Stained Glass

Do you ever get the feeling that a lot of the time Christians are like stained glass windows? You know, they look perfect, show up in church every Sunday, (since they were born), grew up in a Christian family, participate in stuff like youth group, help lead kids programs, and whatever else. They do all this stuff, but really the knowledge that they're sharing doesn't really mean anything to them. It made it to the head but hasn't quite gotten to the heart yet. Like stained glass, they look absolutely beautiful but the meaning of the pictures that make up the stained glass hasn't taken on the fullness of what life could mean.
Sometimes I feel exactly like a stained glass window. I've been a Christian for as long as I can remember. I've had a few of those complete turn-your-life-around moments, but then something happens and I get caught up in the humdrum of life. My Christian walk becomes stagnant and me and God haven't talked in months. Whatever happened to the sheer joy at the realization that we can have a personal, real relationship with the Creator of heaven and earth? The realization that Christ died a horrible death so I could be with Him forever, for all eternity? So now it's time for me to drop this stained glass masquerade. I challenge you to do the same. Make your walk with God real. Not just head knowledge but let it soak into your heart like a sponge.

Are we happy plastic people Under shiny plastic steeples With walls around our weakness And smiles to hide our pain But if the invitation's open To every heart that has been broken Maybe then we close the curtain On our stained glass masquerade
Stained Glass Masquerade-Casting Crowns