To Be or Not to Be – by Bea Edwards

For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT

We have all heard “be a good example,” but what exactly does that mean? Are we to hide the reality of our struggles and transgressions and put on a counterfeit, continually happy face? Why this false epitome of someone who has it all together?

Could the paradigm we set by putting on a fake smile while we are in actuality troubled or hurting inside, be considered a hypocritical ‘act’? Is this performance because we don’t want to burden another with our problems or is it because we set too high a standard for ourselves and don’t want people to know that we as believers struggle and are in reality promised a life of adversity?

Or on the other hand, if we are perfectly transparent with our humanity and the battle raging between our flesh and the Spirit within us, won’t we scare away potential seekers?

A sense of balance is recommended as a certain level of transparency will illustrate that it’s not about us but in reality about what Jesus our Master Designer is doing in us. Little by little day by day He is transforming us into a pattern, the very blueprint which He chose before the beginning of time.

He is the Potter and we are the clay, eternally being modeled into a perfect illustration of His grace and mercy.

Today’s writer is married, has four boys and two grandchildren. She attends Moody Bible college online and lives in Northern Michigan. Contact