Facing The Back Of The Room

Because of the Lord's faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

 

When our son was almost five, I took him to a pre-kindergarten screening. This was the big day when he and the other five year-olds would meet their teacher. She could then decide if they were ready for kindergarten.

At the school we joined a group of children and parents in the hallway. The teacher soon arrived and told the children to follow her into their classroom. The other children obediently got in line, but my son dove under a nearby chair and wrapped his arms around its legs.

After several embarrassing minutes, I convinced him to come out and join the others in the classroom. I watched uneasily from the doorway as the teacher seated the children in little wooden desks.

Any lingering hope Jon was ready for kindergarten vanished when he folded his arms across his chest and turned toward the back of the room. He stayed that way, refusing to look at the teacher, until it was time to leave. As you may have guessed, we postponed kindergarten.

Spiritually speaking, all of us start life facing the back of the room. We are turned away from God, arms crossed stubbornly, going our own way. Like my son who wasn't ready for kindergarten, we aren't ready for a relationship with God.

The fact of the matter is we aren't fit for a relationship with Him because He is holy, and we are not. As the Bible says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God"(Romans 3:23). All means every last one of us.

Left to ourselves, the situation would be hopeless. However, God hasn't left us to ourselves. With grace and love He reaches out to each of us through Christ .

When we grasp that amazing truth, God gently turns us around so we see Him.

Father, I'm so thankful to be facing the front of the room.Your mercy is never-ending.

Carol