Showing Our True Colors.

You know they say by "this or that" you know someone's true colors. Notice something? "This or that" is always negative. Here's an example: "Christians reveal their true colors when someone blows up an abortion clinic." Powerful statement, EXCEPT IT'S COMPLETELY FALSE! It doesn't reveal our true colors at all! We are a peaceful religion which practices love above all else. 99.99% of all Christians do not support this sort of violent act, and one could argue that a genuine Christian wouldn't resort to violence and murder, ever! We Christians (hmm... and actually all of mankind) are at our best... our most true selves when we are the image of Christ Jesus. So this phrase "True Colors" is actually a falsehood. It's always used by the ignorant to describe their adversary.

So I don't think anything negative reveals anyone's true colors. Just because you have a tendency to react in a certain manner does not mean that you are that sort of person. Think about this for example. Don't you feel like you aren't yourself when you swear? Or if you lose your temper and yell at someone? You lose control. YOU lose control. You are no longer yourself. So that is not you at all!

But then again, think about those times where you feel like you are your MOST true self. You excel at your job. You achieve a life goal. You are engaging in your passion... your hobby. How about simply being at peace playing with your children, or your spouse, or the person you hope will one day become your spouse. You see, it's not the negative things that bring out our true colors. It's the good times. Bad makes us into someone we are not. Good turns us into our most true selves. See? Human nature is GOOD! (Yet another proof that God is real. Random evolution couldn't create this in us.)

So in truth we become our true selves when we are in the presence of good, not bad. Well, if this is true then why do we always react to certain situations in the same way? Isn't it possible that we are both good and bad and bad situations reveal the bad in us? Well, God created us perfect, so no. We "are" sinners, but not because we "are" bad. We are sinners because we have been cursed with sin. Remember, when you overreact to something, you don't feel like yourself. There is truth in that. So, think of those short term negative reactions more like a minor demon possession. When you lose your temper, doesn't it feel more like you are possessed? That's the demon temper. How about when you have this uncontrollable urge to swear? The demon swear. Or if you, God forbid, strike someone. The demon rage. Every negative reaction that you do is a demon. The demon spite. The demon jealousy. The demon feel like a failure. The demon eat yourself into a coma with ice cream. Our tendencies to react a certain way might actually be demon possession. Really. And I mean that quite literally.

Now the difference between these and your classic demon possession is with these we do regain our composure. We fight back the demon. Well, if we are demon possessed, how do we regain our composure? Why doesn't the demon fully possess us? Well, these short term occurrences are more like the demon finding a weak spot in our armor. Think of yourself wearing the full armor of God, but the armor is not perfect because we are not perfect. Our belt of truth is a bit frayed. Our breastplate of righteousness is a little bit dented. Our shield of faith is chinked. Our helmet of salvation needs a shine. Our sword of the Spirit is a bit dull. Going about our day to day life as sinners, our armor becomes battered. This gives these specific demons a place to hang on, trying to get in to possess the real you. As they hang on they pick at your armor. They find weak spots. They work together and every now and again they peel back a layer and reveal the real you sheltered inside. And they strike! They grab hold of you. And you burst into a reaction. The ability to which we can overcome these bursts reveals the strength of our armor. Some people feel like striking someone, but hold themselves back. Other people shift to another reaction. A person might never strike someone, but they might resort to screaming instead. The rage demon is too big for the hole he created, but the hole is still there. The demon doesn't want to lose the opportunity to affect us, so it steps back and lets its younger brother demon temper grab the person. And the person shouts. Other people lose it completely. People who lose their temper quite easily aren't fully possessed, but the gospel of peace they wear on their feet is thin, and needs to be constantly repaired. If the armor wears out completely or is totally removed by the demons, THAT is when full possession can occur.

So what can we do? 2 Things. First, maintain your armor. Take care of it. Keep it clean. Polish it. Oil it. Repair it. Sharpen it. Stay vigilant against the enemy. You can also get help from other people. Sure! Absolutely! You can have an accountability partner, right? That is an exceptional way to keep those demons out. But even getting the help of other people won't vanquish those demons for good. They are still there, hanging on. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can exorcise these demons and drive them out for good. That is the second thing that we can do. Call on the power of the Holy Spirit, the goodness of Jesus Christ, and the glory of our Father in Heaven to smite those demons once and for all. It really is possible. I've experienced it before. Truly miraculous. When you feel God's love for you, oh! So great!!

Now think about how great you feel when you are happy. How wonderful it is to feel like your true self. But happy as you are, looming in the back of your mind is burden. You have to go to the dentist tomorrow. You have to ask your brother for the money he owes you. You have to ask your boss for a raise. You have to go talk to the kid's teacher because of something he did in school. You have those skeletons in your closet. You did something you are not proud of and you are constantly in fear that someone will find out. Right now you are at peace. Right now you are happy. Tonight as you watch the season premier of your favorite show, you are happy. Right now you are giving the speech of your life. But still, looming there in the recesses of your mind is this burden. But! Imagine the bliss you feel when you are at your best, WITHOUT those burdens! Think about how GREAT that will be! Well that, my friend, is just a glimpse of what Heaven with God will be like. No cares. No worries. Just goodness. We will finally and truly be our true selves because we will be in the presence of ultimate goodness. I can't wait.

So what do we take from this? People might not be themselves when they do bad things, but they still do them. Isn't that important? Sure, but rather than judge people on the bad things they do, maybe we should instead help them to stop doing them. Upon realizing that they are not being themselves when they do bad things, perhaps you will refrain from reacting to them so harshly. Instead of judging them, perhaps you could help them to fight off that demon. Give them a kind word. Make them laugh. Change your approach on the subject. Or just listen to them. I think that is the point that I am trying to make. People might end a relationship with the phrase, "he showed his true colors." People often use that phrase in a dismissive sort of way, as if saying "there is no hope for them. They are that way because they are that way." This attitude offers no prospect for change, no hope for reconciliation, nor of growth. This attitude is divisive. We should be cooperative. When someone reacts badly, they do so because they are hurt. The people who react the most negatively are the people who need our help the most. But we so often push them away first!! But they are the people who need to be shown more love, respect and compassion than anyone else. Just look at what Jesus did while he was being beaten. He asked God His Father to forgive them. While they were beating him within an inch of His life, Jesus forgave them. Now THAT is grace. Lord I pray that you bless me with just a fraction of that grace. I need it. We all do. Especially today. I ask that you repeat that prayer yourself. Lord I pray that you bless me with just a fraction of the grace you demonstrated on the cross. We would all do good to remember that we are forgiven, so too must we forgive.