By their fruits you shall know them

Botox, silicone, liposuction, face lifts and tummy tucks are all words that have become familiar to us. Apparently, they are no longer exclusively for the stars. Some can be done in a lunch hour at a knock down rate.  In an image obsessed world, cosmetic surgery has exploded into a multi billion-dollar industry. How we look has taken precedence over who we are. In a media driven society, looks have become the benchmark. 

Some of the older female News presenters, who were arguably the best news readers on television, were dumped by the BBC for no other reason than to make way for some perceived to be a bit more glamorous and younger. Their years of journalistic expertise counted for nothing. The men in suits had decided. It was out with the old and in with the new.  

I'm glad God is not like that. The Bible says that “Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart.” (1Samuel 16:7)  It's interesting that Jesus reserved his harshest criticism for religious hypocrites. He said that the Pharisees were like whitewashed tombs.        All bright and shiny on the outside, but on the inside, full of dead men's bones. God really does focus on the heart.

As someone said, “The problem of the heart is the heart of the problem.” 

Am I phony or real? If you met me how would you know? Would you judge me according to how I dress or my appearance? Often, we do judge books by their cover not their content. Actually, Jesus made the process simple.  He said, “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matt.7:16) Actions do speak louder than words. Any man or woman who claims to be a follower of Christ will ultimately be tested by their actions. The hand will reveal the heart. Often, when sharing your faith with someone, they will bring up the subject of hypocrisy. Trying to throw you off track they will say, “There are too many hypocrites in the church. I know such and such a Christian, and they are the biggest hypocrite I’ve ever met” I usually reply, “Yes, it’s regrettably true, that for sure there are some hypocrites in the church.      At least you and Jesus agree on that. He doesn’t like them either. But you won’t have to stand before God and answer for some hypocrite. You will have to answer only for yourself.”

In Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan talked about “the parson of our parish, Mr. Two-Tongues.” In that same congregation was Mr. Smooth-Man, Mr. Anything, and Mr. Facing-Two-Ways. These are all people of duplicity. So, fellow believer, let us as much as possible, live our lives in such a way as to show others we not only talk the talk, but walk the walk.

- Pastor David Goudy