We Are But Glass by Scott Westlake

We walk through life thinking that no one knows the wrongs we have done. I'm here to tell you that the only one that matters knows. While we're sneaking around doing things we shouldn't, imagine Jesus standing there, watching and shaking His head. Believe me, if the thought of Him standing there doesn't make us uncomfortable, it should. We should feel down right awkward, put a bag over my head, and throw ourselves to the lions out of embarrassment.

It's a good thing He doesn't think like we do. I wouldn't be here writing this. I would be lion bait. Instead, He gives me the opportunity and capability to share His word with you.

A common sin is lust. One form of lust is addressed in Matthew 5:28, where Christ says, "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." If you go deeper, it gets real scary. Turn to 1 Samuel 16:7 where it says, "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'"

If you're thinking, I haven't looked at another in lust, I have a few questions for you. For one, have you ever wanted something someone else had so bad you imagined yourself owning it, unable to let it go? You know, that's lust. Or have you ever wished you had someone else's job so badly that you grew angry or jealous?

That brings up another verse, Matthew 5:22, where Christ says, "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You Fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire." In case you're wondering, "Raca" means empty head.

We are glass when it comes to the LORD. He sees right through us. All that flesh, and all He sees is a heart.
By the way, how's yours? Are you upset with someone? Or is someone a little upset with you? Because, if you read on, it says, "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

Lust, envy, hate, they all have different packages, and a lot of times they're hidden deep down inside of our hearts where only God can see them. Sometimes it piles up until there's nothing left but hate. Yet the LORD still loves us. He loves us so much, He gave us His only begotten Son. (John 3:16) He asked us to do one thing, "to believe in Him. To pick up our cross and follow Him." (Matthew 16:24-27)

So what do we do? We think only about ourselves, our own needs, our own wants, and what's going to make us happy. When was the last time you sacrificed something for someone that had done you wrong? The LORD sacrificed His son for us, though we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8,9)

I don't mean to point fingers or make accusations; we all have fallen short. My point is that so few dedicate their lives to Christ. We choose to follow our own desires. The real kicker is that nobody knows when his or her time is up. If I asked someone to play Russian roulette, they would refuse, yet we do just that on a daily basis. Why? Are our own selfish desires worth it? I think if we sit down and think about it we would come up with a pretty stern answer!

C.S. Lewis said; "If you live for the next world, you get this one in the deal; but if you live only for this world, you lose them both." That's why the LORD brings us to repentance, to get rid of all the sin that clouds our glass, and keeps us from fellowship with the LORD. After the repentance He sends the Holy Spirit to polish it, and bring us into fellow ship with the LORD, making us more like Christ.

So let's not wait until our glass is so clouded, because then we don't feel guilt. For guilt, or should I say a conscious, brings us to repentance, and repentance starts the healing process. God is a faithful and forgiving God. Do as Jesus our LORD and Savior said to do in Mark 1:15; "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

We are just glass! Remember, our glass gets smudged every time we step out of Gods grace. Sometimes the smudge is a hand print showing we stepped out of His grace, but other time it's a face print. You remember the ones when we were kids and pressed our face up against the glass, leaving drool running down the glass. What do you think our glass looks like when we lust, envy and hate from the heart?