By Lois Hewitt

“Not What We Were”

I love this tagline from The Chosen.  It says so much in four small words.

It is very easy to look in the mirror in this present time and see only the current reality.  You may see grey hairs, wrinkles, tiredness and things like that.  You may see disappointments and regrets.
You may see the things done or, worse yet, the things not done.

The reflection in the mirror may be a sad one.  But it is only a glimpse into a specific moment in time.  It shows no history or review. It does not tell the whole story of you.

You have to go back, all the way back. Your eyes must honestly see the form that was you.  Think of all things you did not know.  Think of the things you lacked like self-control and discipline.

Hear the things you proclaimed and the declarations you expounded. How did you think?  How did you act?  I’m going to guess it was very different from today.

You have walked through life’s fires.  You have withstood her storms. You have endured pain and loss.  You have grown. 

Looking back for me is very difficult. I was not someone to be proud of back in the day.  I was foolish and reckless, especially with words and actions. 

But slowly I acquired knowledge of things. I prayed for wisdom and self-control.  I prayed for gratitude rather than entitlement.  I prayed to change.

I did.  I changed and am continuing to change through the grace given freely by Jesus. I was a foolish person.  I was not always kind. And I thought only of myself.  I was consumed with the subject of me.  It was an empty and sad existence.

Then I allowed Jesus into my life and things began to change. Of course I fought the process for a long time. As I have said many a time before, I loved my sins. I was used to my sins. I did not know how life would be without them.

But the changes happened and I became new. Now I see the face in the mirror. No longer a youthful glow, face framed in grey hair and tired eyes.

But also peaceful and loving. We must look beyond the facade, the mask and see inside, in our souls. Yes the look has changed but so has the person.  Today, I suggest looking past the face and seeing what has changed on the inside.

I’m not “there” yet but I won’t be until the time I meet Jesus. But I can make strides, no matter the size, to be a better human being. We need better human beings in this world today. Let us strive to be “not what we were” through a personal relationship with Jesus.