I recently discovered a new app the other day. It’s called “Be Real”. The premise is simply to connect people with real moments in life, messy or not. There’s already platforms out there that people pose for, edit for, add filters to, and simply “produce” to make it look like something beyond reality. This app notifies you on your device and then you have 2 minutes to take a picture of whatever you are doing, promoting the fact that you are “being real”. No filters, no staging, no production. Just, what are you doing in a candid moment of your life at this moment.
I think this is resonating with people because they are tired of the lack of authenticity we see on social media. We might enjoy posting and seeing people post pictures of the great moments in life: your kids’/grandkids’ championship game, that dream vacation, the renovation you got around to doing, the birthday party you threw, etc. All these are good, but it leaves people who scroll through their feed feeling as though everyone else has their lives all together, and maybe I’m missing out.
Where do we fit?
Life is not meant to be lived through a filter. We don’t need to be instagram perfect. There is a call for people to “be real” because people crave authenticity. It’s what we are created for. We live in community with one another; we work with one another; we worship with one another; we need to be real with one another. The world doesn’t need more people acting like they have their lives together. Our world needs believers who have removed the veil/filter over their faces to reveal the glory of God.
The word says
In 2 Cor. 3:7-18, Paul reminds us that Moses came down from the mountain and needed to be covered with a veil because he shone with the glory of God. Moses shone brightly because he was in the presence of God. We too, get to be in God’s presence. The world needs the presence of God. When we are authentic with people, sharing our troubles, our ugly days and good days, they see us clearly.
Paul tells us in verse 16 that when a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed from their face. The gaze on the glory of the Lord without a filter. The world needs that glory to be reflected like verse 18 says. “We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
If I am transformed to the image of Jesus, from glory to glory, I should reflect that into the world. Is my life messy? Yes, but people can handle messy. Since my life is messy, that just reveals God’s grace even more. The world needs Jesus. You and I can show them. We don’t need to feel as though we must filter our lives. They are eager for something real. Reveal Jesus to them.