Friday night as Kathy and I were driving back home; we passed three of
those big signs that flash the time and temperature at you. All three were
located within a couple of blocks along the road; in fact two were visible
from the same stoplight.
As we drove past the first one, I noticed it said -32 and 11:16 PM. I
remembered both, because we had just been commenting on the temperature, and
we were pleasantly ahead of our schedule to be home before midnight.
A couple of blocks farther down the road, we waited for the last few
cars of a train to go by. We saw the next two signs, one on a hotel complex,
and the other atop a local brewery. The temperature at the hotel was -30 and
the time was 11:17. At the brewery it was -26 and 11:28. Both the
thermometers and the clocks on those signs are noted for being somewhat less
than accurate so we weren't surprised by the differences.
We did chuckle however at the irony of the brewery sign, as it struck
us as being typical of the messages of that industry and in fact of much of
the world as a whole. You see, life was just a little faster and the world
just a little warmer above the brewery. I'm sure the sign wasn't purposely
set that way, it was located in a slightly more protected spot than the hotel
sign so the temperature may have been a few degrees warmer and the Lord only
knows when the clock was checked for accuracy last.
The world constantly flashes the messages of "the fast life" at us. If
we only drink the right brand of beverages; drive the latest car; eat at the
right restaurants; wear the clothing that gives us "the" image, listen to the
right music and look young and beautiful enough (which only comes with using
the right products) we'll be happy, successful, popular with the opposite
sex, live longer and be nicer people.
The reality is that even if the products do some of what they are
designed to do they really won’t impact our lives to the degree that the
commercials imply. I'm not sure how to tell you this, but if it's only the
brand of perfume you wear or the soft drink you consume that makes you
popular, it's pretty shallow and transitory popularity at best. There's also
nothing wrong with looking your age. Often times experience comes with age
and that experience is far more valuable than looking younger. If someone is
only attracted to you because you have one less wrinkle, or drive a "younger"
car, the relationship doesn't have much depth.
As cliché as it might sound, it really is what's inside that counts.
The same is true with our relationship with God. We can fancy it up
with nice clothes, big Bibles, churchy words and fine sanctuaries, but if
it's not done with a pure heart towards God, it really isn't worth much.
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you
teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Psalm 51:6 NIV
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a
steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 NIV
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would
bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of
God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not
despise. Psalm 51:16-17 NIV
Put aside all the pretence, all the flash and the hype. Come to Him
with an honest open, seeking heart, scars, warts, sins and all. Come just as
you are, it's the real you He's interested in anyway.
It doesn't matter if we young or old, rich or poor, in style or
hopelessly out of date. When we're His, we have all the approval that we'll
ever need.
Until next time, may you let yourself be real with God.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)!
Kevin
