Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God. not by works, so that no one can boast.”

(reflections)

The principals of this world are built on self. Success, Status, Self-Worth, Value, and Worthiness are all tied to external factors. Opinions and approval of others are often the building blocks of our identity.

As I sit currently on a plane, a couple feet ahead of me is a small curtain. A few steps away, two classes of people remain separated. Those able to enjoy the luxuries of First Class benefit from the perks of paying a higher priced ticket. On the other side of the curtain, are everyday people. What comes to mind is the hierarchical structure of some churches. This is not to demean order or structure, but, there is separation in all facets of life. The Catholic Church in particular has a name for everyday people, the laity. The lay folks are not authorized to go past the ‘veil’ an invisible demarcation line. In Catholicism, the Clergy hold all the power. The Kingdom of God is different from the Kingdom of this world. What the world deems as valuable, worthy or success is completely opposite in God’s Kingdom. There is no prestige or status in God’s eyes. His word says, “the first will be last.” I am so grateful no one can ‘earn’ their way into Heaven… Imagine the side show that would be. If we could simply purchase our way into God’s pearly gates, or work our way into salvation…

God leveled the playing field and Christ’s death on the cross removed the ‘veil’ and reunited mankind back to God. Nothing we could ever ‘do’ but all what Christ already did. The enemy is very deceptive in having us believe that accolades, status, position, performance, and title, to name a few, equal worth. The task master that he is, we will never be satisfied on:

The hamster wheel of acceptance,
The hamster wheel of approval, or
The hamster wheel of opinions of others

It is a bottomless pit and the devil continues to add more bricks and hay without the tools to sustain it all. It’s a weight we were never meant to carry, on our own. Jesus said, “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” But the enemy operates from human desires…Proverbs 27:20 “Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied.” All methods that are rooted in and rely on self to be propped up. Christ blood purchased our freedom from slavery and bondage. He came to give us a life full of purpose and meaning in Him.