Cathy’s Corner
Oswald Chambers – The Teaching of Disillusionment
“Jesus did not commit Himself to them…, for He knew what was in man” (John 2:24-25).
Disillusionment means having no more misconceptions, false impressions, and false judgments in life; it means being free from these deceptions. However, though no longer deceived, our experiences of disillusionment may actually leave us cynical and overly critical in our judgment of others. But the disillusionment that comes from God brings us to the point where we see people as they really are, yet without any cynicism or any stinging and bitter criticism. Many of the things in life that inflict the greatest injury, grief, or pain, stem from the fact that we suffer from illusions. We are not true to one another as facts, seeing each other as we really are; we are only true to our misconceived ideas of one another. According to our thinking, everything is either delightful and good, or it is evil, malicious, and cowardly.
Refusing to be disillusioned is the cause of much of the suffering of human life. And this is how that suffering happens—if we love someone, but do not love God, we demand total perfection and righteousness from that person, and when we do not get it we become cruel and vindictive; yet we are demanding of a human being something which he or she cannot possibly give. There is only one Being who can completely satisfy to the absolute depth of the hurting human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord is so obviously uncompromising with regard to every human relationship because He knows that every relationship that is not based on faithfulness to Himself will end in disaster. Our Lord trusted no one, and never placed His faith in people, yet he was never suspicious or bitter. Our Lord’s confidence in God, and in what God’s grace could do for anyone, was so perfect that He never despaired, never giving up hope for any person. If our trust is placed in human beings, we will end up despairing of everyone.
I’ve ben in ministry for over twenty-five years and in the beginning I had illusions of how church staff, church members and Christians in general were supposed to act. I expected non-Christians to behave badly but not Christians. There have been many times that I have been injured and suffered pain and grief because of someone who said or did something or how they acted. I’ve also been the cause of my share of pain, suffering and grief because of pride and self-righteousness. I’ve also been critical, judgmental, and cynical because of what I’ve seen and how people can become. Someone once told me, “Don’t put anyone on a pedestal, because they will let you down every time.” I’m not perfect by any means and I make mistakes, fall down and get back up. I disappoint people all the time but I’m still trying to do what I think God is telling me to. I ask for forgiveness and I apologize when I’m in the wrong. Hopefully now I try to see people the way God does. I try not to be as hard on people as I use to. Occasionally I may be disappointed with someone but I haven’t lost faith in God and I haven’t lost faith that He will work in and through each of us if we will let Him. We are all human beings who are sinners and if we have a relationship with Jesus Christ then He is working in our lives, molding us and shaping us to fulfill His purposes. I can only pray for myself and others that we will have no more misconceptions, false impressions, and false judgments so we can’t be deceived; but along with that not to be cynical or overly critical in our judgment of others. Let’s see others as they really are, yet without any cynicism or any stinging and bitter criticism. Let’s love each other and see each other as we really are, sinners saved by grace.
Have a great day in the Lord
