August 27, 2018

 

If you were to ask most people what they think about themselves, the majority would more than likely tell you that in their estimation, they are a “good person”. If you were asked the same question, you too would probably consider yourself a “good person”. Even bad people think of themselves as good. Just ask most prisoners today and they will tell you, “ I am not perfect but I am a good person”. I often ask myself how we come to this conclusion. Is there some kind of litmus test or benchmark against which people measure themselves?

 

I do not know how people reach their conclusions. My guess is that most use the people around them as a reference point. By doing this, they can always find someone who is worse than they are. Some religious people believe they are good, simply because they observe all God’s laws (the ten commandments). They actually believe that they are keeping all ten, but if you ask those close to them, they would tell you otherwise. For those of us who call ourselves Christians, the truth is that Jesus is the reference point that we need to measure up to; this is not only a tall order, it is impossible. Having said this, what is impossible for man, is never impossible for God.

 

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NIV

 

We Christians often commit the mistake of listing all the qualities of Christ to try to commit to applying them in our lives. Then we proceed to ask the following question, which serves as the lens through which we filter all of our actions and interactions: what would Jesus do? The problem is, that we are not capable of consistently doing what Jesus would do; and one of Jesus’ best qualities is that He was consistent. As a result, we stop asking what Jesus would do and simply revert to measuring up to the people around us. This makes us feel better because we can always find someone who is worse than we are.

 

Here is the good news, despite our shortcomings; we can be transformed into the image of Jesus. All we need to do is to concentrate on remaining and not imitating. The above illustration of Jesus shows us that the fruit is the result of the branches remaining connected to the vine; the fruit is not the result of the branches imitating the vine. It is impossible to imitate Jesus but it is not impossible, to remain connected to Him and to allow His life to flow through us and produce fruit through us. I reiterate we must concentrate on remaining and not imitating.