“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” (1 Corinthians 3:18)
Who we really are, before God, is what matters; not who we seem to be, before men. We can carefully craft an image, a persona, that people buy into. Those furthest from us are the most easily duped. Those closest to us know better.
No one knows us better than God. Jesus called Him the “Father which is in secret.” Men look on the outward appearance; He looks at the heart. Men see the public face; He sees the private life. Paul tells those who are keeping up a good appearance to not kid themselves. Don’t buy into the lie you’re peddling to others.
Real internal change can only come when we get real with ourselves. Maybe we should even ask those closest to us what they really think. But who dares tell the Emperor that he has no clothes?
We are not who we or anyone else thinks we are. We are who God knows we are. And if we are to become anything in His sight, we must first acknowledge we are nothing without Him. God wants us to be strong in Him, but only after we admit we are weak without Him. God want us to be wise in Him, but only after we admit we are fools without Him.
If we would rightly judge ourselves now we will not be condemned later. Getting real with ourselves doesn’t mean living with condemnation. The Lord wounds, so He can heal. He brings low, so He can raise up. He turns “wise” men into fools, so He can turn fools into wise men.