Most of us have a person from childhood who's influence impacted our lives in one fashion or another.
Back in the 80’s on my early morning country bus rides to school, I anticipated listening to the legendary commentator voice of Paul Harvey on his radio program, “The Rest of The Story.”
I hung on every inflection of his voice, his storytelling ability always hooked me for the surprising backstory, also known as “the rest of the story” on different persons of interest throughout history.
Often, people are not who we think they are and situations are not what they might appear to be at first glance. There is usually a behind the scenes story that, should we have the opportunity to learn, gives us a more clear understanding of the rest of the story.
Jesus, the greatest of all commentators, gives us insights throughout the New Testament of situations that were not what they appeared to be at first glance. Often, just like today, the root of an issue was hidden from view, buried beneath layers of what appeared to be.
The rich man who asked Jesus “What must I do to follow you?” was not willing to give up the one thing that had a hold on his heart-his riches. Jesus saw past what appeared to be straight into the man’s heart.
The woman caught in adultery was shamed by the crowd, yet when Jesus addressed her accusers asking him who was without sin to cast the first stone, the crowd slowly disappeared. Jesus knew the backstory of each accuser as well as the heart of the adulteress.
When we are faced with situations that falsely expose us, it’s easy to want to defend ourselves with our own back story; sometimes to no avail. Truth is, only the Holy Spirit can reveal truth to a person. When we attempt to discern truth in our own power and ability—truth may become whatever we are convinced of through the lens we happen to be viewing life from in that moment. If we have been hurt or wounded, our lens may view truth through the filter of our own pain. If we are feeling the joys of a mountaintop experience; that lens may become the lens through which we believe others should view truth.
The beauty of our Savior and the example He set for us was one of being able to view life through the lens of His Father at all times regardless the changing lens of circumstance. He loved those who rejected and betrayed Him as well as those who worshipped Him. When falsely accused He did not attempt to convince His accusers of His innocence but instead trusted His life, His reputation, and His intentions to His faithful Father.
It has been my prayer to become much more like Jesus and much less like a woman who feels the need to defend herself or the need to judge others as I settle more and more into the truths of God’s Word.
After all, the Word tells us the rest of the story quite clearly: “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them….but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:6-8)
The backstory is this—Jesus came to earth fully man and fully God. He was tested, tempted and tried in every way, yet was without sin. He took our shame and sin upon Himself. He has made us holy and righteous not because of anything we did to deserve redemption but because of His great love for us.
If you have been falsely accused, your reputation destroyed, betrayed by those you once called friend, abandoned and left for dead; get into God’s Word and find comfort and strength. Allow Jesus to affirm the truth of Himself to you by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we stand on the truth of God’s Word, He becomes our avenger.
May His love, mercy and grace continue to transform our lives and may we learn to love one another in spite of ourselves as we strive to bring glory to our King.
Stay the Course…
Sheila
