Every day someone walks around with an obvious imperfection or stain. Maybe a piece of hair is going rogue, a grease stain goes unnoticed or something is stuck on a part of your body. Depending upon your co-workers, family or neighbors, this may be brought to your attention. Others might laugh as you pass by until a mirror uncovers this blemish. Either way many live in what Casting Crowns calls a Stained Glass Masquerade.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, 1 John 2:1.
As a child, I can remember how cruel kids got at times especially if you were the target. When on the other side, it might have felt good for a while to pile on. Yet, if facial expressions changed, I began to have pity. As an adult, teasing is more sophisticated in some ways but just as harsh if not more. Unfortunately, most people don’t look in the mirror long enough to see that no one is perfect, blinded by a stained glass window.
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2.
Despite what I have said up to this point, these 2 verses of the Bible provide hope for anyone stuck living in a Stained Glass Masquerade. Jesus didn’t just come to remove the stain of good people, Christ suffered, died and rose again for everyone. Therefore, don’t allow yourself get caught up trying to play the judge and jury in this life. Rather, acknowledge your shortcomings and trust Jesus to remove the stain of sin in your life. This choice leads to freedom, escaping from an endless masquerade.
by Jay Mankus
