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Have you ever wondered why famous people do stupid things, get caught, and ruin their lives? We think WE would never do that if we had their wealth, their fame, their lives. Why would they mess up a good thing? Well, the truth is, we just might do what they did because we have free will and haven’t really walked where they have walked. Who knows what we would have done if we had to walk in their shoes and deal with the things they deal with.

I learned something Sunday at church. The ancient words of the Bible are a mirror for us to see ourselves and learn from.

Take Adam and Eve, for example. They lived in paradise. They walked with God. They had the perfect life. So what does Eve do? She wants more. She wants to be like God and eats the fruit. Aren’t we like that? Sure we are! We have jobs and have a good life, but we want more. You’ve seen it before…a man wants a better looking wife like his neighbor has and has an affair. A couple wants a home to look just like a magazine, so they go into debt and end up living paycheck to paycheck.

How about Cain and Abel? While they didn’t have the paradise their parents had, they couldn’t have had much of a hard life. There weren’t a lot of people to deal with and that usually is where the drama lies, right? But Cain saw Abel getting praise from God and got jealous. Instead of doing the right thing, he decides to just get rid of his brother. No more competition.

The Bible is full of stories that help us see our human nature. The thing is, the Bible tells the whole story, full of the consequences of giving in to our selfish desires, so that we can fully see where we can end up if we live for ourselves and not for God.

God wants so much to be in a relationship with us. He missed walking in the garden with Adam and Eve. Can’t you just hear the pain in His voice when they hide from Him and He calls out, “Where are you?” Can’t you hear the anguish in His voice when he asks Cain, “What have you done?”

God wants us to desire Him about all else. He wants us to go to him with our thanksgiving, our pain, our excitement, our hurt, our love, our fear. He wants all of us…our heart, soul, mind and strength. He is not scared of our messy hearts. He can take it. He wants to take it. He wants to have all of us, the good, the bad, the ugly. What a great God!

So as you read the Bible, the ancient words, remember to look for yourself in the stories. Don’t try to “pose” in front of the mirror, putting your best face forward. Just be yourself and really see your heart in the reflection of God’s word.

p.s. Thanks John Ketchersid for an awesome sermon!