Fairy Tale-Thinking

The following quote is from my friend Bill Landon, from his book entitled, “The Devil You Don’t Know”.

“It is not a mark of shame that we have a set of misconceptions incorporated in our basic understanding. This is not evidence that we are stupid, immoral or slow-witted. Think of where we came from. We all have come out of the world. This is a world that is awash in misconceptions, ignorance and outright dishonesty. You must always keep in mind that the world is under the control of the evil one: “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19). So we all come into the life of Christ with an impressive set of fairy tales about the way things are. This reality is difficult to accept, especially for us who are convinced that we are pretty savvy about how things are. It is nonetheless, true.

We need to consider some things. What is more important—coming to a deeper understanding of the Father, His world and ourselves or preserving our own foolish pride? To me, there is nothing sweeter than coming to know the truths of God. I am practical enough to realize that this sweetness may be too esoteric for many people. Then consider the pragmatic advantages of growing in the understanding of the truth.”

I want to add some thoughts of my own especially in light of this, “So we all come into the life of Christ with an impressive set of fairy tales about the way things are.”
There is a growing sense within me that once gain how even the wonders of the ‘grace message’ seems to becoming in just another form of self-righteousness, let me explain if I can.

The evil one’s influence is not a done deal in the life of a believer, really, duh! The heart beat of our God and Savior is ‘compassion’ and that word in and of itself is so bankrupt of describing the intensity of what He actually feels to and for us, lost and found humanity.
Without seeing, encountering His closeness I see experiencing grace as a meaningless venture if in fact more of His compassionate heart does not set aflame our inner most being for those He died and rose again for.
Our continued ability to see more clearly and compassionately toward those who still continue to choose death, religion etc. is out of a growing cognizant sobriety that His grace engenders.

In my continued journey I am choosing to embrace the truth of His great love in exchange for my present and yet to be recognized fairy tale mentality.

Rich