Rejection for Perfection

I think we've all been through this before: 

"I like you....Would you...maybe...uh.... want to go go out sometime?" 
"Uhm....No. I am sorry, but I like someone else."  
"I only like you as a friend."

Next you go through the "slow burning" questions of, 

"I wonder what it is about me that he/she doesn't like."  
"Am I not attractive enough?" 
"How can I change myself to get them to change their mind?" 
"Is there something wrong with me?""

Rejection is something that everyone, at some point in their lives, experiences; whether it be rejection from that certain someone we are interested in, to not "making the cut" on a team roster.  I'd be lying if I said that it wasn't painful.  It almost feels like getting sucker punched because we almost always go into these situations blindly. When the punch comes in, you don't know what the response will be, and when you get socked with a negative response, it's shocking, and you're left with a pit in your stomach thinking, "I'll never get over this."  Eventually, however, we do get over it, because we realize that whatever the situation was, just wasn't meant to be.

Jesus understands what it feels like to have been rejected.  He was dismissed by  His own family (Luke 4:16-30), his own people (John 1:10-11), and people today still reject him.  Jesus knew that He was going to catch fire for claiming he was the Messiah, and he did it anyway, knowing he would burn for the good of mankind. To be rejected by the likes of this world (a person of interest or sports rosters) stings only for a moment, because we either find someone else, or work harder to make the team the next time around.  If everyone accepted Jesus during His life, then there would have been no reason for His death.  But if we continue to fuel the fire of the flesh, we will burn to a crisp  (Jeremiah 4:4), because we are rejecting the ONLY one who can save us. Sin  stings, but remaining in them stirs up a towering inferno in our souls.

This world is,  as God said to the Prophet Ezekiel, filled scorpions who rebel against Him (Ezekiel 2:6).   The truth was literally staring the people of Israel in the face, and they still rejected him, and we are often guilty of the same thing.  The truth was alive, breathing, walking, and LIVING in the world and He was shut down as quickly as one flips a light switch.  And even through the insults, slander, and ultimately His death, Jesus still spoke in truth, and the people heard it: Whether they liked it or not.  They may reject the truth, but they will hear it.  If you get too close to a scorpion, don't be afraid.  They will only sting you if they feel threatened. But do be afraid of the ones who will stop at nothing to poison your soul.

How many times have we pretended not to hear someone speaking when we knew they were giving us good advice, or when we are being called out on our foolish actions? Moreover, how many times have we ignored the Holy Spirit when we have felt Him convicting us of our sinful ways? How many times have we indulged in a sinful act and justified it with our "get out of jail free card" that is Jesus' constant forgiveness? One excuse will lead to the next, only leading us down a dark road away from God.  Without the Spirit, there is no truth; without truth, there is no God (1 John 4:6); without God, this world is nothing more than an illusion. If there were no truth and no God, this world wouldn't exist because WE wouldn't exist! Yet so many of us still deny His existence.


Rejection never feels good.  But there is always a blessing waiting at the end for those who patiently endure it (1 Peter 2:18-19).   Take these instances, for example:

• You finally get up the nerve to ask the girl that you've been crushing on for months to go out; only to be told she isn't interested.
• That job you were so desperately hoping you would get, chose another candidate.
• You practiced all year to audition for the lead role in your school play, only to get asked to work as a stage hand instead.

 But as it turned out....

• You fell in love with an even more amazing girl who became your wife.
• You found an even better job with higher pay and amazing benefits.
• You learned every aspect of the theater; behind the scenes and on stage, further honing your craft.

Jesus could have easily  thrown his hands up in the air in frustration and said, "I give up." Rejection hurts.  BAD.  We know what it feels like to be rejected by one, two, or maybe a small group of people.  Jesus was rejected by ALL of his people! If he gave up on us, there would be no hope, and no reason for the world to continue.  But He allowed Himself to be berated, belittled, and murdered in a quest for perfection.  He loved this wretched, venomous world so much that he died a humiliatingly beautiful death to save us.  Jesus died to be glorified; so that we could be seen as nothing short of perfect in the eyes of the Father.

Things are not always what they seem, and never as bad as we may think.  In a world of scorpions, God sees us as butterflies.  His rejection lead to perfection, and God's truth still lives through those of us who believe in Him.  And the world will hear the truth: Whether they listen or not.