See the real picture

"(1) Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God's right hand. (2) Think about the things of heaven not the things of earth."                                            Colossians 3:1-2.  New Living Translation

A photographer uses light and dark to produce excellent images. If it is too light or too dark, depending on what he or she are trying to create, it may need a little post-processing. Normally, the image would need to be focused properly, not too sharp and not blurry, unless this is planned.  At times, filters can be used to produce a sky that isn't as blue as required or grass as green as would be liked or whatever else is required for the image. Composition is a major requirement all the time so that the eye can see what the photographer is attempting to produce. Finally at the end of the shoot, the photographer may enhance the image in post-process, to give it that added attraction.

This can be a wonderful analogy of our Christian walk. We want to walk in the light, because that is where Jesus is, and yet occasionally, we will push our luck and be tempted to try the dark side of life. We need to be careful here. The world would have us to walk the way it does, but we are different, we belong to Heaven not to this earth. This is just temporary for us before we receive the bigger picture.

We need to focus our sights and our thoughts on Jesus and what He requires from us. We need to get the clear picture of where we are going and what we are doing each and every day. We may have to change who we hang out with and where we go for entertainment. We all need to relax and chill out, but we need to edit this so that we are not at risk of compromising our faith.

Filters enhance a photograph and at times, help the viewer to see what isn't really there, such as a very dark sky when it is really quite light. In the same way, we need to keep a check on our walk - where we go, what movies we watch, what bars we visit etc. We need to be aware of what is there. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to : 'Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.' Don't let it be you!

Composition is important. It allows us to fill the picture with what should be there and what shouldn't. It helps us to get rid of the clutter that ordinarily is not needed. It is the same with our lives - our picture, there are things that are just a clutter. They need discarding so that your picture - your walk with Jesus, is a prize winner.

At the end of the day, don't try to put into your picture what shouldn't be there. Be yourself; be you - not a copy of someone else. God created you as you, not a photo-enhanced, out of focus, over-exposed composition of some other Christian.  

Make your life what it is, not what it isn't.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com