Almost a year ago I wrote a blog about a dream I had regarding my encounter with a blind man isolated on a sandy beach, overlooking a vast ocean before him. Whether he was truly incarcerated is uncertain as it appeared there was nothing obstructing his pathway from moving forward. Those of you who read it, may recall that he ignored every attempt I made at urging him to come to the shoreline. Instead, he continued to dance around for freedom in a world all of his own. Realizing I had no control over his circumstances, I prayed a simple prayer, "Lord, let him see", and then I floated off into the distance. My heart ached for him and my soul burned with compassion. It was evident he had been standing on sun-scorched sand for many years and longed to dip his toes in the cool stream. If only he could see that freedom was closer than he perceived.
As I ponder upon this dream, I am reminded that oftentimes I am no different than the blind man standing on dry sand. If only I would draw closer to that living stream, I might catch a glimpse of the reflection staring back at me. One that is unbound, unshackled, and renewed. When you stand before the mirror every morning, whom do you greet, the man or woman from yesteryears or the regenerated person you have become? We miss out on the abundance God has for us in our daily lives so long as we continue to cling on to the mask of our past or the security blanket that provides a false sense of comfort in an uncertain world. There is great freedom awaiting the person who takes a stand, steps out from behind the former man, and latches on to his true identity in Christ.
Scripture tells us that "we are like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags..."(Isaiah 64:6). However, when we invite Christ into our hearts, there is an immediate spiritual transaction that takes place. In exchange for our sin and our hard shell exterior, we are given a radiant robe of righteousness, a new identity, and a heart of flesh, soft and supple in His hands. In summation, we are regenerated into a new man. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Not only do we become a new man, but we become a new man in Christ, bearing His image. "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). Upon acceptance of His gift of salvation, we have been given the opportunity to put on the garment of Christ's righteousness, a light that shines so bright it casts a shadow over our iniquity and the shame of our youth. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). God longs for us to be sober and aware of the implications of this rebirth as He so graciously leads us to crystal clear streams, not only to drink, but also to behold the new reflection we now bear of Him. This is why He invites us to study His Word. For in it, we behold His image like a mirror.
There is a three-step process as described in 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 that leads us to an accurate depiction of what God sees when He casts His gaze upon us. Prayerfully, we too have or will come to realize this identity for ourselves. First, when one turns to the Lord, a veil is lifted. It is at this point in our spiritual journey that the scales covering our eyes fall. We are awakened, no longer blind to the error of our ways due to living a life apart from God and are now provided a pathway through Christ to freely come into relationship with our Creator. Then, verse 17 highlights an important aspect of our newfound relationship with God. It states, "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty". For those of us who have accepted Christ into our hearts, the Spirit now dwells within us, not only granting us access to the Father, but also freedom from the bondage of our sinful and decrepit nature. Lastly, in verse 18, we are told that "we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord". When we are baptized and accepted into the family of God, we instantly bear the likeness of our Father. We are then invited to look at ourselves "as in a mirror" and behold "the glory of the Lord". This mirror just like any other mirror has only one reflection. Those who have turned to Christ and received the freedom of His Spirit, now can look into the Word (Jesus Christ) "as in a mirror" and see himself (the transformed man cloaked in Christ's righteousness). This is how the Father sees us. Spiritually speaking, the transformative work has already been done. Now, all that is left for us to do is walk in it. But this is the mark that many believers miss. Oftentimes, because we can't physically see this transformation, we go on living deflated lives, falling short of the abundant life offered to the man on the other side of the mirror. As I pondered upon this thought, I began to question the process of sanctification as it pertains to our identity. The work that is done in us is not so much to ascertain God's approval of us as it is to lead us to the realization that we have already been approved. Once we fully grasp this, we can't help but to witness the fruit of this transformation as our minds come into agreement with our hearts, and our actions mirror the person whom God says we are.
