Raw Materials

“Ye judge after the flesh...my judgment is true.” When we judge one’s progress in the Lord, we invariably judge how far they have come by comparing them to the front runner. But comparing ourselves among ourselves is not wise, says the apostle. When God considers how far we have advanced in our Christian lives, He does it from the perspective of how far we have come from where we started. For example, it would be unfair to judge Peter’s progress using Paul as a standard. For Paul started way ahead of Simon. C.S. Lewis says, “You can’t judge simply by comparing the product in two people; you would need to know what kind of raw material Christ was working with in both cases.”

Many of us make the mistake Joshua made concerning the Gibeonites. Because he judged after the flesh, he thought they had come a long way, “From a far country.” Yet, in reality, they had not come far at all but were “neighbors,” who had actually come a very short distance. I wonder, when comparing the less fortunate believer with that one that never experienced his or her painful past, if they would even do as well as the wretched one? Pet patterns may not fair in the end as well as the pitiful.        

You who think you’re lagging behind, take heart. If you do your best, and those in the lead do not, you may find yourself out front in the end. For, “…many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.” You need not catch up to the rest, only do your best. You know, like the tortoise.  

“It is wise for that man or woman who walks in “holy” shoes not to be too tough on those who have “holes” in theirs. At least, till you’ve walked in them awhile yourself!” (rds)