Smoke and Mirrors

3/25/17              Charlie, Gustavo              20's

Sometimes sharing the Gospel can be like entering a room full of smoke and mirrors!  When I show people how they look in the mirror of God's moral law, they often respond with smokescreens of various types to hide behind.  In two recent Gospel conversations, both Charlie and Gustavo responded with the same smokescreen when confronted with their sin - they immediately tried to switch the subject over to the increasing immorality in the world around us.  

But each used this smokescreen with a different strategy.  One seemed to be trying to give an excuse for his own moral failings, while the other seemed to be trying to make himself look better by comparison.  Either way, I reminded them that when we are held accountable before God, we can't point fingers or cast the blame on others for our own sinful choices and actions.

Paul wrote about this in Romans 2.  Just after he showed how the Gentiles are without excuse because all have a God-given conscience, he reminded his Jewish readers that they are no less guilty.  He said "You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?"

 

Conservatives often do this when they look down on others for particular sins while choosing to ignore the importance of others that they themselves commit.  Liberals often do this when they try to excuse the immoral behavior of others knowing that they are also trying to excuse themselves for the same immoral behavior.  Either way it's just smoke and mirrors.

Each of us need to take an honest look at ourselves in the mirror of God's word, comparing ourselves to God's standard rather than the standards of this world, and refusing to hide behind man-centered excuses, rationalizations, or any of the other smokescreens we love to hide behind.