Love
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
–
Romans 12:18
To get a
vaccine or not? To accept the presidential election results or not? To welcome illegal
immigrants or not? The list never ends. We are a country at odds within itself.
God’s people
have been ugly and vocal. They have reigned down criticism and aligned
themselves with one side or another. Everyone knows what is best. Just ask
them. Except they are all so focused on themselves that it is impossible to
truly see God in them.
Ah, there is
the true problem. Seeing God. It’s impossible to truly see Him when you are
hurling angry insults at people who disagree with you. It’s impossible to truly
hear God when your ugly words are aimed to tear apart anyone who dares disagree
with you. It’s impossible to love like Jesus when your eyes are filled with
hatred toward anyone who disagrees with you.
We have
become a nation filled with arrogant people who have lost sight of God. Oh, we
shout His name. We quote scripture and serve diligently. But our hearts? Well, our
hearts don’t even know His name.
The saddest
thing for me in the last couple of years hasn’t been Covid. It hasn’t been
election results or isolation or illegal immigrants. The saddest thing has been
listening to people I truly believed were God’s people ranting at those who don’t
share their viewpoints. The ugliness is appalling. And for what end?
It’s
possible to share different views without turning hateful and mean. It’s
possible to live under the banner of love and service and still disagree. If
you’ve got ugliness in your heart, I wonder if you truly know Him. It becomes
less about your opinion and more about your arrogant belief that you are like God.
Hatred and
God cannot exist in the same heart. Why? Because God is love. (1 John 4)
