beauty Revealed? And only on her 3rd post?!" Well, here's why...
As my husband and I were working in the yard late last week, I came around the corner and was totally shocked at the sight of this weed! My initial reaction was That's HUGE...where did IT come from?? And then almost immediately, that still small voice prodded my soul. This can be a response to sin in your life. Ouch. How right that still small voice was and still is.
Sin creeps in when we're not looking, and sometimes if it's been raining really hard (like springtime in NY this year), it can grow quickly and become larger than life. And, see the stones in the picture? These, in addition to a protective layer, guard from weeds. So, it's not as if there's been no protection involved. It's that a root has been allowed to grow in the soil, through those protective stones. Those stones are also for show &/or aesthetic pleasure, hiding the weed roots underneath. Either way, if that weed is a physical example of sin, that sin is exposed!
As a sinner, saved only by the grace of God through the work of Jesus Christ, I should not be surprised by sin, but should avoid it, loathe it, and turn from it! However, I should not be so shocked as to ask where does it come from. It's from within me. James 1 doesn't mince words about this fact.
The more important question I should ask, in the case of the weed or sin, is how do I handle it or get rid of it? There are a number of choices available. With the weed, I can - 1.walk away, 2. cover it with more stones (good luck!), 3. blame it on the rain, or 4. get the dandelion remover and dig that puppy up from it's roots! Likewise, with sin, I can - 1. ignore it, 2. cover it up in the hope that no one else will see it or know it's there, 3. become defensive, make an excuse or point blame, or 4. allow the Holy Spirit to do His work - to convict, save, teach, and comfort. As a believer, my only obedient answer is obviously No. 4 - in faith confess my sin, surrendering my will into the arms of a Loving Savior, take steps in faith to 'put on the new,' and be comforted by the fact that I've been forgiven.
It is a mercy to have sin revealed, to have my conscience pierced. Romans 1 speaks all too well of those who have numbed their consciences. I don't want to become numb and therefore, despise the Light! I must allow myself to be pierced and painfully dug into, spiritually speaking. I need to trust God by dropping the pride and the 'beauty pageant,' ask Him for humility, and pray that His will would be done in my life. This very act is His grace, His Spirit working within me. Get it - He reveals - I run to the Mercy Seat, receive forgiveness, and rest in His immeasurable grace.
As a woman, this also means that I need to be on particular guard from the 'beauty pageant' game. Ladies, I think you know what I am talking about! The game that pits the I have it all together woman in opposition to the I have confidence in the Lord woman. I think if we're really honest or just plain real, we'll admit we've played on Team #1 more times than not. I know I have, that's for sure. Personally, I am well-familiar with the state of waiting at this point in my life (see my personal description). As a result, it's very easy for me to pull the 'God is Sovereign,' 'I'm resting in the Lord' lingo. You know - paste on the smile and recite away. Looks good on the outside, but oh, the inside.... This is not to say that I deny God's truths or my state of being in Him - I certainly do not and in every sincere case they serve as wonderful reminders as I speak them. But sometimes, I speak them to save myself from the pain of exposure. I want to appear strong in faith. And, if I'm really honest, there are times I try to get away with this before God - the essence of pride! As if He's surprised, didn't ordain my life, can't handle it, or didn't mentioned it the Bible - Sarah, Hannah, Psalms, Job, Jesus...
Pastor and radio minister, Alistair Begg gave a wonderful quote a few weeks back during one of his sermons. He mentioned that "current American fundamental/evangelical Christianity doesn't suffer from the lack of knowledge of the Divinity of God, but the lack of knowledge of the Humanity of God." So true!! How I cut myself off from the very means of grace that God gave His people to win the victory over sin when I deny to God or another trustworthy believer (to a wise measure) the pain, hurt, mourning, impatience, exhaustion, loneliness, and at times, flat out discontentedness that can go along with waiting or, for that matter, any other trial or sin I may be struggling with - ie. my humanity. As if He were unfamiliar or unable to meet me there. This is a lie - and we know the author.
How gracious a Savior we have who does not leave us alone in the darkness and meets us in our humanity!
Lord, bring light to those weeds, rip them out, and plant me anew. Help me lean on you, for Your victory is truly a garden of righteousness within me.
