Humility is the ability to look at ourselves and others through the lens of our own imperfections.
Sadly, I’m able to say this – but not willing to do it, most of the time. I’m amazed that I was able to put this thought into words so easily. But doing it is another story altogether.
So here I am, owning up to my own hypocrisy.
Do you agree that it’s much easier for you to see the fault of others, before you see the much bigger faults you have? That’s my personal paraphrase of Matthew 7: 3-5.
No wonder the Bible admonishes us to first acknowledge or see the log in our own eye before noticing the speck (of sawdust) in another person’s eye! (Matthew 7:3-5) It’s a brilliant metaphor from Jesus.
In the aftermath of these May 2022 elections, I’ve seen people rant and rage in utter dismay, anger, helplessness, frustration. I saw others brag and crow about their victory, lambast and belittle others whose candidates lost. It’s like watching children play and fight in a schoolyard. There are sore losers. There are bully winners.
An ugly, ugly sight. The mud slinging didn’t stop. The vitriol got worse. You’d think we don’t live in a Christian country at all. I’ve seen non-Christians behave in a much more decent, considerate, dignified fashion.
I read many articles the week after the elections – people’s reactions, responses, analyses, perorations, pontifications, etc.
It was good to learn from some of them. A select few were excellently thought-out, tactful and factual, beautifully written. A joy to read. Others were better left unread and unshared.
But I guess, people just had to express themselves or have a meltdown.
Like life’s buffet of delicacies – some opinions were tasteful and some were not. One just has to choose wisely. You can only take so much.
Moving forward is based on two simple truths for me. Where honesty, goodness, and fair play were practiced – there will surely be rewards and accolades in the future. Where and when exactly, it’s only God who knows. But it’s guaranteed that He will reward those who played clean, played fair, not only in the elections but in life itself.
The flip side is also guaranteed: everyone who cheated and used evil strategies – there will surely be punishment and sorrow waiting for them around the bend. I might see it in my lifetime, I might not.
But God guarantees this when He tells us that “it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
So based on those two Biblical truths, there lies our promise of a better future as we move forward: the promises of our all-powerful, all-just, all-good God Who is in complete control of everyone and everything.
Let’s say that again: God is in compete control. He can allow wickedness to flourish temporarily- but only temporarily, to achieve His perfect plans.
What I personally call “The Day of Rewards and Reckoning” will surely come. God will make sure we all get what we deserve.
Knowing this, I am at peace.
