God’s Word: God’s Word is a light and lamp, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Ps 119:105) and a mirror, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass (mirror): For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was” (James 1:22-24). Before knowing God’s Word, we usually thought that we were good and even better than many others. However, after knowing God’s Word, especially God’s commandments and law, we acknowledge that we are sinners because we have failed to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength as well as failed to love our neighbours as ourselves (Matt 22:37-39). Truly, “by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom 3:20). God’s Word not only exposes our deceitful and wicked heart (Jer 17:9), but also confirms, “There is none righteous, no, not one… For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:10, 23). Those who deny this truth are just deceiving themselves, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). The more you and I read, meditate and do God’s Word, the more we shall know about our true rebellious nature, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Rom 8:7).
The Lord Jesus Christ: Simeon, having been revealed by the Holy Spirit, told Mary that Jesus Christ is “set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against…that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35). For the fall and rising again of many, Christ is a stumbling stone and rock of offence for the unbelievers and the disobedient, but a precious and living stone for believers (Rom 9:33; 1 Cor 1:23; 1 Peter 2:7-8). And Christ is a savour of death to those who perish, but a sweet savour of life to those who are saved (2 Cor 2:15-16).
We can know our sinful and rebellious nature when we look at the Lord Jesus Christ, compare ourselves with Him, and check whether we sincerely and humbly submit ourselves to Him and His teachings. Some may gladly receive the Lord Jesus as their Saviour to escape God’s judgment and to enjoy His blessings, but they will not want Jesus Christ when they face troubles, opposition and persecutions because of Him. Then, Jesus Christ is like a mirror exposing the true nature of human beings. Many seem very nice, good and kind until we introduce the Lord Jesus Christ to them, and their sinful, deceitful, rebellious and wicked nature is exposed:
Hypocrisy: The Pharisees and Jewish leaders hated Jesus and wanted to destroy Him when their hypocrisy was exposed, “they say, and do not… all their works they do for to be seen of men… have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith… strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel… outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matt 23). It is the same today when God’s Word is preached against hypocrisy and many are offended and furious. We are also the same if we have not been saved and changed by God’s grace and mercy.
Arrogance and Blasphemy: Jesus Christ, the Lord and the Creator, was despised, rejected, spoken against and blasphemed by His creatures (John 1:11; Isa 53:3). They arrogantly blasphemed Jesus, “He deceiveth the people” (John 7:12), and “This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils” (Matt 12:24), and “This man is a sinner” and “He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?” (John 9:24; 10:20). It is the same today when we share the Gospel with others. Some seem to be polite to listen to us, and some others publicly expose their contempt and opposition, but their hearts are the same—proud and arrogant. They do not want to be taught by Jesus nor follow His teachings. They think that they are smart and good enough to save themselves, so they do not need the Lord Jesus to save them. Many even publicly blaspheme Jesus in their words, writings, websites, movies, etc. We are also the same if God does not mercifully deal with us, humble us and save us!
Deceitfulness and Falsehood: “The Jews sought to kill him (Jesus)” (John 7:1), but when Jesus exposed their wicked intention, “Why go ye about to kill me?” (v 19), they denied and blasphemed Jesus, “Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?” (v 20). They came to Jesus with a wicked purpose “to catch him in his words” (Mark 12:13), but politely said to Jesus, “Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” (v 14). It is very deceiving! Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples, came to kiss Jesus (an expression of love), but it was a sign he gave to the Jews to arrest Jesus! (Luke 22:47-48). Many nowadays do not mean what they say nor say what they mean! It is easy for us to deceive ourselves or to be deceived by others (by their arguments, theories, philosophies, lies, lying signs and wonders) while we live in the world full of deception with our deceitful hearts. How we need God’s Truth, grace and mercy!
Rebellion: Not only did the Jews expose their rebellious heart against Jesus and His teachings by hating Him, rejecting Him, speaking against Him, persecuting Him, and seeking to kill Him, but many of His disciples also showed their rebellion when Jesus demanded their loyalty and submission to live by Him (John 6:53-57). They said to Jesus, “This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” and after that “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” (John 6:60, 66). Whether you and I like it or not, our natural heart and mind are “enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Rom 8:7). Many may be gentle and submissive in good times, but when they are required to deny their self-will and self-image to take up their cross to do God’s Will, to submit themselves to the authority of God’s Word, or to identify themselves with God’s people, who are always in the minority, they just expose their rebellious nature. They do not want to publicly take a stand on God’s Word or to take sides. Dear friends, if God does not graciously humble us and deliver us from our rebellious nature, we are just like many others.
Wickedness: The Jews, especially Jewish leaders, who knew God’s law and taught others God’s law but exposed their wickedness when they sought to destroy Jesus, to find false witnesses to accuse Jesus, to choose to release Barabbas but to condemn Jesus, crying, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him” (John 19:15) even when Pilate wanted to release Him. When you and I look at Jesus Christ, who was hated, envied, falsely accused of, tortured and crucified on the cross, we can see the wickedness of human heart (Matt 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 23; John 18-19). It is the same today when many do not want Jesus in their hearts, their minds, their thoughts, their plans, or their lives! Dear friends, we are also the same if we have not been mercifully drawn to Jesus by God the Father (John 6:44, 65).
Weaknesses: Jesus did not do anything wrong. He lived a holy and godly life, taught God’s Word to the people, performed miracles according to His Father’s will to glorify His Father and to help the needy, and obeyed His Father unto death. However, when Jesus was arrested and condemned, no one dared to defend Him or fight for Him. Even Jesus’ disciples fell asleep when Jesus asked them to watch with Him and to pray with Him. When He was arrested, all the disciples forsook Him and ran for their life. Peter, who confidently declared to follow his Master unto death, denied Him three times. When Jesus rose again, they did not believe the reports from the women, but hid themselves in the room with all the doors shut. Thomas did not believe the testimony of the other ten disciples who had seen their risen Lord until Jesus appeared to him! All of these show human weaknesses. That is the reason why Jesus commanded His disciples to wait until they received the power from the Holy Spirit before they served Him as His witnesses (Acts 1:4, 8). Dear friends, our Lord Jesus Christ knows our weaknesses and knows that without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). Sadly, we usually forget this truth and fail to humbly trust in Him and depend on Him; as a result, we have no power to obey God’s Word, to glorify Him, to serve Him and to live a victorious life.
The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit comes to convict “the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8-11). Without the Holy Spirit, you and I cannot really see and be convicted of our sinful, arrogant, rebellious, and wicked nature even when we read God’s Word and look at Jesus Christ crucified on the cross. It is the Holy Spirit, who gives you and me neither peace nor rest until we acknowledge our sins, humbly repent and cry unto the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation. That is totally by God’s grace and mercy alone! Praise the LORD!
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