However, our knowledge of this reality is not easily retained. In fact, all throughout scripture, we are instructed to "renew our minds" in order to lay hold of this truth. If we don't, we are susceptible to being influenced by the world. Romans 12:2 states, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God". Thessalonians 4:3 tells us exactly what the will of God is as it states, "For this is the will of God, your sanctification...". So, here we see that the process of sanctification is largely effected by one's perception of himself. We are told to renew the mind because it is through the mind that our true identity can become distorted which leads us to thoughts or behaviors that defy the will of God. The regenerated man still operating in his natural mind is also susceptible to the schemes employed by the enemy. Since Adam and Eve, the enemy has made every attempt to thwart God's plan for His creation by causing us to question God's purpose for our lives. He does this by depositing a seed of doubt into our minds, suggesting the possibility that we are not the redeemed man we read about in scripture. The enemy does not have to dig too deep inside his bag of tricks because this tactic has proven successful, steering faithful believers off course throughout generations. He attacks our understanding of true identity because without this knowledge, we are powerless. Exploring the depths of our identity in Christ provides the potential for liberty from the man or woman we used to be. This liberty includes freedom from addictions, from the wounds of our past, and from our desire to please man at the expense of pleasing God. Without such hindrances in our lives, we can readily move toward true restoration and healing.
As I came across the story of the man healed at the pool of Bethesda in John 5, I couldn't help but draw parallels from this passage to the dream I mentioned earlier. The chapter opens up with a brief description of the healing pool of water. It was geographically located in Jerusalem, specifically by the Sheep Gate. The Sheep Gate is a gate by which sheep and lambs used in the sacrifice were brought through. There is no literal significance mentioned in the chapter about this gate, however, I spotted an uncanny similarity between its location by the pool of Bethesda with that of the blind man's place of incarceration by the ocean. Symbolically, the Perfect Sacrifice was brought forth through this gate (like a lamb) to provide a pathway for our redemption. And now the Sheep Gate is our entryway to healing. Much like the blind man in my dream, we are like sheep in need of a Shepherd to lead us out of captivity. If only we could see the healing body of water that lies before us. If only we could catch a glimpse of our reflection in it. The blind man could not and in many ways, neither can we.
The man who does receive healing as explained in this passage was stricken with an infirmity for 38 years. His healing began with one question, "Do you want to be made well?" (John 5:6b). God's transfer of healing is instant unlike the long, drawn-out process previously endured by the man in years passed. But, because he was focused on all of those missed opportunities, he circumnavigates the question and begins to explain the reason why he hasn't yet been healed. Isn't that just like us? We carry a laundry list of excuses as to why we behave the way we do, dragging our feet toward the pathway of recovery. Instead of "renewing our mind" and remembering who God says we are, the appropriate response to this question, we rely on our own methods to arrive at a solution and rationalize ways in which we can get our needs met. A simple question is deserving of a simple response. Do you want to be made well? Yes or No. Christ has the power to heal us in an instant as was the case for the man in this passage. Shortly after Jesus commanded the man to "Rise, take up [his] bed and walk", he was immediately made well.
We, much like the man by the pool of Bethesda, misunderstand what the Lord is offering to us when he meets us by the Sheep Gate. Christ is the entryway through which we dip our toes in the healing stream. When He offered us the gift of salvation, He also offered us healing. In that, we have become a new creation, shedding the masks and the layers of our former self, giving way to the radiant glory of His righteousness. We delay healing when we neglect the knowledge of who we are in Christ. Living an abundant life means letting go of the person we are emotionally invested in (our former self) in order to lay hold of the new man, free of his iniquity. Christ paid a high price for us to experience and enjoy this freedom. He encourages us today, "Rise, take up your bed, and walk". Contrary to what you might believe, there is nothing or no one impeding you from reaching the healing streams and once you get there, take a mental image of who you see gently smiling back at you in your reflection. Christ identifies with you. Do you identify with him? Have you truly accepted what it means to bear His image?
