The Grand Illusion

[Gene C Blankenship]

How is it that someone can suppose to say “I serve Christ” and yet reject another Christ follower? How does a man stand behind a pulpit and teach the principles of the bible and create mischief and falsely accuse without regard? Some people are as stubborn as a Missouri mule about doing church work, but as sly as a fox in their own business deals; as busy as a bee in spreading the latest gossip, but as quiet as a mouse in spreading the gospel of Christ. Many are as blind as a bat to see the needs of others, but have eyes of a hawk to see the faults of a few. Some are as eager as a beaver about a barbecue, but as lazy as a dog about the prayer meetings. Some will roar like a lion when things do not go just to suit them, but they are as gentle as a lamb when they need the preacher of the church. Some are as noisy as a blue jay when calling on the church for advice, but as timid as a kitten about talking to the lost and as slow as a snail about visiting absentees and shut-ins. Many are night owls on Saturday nights, but "bed bugs" Sunday mornings and as scarce as hen's teeth on Wednesday nights. We cannot hate our brother and claim to love Jesus. Christ does not exist in such a man.

Matthew 5:46  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

1John 2:9  If we claim to be in the light and hate someone, we are still in the dark.

Give me a break! Jesus knew it firsthand. As many people as Jesus healed and many times as Christ taught the truth of God and as many times as He kept silent, it only fueled His detractors to try and discredit Jesus testimony. I call it “shading”, it seems to be a tactic some Christians use to try and make trouble for another in the same service that they don’t like. It’s a high school game and it shows they haven’t grown up. You can call it whatever you want to but it has the same definition, Sin. So you claim to serve the risen savior and yet continue to try and discredit a brother and reject them for their service. This verse in 1st John says such a person still lives in darkness. Jesus is light not darkness. Darkness is the absence of light. Light creates life and illuminates the path so we can see what might cause us to stumble. Would you rather live in the darkness were you continuously stumble around or would you rather repent and ask the “Light of the World” to guide your every foot step? Dennis DeYoung of the rock band Styx wrote a song called “Show Me The Way”, the chorus says, “take me tonight to the river and wash my illusions away, show me the way”. Is this not a plea for guidance?

Luke 6:22  God will bless you when others hate you and won't have anything to do with you. God will bless you when people insult you and say cruel things about you, all because you are a follower of the Son of Man.

The answer to wash those illusions away is through the Cross of Jesus. The illusion of religion, the facade of trying to be good enough, and the mask of what’s real will be removed like a covering over your eyes to reveal the truth. Jesus loves you and wants to know you personally. Ask Him today to remove the illusions and bonds that cloud your relationships and return to the true worship with Jesus.