The Self

There is, at least to some extent, an inner veil in the heart of even the most ardent believer that is a constant handicap to us in our walk and commune with our Lord. This veil is woven out of the fine threads of the self - life, the hyphenated sins of the human spirit. They are not something we do, they are something we are, and therein lies both their subtlety and their power.

To be specific, the self - sins are these: self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love, and a host of others like them. They dwell too deeply within us and are too much a part of our natures to come to our attention until the Light of God is focused upon them.

Self can live unrebuked at the very altar. It can watch the bleeding Victim die and not be impacted by what is sees. It can fight for the faith and eloquently preach the Gospel; telling all truth, and even feeding on orthodoxy.

Self is the opaque veil that hides the Face of God from us. It can be removed only in spiritual exercise and experience, never by mere instruction. There must be a Work of God here; we must invite the cross to do its deadly work within us. We must bring our self and our self - sins to Him for judgment.

God must do everything for us here; our part is to yield and trust. We must confess, forsake, repudiate, and reckon the self - life crucified. Insist that the work be done in very truth and it will be done. The cross is rough; it is deadly; but it is effective.