"Dad, I think our band isn't as good as last year, but our director said that we actually sound better this year. Oh, and I heard that the sixth graders coming up next year aren't very good...."
My son lamented on the state of his middle school band shortly prior to their performance at the school gymnasium last year. He noted that several of the best musicians from the previous year all moved on to high school, and that the current crop didn't seem to be of the same caliber. If you heard my son long enough, you would think that the band was in a state of steady decline over the past few years.
Fortunately, this young trombonist's assessment was considerably off the mark. As I listened to the concert, I had to agree with the director that the band actually sounded quite good compared to the year before, and that some of the instrument sections and overall tone balance might be even better than the previous year's edition. Also, for the record, I just listened to a performance from the newest version of the band, sans my son (who is now in high school) but with the addition of my daughter (and all "the sixth graders coming up next year"). No worries. They sounded fine.
It turned out that the reason my son perceived the band to be deteriorating over time was that he was unknowingly judging it by progressively higher standards with each succeeding year. When he first started playing with the middle school's band as a seventh grade trombonist, he was immersed with young musicians whose skill levels were considerably higher than what he experienced the previous year, and indeed, the band sounded better than any of the advanced bands while he was in elementary school. His musical skills improved noticeably during the course of the year, so that by the following year, he was one of the better musicians in the group. As an improved musician, my son became more critical not only of his own performance, but also those of his fellow band members and the band itself. As he improved, he also got better at recognizing mistakes and weaknesses that weren't seen before.
Christians should also have similar shifting perceptions of themselves during their earthly journey. We did not measure ourselves by the standard of God's righteousness before we believed in Jesus, and we might even think that we were pretty good by the world's standards. We thought that God, if He existed, would be happy with us because we did not kill anyone, did not rob banks, only cheated on our taxes or examinations occasionally (and didn't get caught), and didn't use swear words in front of our bosses or teachers. However, we view our thoughts and actions in a much more critical light as believers when God reveals to us our true nature, and as we become increasingly conformed to Christ's likeness over the years. We become more and more aware of sins in our lives that were previously considered menial and insignificant, and our hearts become increasingly tortured by them as we confess and deal with them before our God. No matter how good or righteous we may seem, in the end we are painfully aware that God does not grade on a curve. No one is going to get a passing grade unless Christ's blood covers our sins.
The LORD looks down from heaven on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.
All have turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good, not even one.
Psalm 14:2-3
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...
Romans 3:23
May we daily come before our Lord with gratitude, not because we are better than others, but because He calls us His children despite our evil hearts, minds and actions, which we become painfully aware, and which thankfully are paid by Jesus on the cross.
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