Most of us love the approval of men rather than the approval of God. It's such a weird concept but ultimately we don’t want to rock the boat, or get people upset. So instead we live our lives silently. Trying our best not to offend the people we pass, in hopes that we can live at peace with a world crying out for a Savior. And in the end we will realize that we have successfully gained the approval of men, but tip toed our way into an eternally glorious kingdom, alone. Having left our friends and coworkers behind, all because we were too scared to share our faith with a culture that spends their entire lives searching for the peace that surpasses all understanding.
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
~ Galatians 1:10
Have you ever read "Jane Eyre"? Probably not. Charlotte Bronte isn't favorite among men. However, she created an awesome character in Helen Burns. Early in the novel Jane is unjustly labeled a liar. She feels her life is over and no one will ever befriend her. She basically says she would endure any kind of horrible torture to have a fellow human being love her. Helen rebukes her by saying, "You think too much of the love of human beings; you are too impulsive, too vehement: the sovereign hand that created your frame, and put life into it, has provided you with other sources in your feeble self, or than creatures feeble as you. Besides this earth, and bsides the race of men, there is an invisible world and a kingdom of spirits: that world is round us, for it is everywhere; and those spirits watch us, for that are commissioned to guard us; and if we were dying in pain and shame, if scorn smote us on all sides, and hatred crushed us, angels see our tortures, recoginse our innocence, and God waits only the separation of spirit from flesh to crown us with a full reward. Why, then, should we ever sink overwhelmed with distress, when life is so soon over, and death is so certain an enterance to happiness-- to glory?"
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