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Reality Check
Romans 8:28, Proverbs 3:5-7, John 8:32
Have you lost touch with reality? Sometimes I do. And I’ve realized that many of the challenges we face, and much of the stress and anxiety that I feel is related to when I lose touch with what’s real. Many of the challenges that we face with other people throughout the day they stem from forgetting that each person we see, each person that we see is someone who is created by God. Loved by him. Jesus has died for them. Often the issues we have with relationships is when we forget that about people and we treat them as less.
You know, when we’re interacting with people at work or at school, and we don’t treat them like the special creations that they are. When we’re driving on the road, and that person cuts us off, and we just treat them like a nameless vehicle that we’re screaming at and not an actual person that Jesus died for. When we’re commenting online and there’s just something about when you have a screen between you and a person that you can just easily just forget their humanity. And then how many challenges come out of that forgetfulness? That come out of forgetting what’s real about them?
But it’s not just the challenges we face with other people. Often I get to thinking I got to carry the weight of my day. I got to figure it all out. Sometimes I get the feeling like if I don’t accomplish this, it’s all going to fall apart. That life’s going in a negative direction. You can just get in this downward path mentally. But none of that is real. None of that is true. And so the beautiful hope, though, that we have, is that today we can simply be reminded of what is true. Today, I’m here to remind you of what is true.
I’m here to remind you that every person you see is a person who is created by God, loved by God, that Jesus came into this world to die for, and he rose again for. Every person you see. All the people you see at school, at work, in the car, online, and the person you see also in the mirror. Jesus died for you. He rose again. You are through faith in Jesus, right with God. And as someone who is right with God, you can ask for forgiveness from others. You can forgive others. You can begin to heal where there have been those challenges. And when it comes to the stress, the anxiety, as someone who is right with God, your life is in his hands. You can know that God is for you today. That today does not ultimately depend on you, but on him. He is carrying out his plan for you. Your life is part of this plan. He’s working all things for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) When you’re weak, he is strong. When you don’t know the way, you can trust him. With every step you take. And he will make your path straight. (Proverbs 3:5-7) Those are the things that are real.
No wonder Jesus said that when you know the truth, the truth will set you free. (John 8:32) When you remember the truth, when you remember what’s real, it can change everything. So today, when you face challenges with other people, when the stress and the anxiety rises, do a little reality check. Stop and remember. Wait, is what I’m thinking, is what I’m feeling, is it based on what’s real? Or is it based on something else? When you realize that you’ve gone off and bought into the lie, lay it before the cross. Be reminded that you are forgiven. That you are right with God. Embrace that forgiveness. Embrace that forgiveness with others when necessary. Experience the comfort of the gospel. Remember what’s real.
