I went swimming. When I got out of the water, I threw my hair up into a pony tail. When I took it down later that evening, I noticed that it had gotten quite curly. Ever since February I had been straightening my hair most of the time, so I forgot that it is actually quite curly.

This reminded me of something in my spiritual life (you didn’t really think I was just going to talk about my hair, did you?). It is easy to forget sometimes that I am a sinner. Just like I use a straightener to straighten my curly/frizzy hair, I act righteous to try to pretend that I am righteous of myself. However, my actions cannot truly conceal my real identity. All the church activities and pretty talk in the world does not change the fact I am a sinner. Only God in Christ can fix that. God is working on me and sanctifying me, but I will still be a sinner until I reach heaven and he completely removes that from me. At that time, my hair will truly be straight and no straightener will be needed (figuratively of course; I don’t think that God would have everyone to have straight hair). Even then, it is not because I chose to have straight hair and did it, but because of what God did on my behalf.

I know that this is an imperfect illustration, but it was one that God used to remind me of who I am. Yes, He loves me and I praise Him for that, but He doesn’t love me for who I am but in spite of it. God has called me to obey Him, but that is for His glory, not my own. I need to be the spotlight, drawing attention to Him.

“But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 NASU