Let's Get Real

What is humility, really? 

 There are a lot of great definitions. “Humility is not thinking of yourself less, but it is not thinking of yourself at all” – this is the one I usually quote.

But today, for the first time, I think humility is something else. Something simple.

I think humility is living in complete reality. 

But what is reality?

Here is reality: 

Reality is I am nothing.

You are nothing.

Reality is we are rebellious. We are sinners. We are dark.

 No one is good.

Reality is whether we stand behind a pulpit, or on a street corner, we are the same.

 It takes one night, one decision, one moment, and all the sudden we are somewhere we never thought we would be; doing things we never thought we would do.

And reality is…it’s easy.

Reality is the only things truly separating us from a prisoner are the bars.

That is reality. 

But that isn’t the end of my reality. 

Reality is I am good.

I have everything.

Reality is I am righteous and I am saved.

And humility is LIVING in this reality.

This COMPLETE reality. 

It means to be humble, I can’t keep putting on shows. I can’t keep bouncing back and forth between my two best-selling acts, depending on what audience wants what act.

You see, I often either live in the first half of my reality, forgetting the second half – I am dark. I am twisted. I am a sinner. And I behave that way…because that is just “who I am”.

Or I embrace the second half of my reality, forgetting the first completely – I am good. I am holy. I am righteous. And I behave like I am flawless…because that is who I am.


But I am not one without the other. 

Here is my complete reality: 

Reality is I am nothing.

But I have everything in Christ.

Reality is I am rebellious. A sinner. Dark.

But I am forgiven through the blood shed by Christ.

Reality is I am not good.

But I am declared righteous through the sacrifice of Christ.

Humility means I recognize my sin. My darkness. My rebellion. And I don’t hide it to appear “holy”. 

But humility doesn’t end there.

Humility also means I recognize that I am forgiven, declared righteous, and am saved. And I don’t hide it because I am ashamed of my sin. 

I admit both: I am a sinner. I am saved. 

THAT is humility. 

This morning I admitted sin to a sister in Christ. I hated every moment of it and it definitely wasn’t easy. But it was refreshing, and it was worth it - because my pursuit is Christ…despite my sin.

Allow me to ask you something-

How can you live in complete reality? In humility?

What sin do you need to admit? What truth do you need to admit?

 Be refreshed. 

Don’t put on a show any longer. Don’t hide your sin. And if you have it, don’t hide your salvation.

 If you only have the first half of the reality listed above - a reality of darkness, sin, and rebellion - I encourage you to admit it. It is the first step to gaining a second reality - one of forgiveness and salvation.

Christians, the more we live in complete reality, the more I believe we allow the Lord to work. To help us defeat sin. To put Him on display.

 Get off the stage.

 Let's get real.