‘Not Actual Size’

Have you ever noticed the small print on the cover picture of a cereal box or on the picture of an item you’ve purchased that says ‘Not Actual Size’?  The reason this phrase appears is to lower our expectations because many items can seem larger than they really are depending on how they are presented. This is also the case in our day-to-day lives.

There are a lot of people who seem larger than life when presented to us but they really should come with a ‘Not Actual Size’ note attached to them. This is the case with politicians, entertainment and sports stars, potential suitors, religious leaders, new acquaintances, bosses, etc. It is important to remember that no one is as great as their presentation, except God.

We are reminded of this perspective in the first chapter of Esther as we see a mighty king presenting himself as all glorious and powerful (“he displayed the richness of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days” Esther 1:4). Yet he who began the chapter larger than life ends it humbled and humiliated by one word—‘no!’ (Esther 1:12).

The book of Esther reminds us that even when the size of the world’s presentation seems to overshadow God, we must trust by faith that things aren’t as they seem. So here are a few approaches we should take if we indeed believe God to be greater:

1. Let us give God first priority with our time and emotions (Matthew 6:33; 22:37).
2. Let us seek to be please God in everything if His evaluation is most important (1 Corinthians 10:31).
3. Let us love what He loves if He knows that which is best (Philippians 4:8).

If we can’t commit to these steps it may reveal that we have a ‘Not Actual Size’ note on our God rather than on the people and things around us.