While “coming out” and “living real” seems
to be a theme in our LGBT community, many of us struggle in being
real throughout our relationship with God. What does it mean to
get real and to be authentic with Jesus? Doesn’t He know everything
anyway?
Sadly many of us have a warped view of how we are to act and look
as Christians in our everyday lives. Christ does see all and knows
all, so there’s really no reason to hide anything from Him.
But for some reason we think if we wear our clothes just right or
quote enough Scripture, surely we will impress God to the point
of gaining eternal life. Being a true, real Christian is all about
our heart condition.
There is a story in the Bible that talks about those
who live fake lives before God?
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’
will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the
will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many
will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and
cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your
name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away
from me…’
These people obviously were doing good works and calling out to
the Lord so why did Christ turn them away? Jesus said; “Get
away from me – because He never KNEW you.
We need to get to a place where living in front of
Jesus (like in church or around other believers) looks just the
same as when you are alone or with other friends who are not Christ-followers.
Our goal should be to become so real in our lives that we no longer
put on our “Sunday best” to be seen by God and worry
about saying all the right “Christianize” during our
prayers. But rather that we become so real and unafraid to give
Him our desperate weak selves that in our broken, naked state He
sees us – the true US and in that He will KNOW us.
Getting real with God starts by reading His Word
and continues with prayer and fellowship with believers. Getting
to know God requires a daily relationship. Think about it –
if you just started dating someone – you want to spend every
moment possible with them getting to know them. You might not want
them to know what you look like without makeup or that you actually
have gas every once in a while, but that’s reality! It’s
not until you get intimate with each other that you begin to see
that person for who they really are – you KNOW them!
That’s what it is like to get real with God. It might not
always be pretty or perfect but it’s REAL.
Check out some real stuff from David in the Bible
– it’s messy and David gets real in sharing it. And
it’s exactly what God loves!
Psalm 142 (New International Version)
1 I cry aloud to the LORD;
I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy.
2 I pour out my complaint before him;
before him I tell my trouble.
3 When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who know my way.
In the path where I walk
men have hidden a snare for me.
4 Look to my right and see;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.
5 I cry to you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living."
6 Listen to my cry,
for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.
7 Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me.
Disclaimer - Please don't allow anyone - not even
us - to dictate your walk with Christ. When you stand before the
Lord - you will stand before Him alone. You, alone, will be accountable
for your actions. It's a serious responsibility. So dig into the
Bible for yourself and challenge your heart to find the truth -
not YOUR truth but God's truth for you. The Word says to seek and
you will find, knock and it will be opened.
