As a non-believer in Christ, we all begin on one side of a swinging pendulum. Lost, blind, deaf, a sinner in need of a savior and yet already loved deeply by Christ, as He patiently waits for us to come His way. Satan is just fine with us hanging in the balance uncomfortably in this position. He doesn't have to do too much to make us trip and fall because we are usually wrapped up in own own selfish desires, vainly attempting to satisfy the insatiable flesh.
When we finally accept Christ as our savior and feel the weight of the burden of our sin lifted as it is forgiven and the inexpressible gratitude for the hope of eternal life we begin to look around and feel compassion for the lost. As we center ourselves, mid-swing, in Christ's perfect love, there is no judgement on others as we ourselves were just as deaf and blind as they. Now given to us is a wide-eyed window to a blameless heart that wants to relieve others of their guilt and condemnation by pointing them to Christ's perfect love. Seeing clearly that sin is the symptom of a love-sick heart that Christ wants to heal.
Unfortunately, this person who was previously ignored by Satan has now become a prime target for harassment because they are getting the truth out. Naturally as a believer we want to know Him better so we learn more and more about God and His Holy Word. Slowly, the momentum builds and we find ourselves unhappily on the other side of the pendulum's swing. Knowledge puffing up, judgement and pride begin to separate us from others. The lost and even other Christians fall under our scrutiny as Satan whispers in our ear unloving words. Somehow we forget that it was nothing we did ourselves but Christ's sacrifice on the cross that saved us. We foolishly begin to compare ourselves to others, monitoring our christian walk and others, often forgetting that we are all sinners in need of a savior everyday!
It is our goal as Christians to stay Christ -centered and balanced by remembering we are no better than our very worst forgiven sins. We are all in need of love and acceptance and compassion. Reaching out to the lost because we want to lift their burden and introduce them to the love of their life!
