We have been breaking down the topic of ‘Are You Real With You?’ and before we continue, lets first reiterate what it looks like. Us telling ourselves that we are “real” doesn’t require much effort. All it takes is a personal feeling about ourselves and then we began to think that way, and we become that. Have you ever sen someone with confidence in an area that they clearly lack? This is because someone has told them something about themselves that is not completely true. If you were to sit back and think how much we really lie to ourselves, it would blow you away. We can use this same principle with almost anything. We can say that we “read the bible enough” or “pray enough” but what exactly is enough? Does you telling yourself that it was enough, all of a sudden make it enough? Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) tells us, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” We have to be very careful of the things we allow ourselves to believe, especially about ourselves.

There was a gentleman who was a very verbal person and because of his confidence he became the center of attention in most places. He said that he had a passion for Christ, but there were some things he wasn’t willing to rid himself of just yet. He would always compare and contrast his bad with a good deed, as if there were some sort of scale. He obviously was battling with trying to please himself and in the process offending God. He would talk so much about how he was active in church and how many ministries he was a part of, but on the other hand brag about how many women he had. To him, his bad (sin) didn’t really overtake him because he was a part of so much good. From the outside in, we can see that this is clearly a problem when Matthew 6:24 (ESV) tells us, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other…”

What happened at this point was, he piled sin on top of sin. He had to find a way to deceive the people in the church and still be active in his worldly ways. Being in church and a part of those ministries allowed me to see that he was being taught, but this gentleman had become a ”hearer” only and not a “doer” of the word, as it relates to James 1:22. At this point it was a clear choice that he made concerning the way he wanted to live. Telling himself that he was a real man of God was just his self proclaimed title and not his lifestyle. It’s not only in our deeds that we please God, but it’s in our love for Him, our lifestyle, our commitment to Him, our sacrifice and our heart.

The truth of the matter is…many of us are real to us, but not real in God. We want the reward without the effort, not realizing that the effort is the reward in itself. Having the ability to run after God now that the grasp of the enemy is no longer holding you back. Galatians 6:9 (ESV) says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Don’t be like the gentleman that continues to knowingly damage his relationship with God when knowing the consequences. It’s never too late to change although the enemy constantly tells us that. There is no greater love than the love that Christ provides for His people. I challenge you today to ask God to reveal to you “areas” where you need to change and improve, but allow Him the lead in the restoring process. For our help is in the Lord!

Be Blessed!