I have been listening to a lot of politics lately and one of the main themes coming from everyone seems to be deception. It made me think of the the movie The Picture of Dorian Grey. When I was young, I watched the 1945 film version of this story. Basically, a young man desires to always be as beautiful as he is at that moment. He makes a deal with the egyptian gods for the portrait to age. Little did he know that the portrait he kept hidden in his room would show all his sins as well.
Inside his private world, this portrait hung. He could take it out and look at it. He could see his past mistakes, the passage of time and who he had become. Dorian was deceptive and uncaring the whole of his painted life. His heart and mind had grown cold and selfish. What he needed was a change of heart and mind. Ultimately the way to fix the problem of Dorian and of the world is to radically change the wills and hearts of those who live here. From desiring selfish things, to desiring good and freedom for our neighbor.
This can only be done with faith in Jesus Christ. Why is this? Because he is the one who can see the paintings of our heart. In 1 Samuel 16:7 it says, "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. A man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." His love changes our desires. Instead of deception, truth. Instead of desire for what others have, we desire more of Him and good to others. Instead of the must haves in life, a greatful heart blooms for what we do have. Jesus is the one who can see the portriats of us all, place your trust with him and he'll lead you to freedom every time.
