REAL PEOPLE

We often face questions like: who are real people? What makes them real? These are some pertinent questions because the world we live in is full of hypocrisy and unmitigated robotism. In such a situation, do we as children of God have a vital part to play so that we exhibit the reality of God?

Reality is the way things are. We can no longer escape from reality than we can jump out of our skins. Apostle Paul presents facts to the Corinthians proving that he was true in all his dealings and life patterns, 2 Cor. 11:29. He was real when he was absent from them as well as when present among them, 2 Cor. 10:11.

On the other hand, there is escapism – the unhealthy desire to escape from the realities of life by concentrating on other interests.

In the words of St. Agustine, ‘Salvation is God’s way of making us real people. That is the beginning of real things. It starts from the present life – a saved life – and extends its span beyond the grave’.

A real person is someone who faces up to the issues that life presents and resists every temptation to escape. Every time we run away from the truth in whatever form it presents itself, something dies within us – we become less of a person. Two choices exist: we can either face reality or bury our heads in the sand.

The question that arises here is, "Why do people look for escape?" The answer is: They do not know the one true reality – God.

As a matter of fact, as believers, do we look for escape? Does this dilemma reflect in our lives? Do we fail to show up as real people?

Christ had presented Himself as a real Person throughout His life on earth and ministry. His teachings were devoid of any kind of dichotomy. Therefore, a true follower of Jesus Christ needs to be careful to cast away their mask of double standard.

A person who believes in the living God cannot be a hypocrite. Christ pointed out this truth when He made a discourse on prayer and fasting in Matt. 6:5, 16. Hypocrisy while praying, according to Christ, makes our prayer meaningless words without sincerity, a muffled reality.

Even our love for God and for fellow-believers must be free from wrong intentions, Rom. 12:9. And every good work must be weighed down in the light of sincere love.

Apostle Paul loved with an open heart, 2 Cor. 6:11. That’s why he boldly defended his cause when he faced the criticism of being a double standard person, 2 Cor. 10:11.

Moreover, the reality we are talking about depends on our intimacy with God. We know God’s nature that His power, and His works. We need to remember that God does not act based on our external appearance, but looks into our hearts and knows our intentions, 1Chro. 28:9.

True worship, in connection with intimacy with God, is a meeting with holy reality; our lives are only as rich as our worship and our worship is only as rich as our lives. Acceptable worship is inseparable from acceptable living.

So, let us remember the exhortation: “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth… And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.” (2 Cor. 13:8, 9).

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