“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people desolate cities. Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.” Isaiah 54:2-4
As I look thru the calendar, scroll through the newsletters, read of well-wishers, distant relations and friends—I cannot help but see the syndication of hopes and fears of what a new year may hold! For some it can be described as ambitious, trepidation, loss, excitement, relief, pain, hope, anxiety—and even more common: “moot”.
Regardless of what description applies to you there are only two categories of people: ones who have drawn the curtains wide and those who manipulate the curtains. Who are you?
Social media is great for letting people see what you want them to see, telling the stories you want to tell, crafting a life to be envied by others—to be perceived as ambitious or even worthy of sympathy—when in reality the facts and the Holy Spirit might tell a different story. Dare to admit who you are. Are you withdrawn and fake, or are you striving to embrace the dawn of God’s glory despite the sting and exposure it may bring? Are you facing the Son with curtains drawn wide or conducting artificial light behind manipulated curtains? Are you holding back when God says not to?
Years ago, I used to practice the “fake it till you make it” approach to life. (Now I realize there is a vast difference between self-control and being fake.) The problem with this approach (and there are many): no matter how much you fake your relationship with God, you still have to face yourself and the one who knows. It develops into something I term being “spiritually bipolar”. Regardless of the diagnosis, the only person not fooled is God. This breeds misery.
Is this a call to have no scruples and “air your dirty laundry” so we all can know that you have underwear?! NO. What this does mean: seek to give your life exposure to the glory of God, acting on principles and directives of His Word. Begin by taking the position of an “open floor concept”; seeking to give every piece of furniture exposure to the Light of Christ. (*This is called continual repentance: usually done on ones knees with many tears and thanksgivings.)
The Lord of a house once called a foolish housemaid to himself to demand why the rooms were in such disarray. Her reply was that if the light was kept dim then it would appear in order. Here excuse was that the light was the problem for stirring up such “trouble” and inconvenience.
Brothers and sisters: the problem is never the Light. The problem is our reaction to what it reveals(.)
Will you be bold enough to open the curtains, breathe good air, “lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes” today? Will you dare to expose yourself to the glory of God and have him rearrange the furniture in your house?
Application: BEGIN WITH YOUR CURTAINS. Be bold and truthful with yourself and the Lord, so you can live and speak truth to others. The glow of sun-kissed skin does not boast in itself, it indicates that it has been exposed to intense rays of the Son.
Live before the face of God. By this, no man can shame or intimidate you. Glory will go to God alone when we kiss the Son (Psalm 2) and are Son-kissed by His grace.
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