It has happened to every Racer. (Even you non-Racers.)
I like to call them "shining moments."
It's the moment when you throw out that dirty look, yell at that teammate, spitefully take the last cookie and don't even care, etc.
We've all had them. I just so happen to have them in the midst of 36 other squadmates who have been given permission (by me, nonetheless) to call me out on these "moments."
I can guess how my teammamtes view me in those moments. Probably want to bop me over the head.
I can tell you how I view myself after those moments. Extremely embarrassed.
But these "moments" have gotten me thinking. How does God view me?
Let's be honest, He is not ignorant to my sin. He has seen every "shining" moment that has happened on this journey.
If I were Him, I would look at those moments, throw out a sarcastic comment like "Oh yeah, that's a great idea, Sarah. Give that dirty look one more time…it REALLY IS showing my love," strike me with some lightening and move on.
(I have yet to be struck by lightening, so there must be some amount of grace involved.)
I was pondering this question. "God, how do you view me in my sin?" And I came across this passage of Scripture.
Zechariah 3:1-4
"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before an angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, 'The Lord rebuke you, Satan. The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you. Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?'
Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes, as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Take off his filthy clothes.' Then he said to Joshua, 'See I have taken away your sin and I will put fine garments on you.'"
I have read this book a few times now and this portion never stuck out to me before.
Here God is bringing the high priest at the time, Joshua, before Him. Satan is sitting there pointing out all the awful sins the priests of that time had committed, like giving dirty looks and stealing cookies. (Ok not really!) More like, allowing bad sacrifices and disrespecting the holiness of God.
He reinstates Joshua. He knows what has been happening in His temple (he is not ignorant of that fact), but He chooses grace for the priesthood over judgement. He is giving them NEW GARMENTS…inviting them into the ultimate priesthood of a relationship with God.
He is basically helping the priests move on from their sordid past and walk into the ROYAL position that God has chosen them to be in.
Friends, THAT IS US!
I realized that is how God views me in my state of awful sin. He's not ignorant, but He is inviting me to move past that sin and walk into my royal position.
Satan's accusations against me are probably spot on. You are right, you little devil you, I can be a pretty sinful person.
I think even God recognizes that i can be an idiot at times. But it's like He is saying to Satan, "Hey, that's my idiot. So you shutup."
I'm covered. Not covered to continue in sin. But covered to receive grace. Covered to receive NEW GARMENTS. (Like I said, I love a new outfit.) Covered to conquer sin and grow in sanctification.
I still can't imagine how God views me. i'll never understand that, but God has been giving me tiny glimpses into how He views me and then ultimately how I am to view others.
