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Self Image
"Jesus
Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever"
(Hebrews 13:8)
I read an Internet quote
attributed to Dr. Joyce Brothers, which included: "An
individual's self-concept (what he believes about himself) is the core of his
personality. It affects every aspect of human behavior; the ability to learn,
the capacity to grow and change, the choice of friends, mates and careers. It's
no exaggeration to say that a strong, positive self-image (self-belief) is the
best possible preparation for success in life."
Interesting, but I don't
agree. "The best possible preparation for success in
life" is more than a "strong, positive
self-image." Much more. To feel good about your life, you need to fall
in love with Someone who truly loves you.
Real and lasting "success
in life" will stem from your recognition of the fact that God loves you.
Human love is unfortunately flawed, based in human weakness. You might "love"
them, but the "love" may be just a reflection of what you think about yourself.
It's often self-love, reflected in the responses of that other person. If they
disagree with your ideas or needs, you might become angry. "You don't love me,"
is the shout of the one who DEMANDS authentication from the other person(s) in
their life. That's not love.
One of the reasons people
have difficulty in turning to God and His love, is that His pursuit of you is
not based in how wonderful you are. He's after you because HE IS
love (1 John 4:8). It's His nature to love you. And if you are one of
those who supposedly feels, "I hate myself," He's not in agreement with that
position, either. He loves even the unlovely (we're all unlovely), for "while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
A great problem is found in
our definition of "success in life." What is
"success" to you? If you had asked me that
question when I was 16-years old, I would have been surprised - "success"
wasn't my goal at all. It was something more like "survival" from one moment to
the next. And thats not unusual. It has been said that most people are
"living lives of quiet (and sometimes not so quiet) desperation".
Most would feel successful
if they had: physical well being, emotional health, intelligence, wisdom,
safety, a good reputation, status, and enough money for several lifetimes. And,
oh yes - LIFE! Life without death, not only for self, but also for those we
want to have with us. And that's a real problem. Statistically speaking, the
death rate is 100%. Can you imagine? 100%. And it's not getting any better.
Yes, some are now "cryogenically" frozen, but does that mean they are not dead?
No, for if they as a group were medically examined for evidence of life, it
would be found all are dead. Every one of them.
Why would you put your
trust in something or someone that can't deliver the goods for you. The dean of
a college might award one or more college degrees, based on your performance in
school. That's great, but I've met elderly doctors, attorneys and priests in
"convalescent homes", and their "accomplishments"
no longer had meaning for them. Money is merely passed on to someone else, and
health does not last.
The bottom line on this
world is pleasure. People want things to go well for themselves and to have a
good time, no matter what. Pursuing pleasure, though, can be dangerous.
Dr. Vernon Eaton,
commenting on the book "Ways of the Ant" by
author John Crompton, wrote: "A pleasure-mad society
needs to take a lesson from the Sanguin ants and their affair with the
Golden-Haired beetle."
"The ants' normal diet is plain, often to the
point of austerity, but they love unusual and exotic tidbits and will go to any
lengths to satisfy this craving. For example, the Golden-Haired beetle exudes
from the base of its golden hairs a secretion which the ants find irresistible.
So it (the beetle) is allowed to do anything it likes, even lay its own eggs,
which soon turn to grubs. So besotted and obsessed do the worker ants become
that they feed the beetle with food intended for their own infants, and even
with food reserved for the queen. Worse, much
worse, they allow the beetle to kill their infants and eat them. They even kill
their own infants themselves and feed them to this stranger. The beetle repays
them with a generous allowance of the
secretion they crave... The end is not immediate. The colony may last two years
more, but the end is certain."
Pleasure and its pursuits
will not sustain you. Your self image and needs will change. Your interests
will not be the same, except for the nagging ache that life must contain more.
It is an itch that can only be satisfied by the Lord. People pass away. Your
possessions will go to someone else. The "end is
certain" for every one of us. We need something, Someone: We need the
Lord!
Consider this: "Jesus
Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). He has
the stability you have been looking for; along with the love that will sustain
you always. His concern for you is constant and sufficient, and He will
change you into the image of His love. He is there when you are young and with
you when you are old. He is yours even to death and in new life. He is yours
forever.
Jesus Christ always was (John 1:1) and always will be.
He became a man (John 1:14). He is The Lamb of God
who takes away the sin the world (John 1:29), even to death on a cross.
John the Baptist, who met Him, testified of Him, this
IS the Son of God (John 1:34). He is there for you and always will be.
Turn to Him in your need and He will sustain you. Trust Him with your life, and
new life is yours. He says to you, Come and see
(John 1:39) and Follow Me (John 1:43).
Jesus IS the image of God
(2 Corinthians 4:4). You wont be worried about self image anymore, for you
receive Gods image, when you accept the Son of God. Come
and see and then, Follow Him yesterday,
today and forever.
Jesus, we receive You now. We trust in You; trust in
Your love. Thank You for loving me, Lord. Forgive me of my sins and save me
forever. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
E-mail:
Ron@FridayStudy.org
Tel: (562) 688-5559
PO Box 92131
Long Beach, CA 90809-2131
"While
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"
(Romans 5:8) |
