Quote Contemplations 21 

 

“Above all, do not lie to yourself.” - Fyodor Dostoevsky*

 

This is a profound statement regarding moral responsibility, self-honesty, and the dangers of self-deception. This could apply to all peoples because many of us tend to become self-deluded regarding our goodness. We make the crucial mistake of seeing ourselves as compared to a variety of other people, thus proving to ourselves that we are more good than those others. That delusion ends up stunting our growth. For the Christian it stunts our spiritual growth. We see ourselves as needing nothing to initiate change; some sort of behavioral alteration that is not needed. In that, we fail to realize the reality of our woeful state. We are sinners. Every last one of us. There is truly nothing good about us. We all tend to be selfish, self-centered, and self-absorbed in one way or another. 

It’s very difficult to face our flaws, but when you compare yourself to the only perfect example of righteousness, holiness, and purity, you then realize you come up wanting. We cannot save ourselves and we cannot find our own way out of the abyss we invariably find ourselves in. We NEED a Savior to lift us out of our perpetual dilemmas and place us on a path lined with forgiveness, love, and hope for tomorrow. 

So do not bother lying to yourself about the state of your being. Face the stark reality that we are nothing without the Creator of the Universe handling our affairs. Surrender to the Almighty One and live in truth and harmony with yourself and those around you.  Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (1821 – 1881) was a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, and journalist, widely regarded as one of the greatest literary figures in world literature.