“Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.”

Galatians 5:25-26 (The Message)

Today, we spent the afternoon with some friends doing some white water rafting down the Snake River in Wyoming. I imaging some of those photos will make it to social media sometime in the future. Those photos and video capture a great moment, but they do not capture everything in life whether good or bad.

Facebook and Instagram and others, may be the equivalent of the modern mask for those who don’t put on costumes anymore. It provides a virtual world where we reconnect with old friends and families and put our best version of our life out there for all to see. I don’t post much, but when I do, you’ll see the most favorable aspects of life – a special event, a family moment, a vacation like I mentioned above.

The trouble is that our virtual masks are often an attempt to impress others and hide our own vulnerabilities. Our weaknesses. As The Message paraphrases Paul’s words above, we are not to compare ourselves with each other “as if one of us were better and another worse.”  

Instead we are called to the best kind of life, aren’t we? Consider this quote from a David Wilkerson newsletter I received some time ago –

“If Christ came to liberate us from a miserable life, why do we go on living the same old miserable way? We think a life totally free of fear and guilt is too incredible. We cannot imagine life with 24-hour-a-day rest and peace-life without a heavy burden of condemnation or depression-life in the presence of a loving, gentle Savior who cares about all our needs. This may sound too good to be true but this is exactly the kind of liberated life Christ wants every one of his children to enjoy. Not just a few of his children-but all! This life is not just for those who break some kind of theological code, but it is for all who simply trust him for it!”

David Wilkerson

No need to “break some kind of theological code”, just trust Him.