Experience can be a painful, but effective teacher.

On a Sunday night many years ago, I walked down the aisle to the song, “Just As I Am” and gave my heart and life to Christ. When I came up out of the water, I was brand new. I embraced Colossians 3:1-3, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

I was young, excited, naïve, and trusting.

I made a mistake in putting certain people in my life on a pedestal, which can be defined as “a situation in which someone is greatly or uncritically admired.” They were Christian leaders. They were amazing Christian people who served faithfully and who were in the public eye.

In all of my years as a Christ-follower, there were two moments I questioned my faith, the Bible and even God to the point of considering walking away from the church. Those two times were directly related to my over-elevating them…my putting them on a pedestal.

It was my fault. I was disillusioned*. I put people in a place where only God should be.

(*Disillusioned: A feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be)

I’m grateful I learned early on in my Christian walk one of the most important lessons in keeping my head and my heart in the proper place.

The lesson is this: My disillusionment had absolutely NOTHING to do with God. God is holy. God is perfect. God is our creator. God is powerful. God is sovereign. God is almighty.

People sin. We are human. We behave badly. We have impure thoughts. We lie. We make terrible decisions. When I put others on a pedestal, my emotions got so mixed up, I began seeing God and certain people on the same level. What an emotionally and spiritually dangerous place to be!

I determined after that season in my life, I would never again put another human being on a pedestal. I would not base my faith walk on any man or woman on this earth. My faith had been tested and I almost flunked out because of the sinful actions of those I trusted.

There are people in my life I respect and admire, but only God is to be glorified! Only HE gets to be elevated in my heart and mind.

This lesson has been priceless. God has protected my heart and my mind because of my complete faith and trust in Him and only Him. I’m so grateful!

1. If you have anyone on a pedestal other than God, I’m begging you to take them off. I do not want you to experience disillusionment to the point you think about walking away from God because of the bad choices we as Christians sometimes make.
2. If you have been hurt or disappointed by the actions of other Christians, make a concerted effort to process the experience, find forgiveness, and begin your journey back to God.
3. Read Colossians 3:15-17 and rejoice as we have the opportunity to live our lives for God.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” –Colossians 3:15-17

Together, let us choose to glorify God, not people!