A beautiful mess. That is what most Christians can be described as, if we are being honest. A mess because of the sin that we return to time after time. Yet beautiful because of the grace we find time and time again, when we return instead to the throne of God.

 

But is this how it has to be?? Of course not. Christ has given us victory over sin. We always have the option to walk away.  1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ." So why, then, do God's chosen children, His royal priesthood, continually return to the filth? How ridiculous is it that we (having experienced true joy and fulfillment), of all people, go again to sin? As if it is going to satisfy us. Maybe this time. Just this one thing. My guilty pleasure.

 

I was thinking about all of this as I stood watching these two butterflies. They were beautiful, blue and orange. Flitting about.

 

 

 

But, as you can see, they are also in the middle of a pile of dog crap. Not the ideal place for such beautiful creatures.

 

 

This picture reminds me of most Christians. Myself included. We have such a beautiful, wonderful story of grace. We can share Christ's love and beauty, and make others smile. We can lead unbelievers to Christ. But instead, we chose to confuse them. We chose the pile of crap. Fleeting pleasure. Contradictory to everything a true son or daughter of Christ should chose.

 

Despite this obvious truth, thanks be to God we also know that, "All have sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard." Romans 3:23. So we are not alone. And there is always grace, if only we will confess our sins and turn away from them. "People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy." Proverbs 28:13 

 

So this week, as I go about my day to day life, I hope to be reminded of these beautiful creatures, playing around in filth. To be reminded that the pile of crap is no longer my identity. My identity is in Christ. His characteristics mine. And I pray that I flitter to the flower instead, to make someone smile instead of confusing them.

 

 

"So to grace, how great a debtor,
Daily I'm constrained to be.
And let Thy goodness like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it.
Prone to leave the God I love.
Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it.
Seal it for Thy courts above."