What’s On The Inside?
My husband owns this car. At first glance, it looks like a great little car. When it was his daily driver, he would take great care to keep it looking good on the outside. Even in cold, yucky, PNW weather, he would be outside washing it. If you were to open the door and look on the inside, though, you get a much different view.
The seats have grease stains from his old job. When he starts it, warnings come on of things not properly functioning. The entire panel from the passenger door is missing so the doors can no longer be locked. Nothing of value can be left in the car because it is an easy target for thieves.From the outside, the car was shiny and clean and looked like a good car. Knowing the inside, though, makes me want to steer clear of that car, not wanting to ever ride in it.
Have you ever met anyone who is like that spiritually? They go to great lengths to look good on the outside. They attend church and show up to Bible study, but it is more out of a desire to make friends or be with friends than it is to hear the message and grow in their relationship with God. They serve in ministries, but it is more out of a desire to be seen by and please people than it is to worship and serve God. They may even be able to quote Scriptures, allowing them in their heads and to come out of their mouths, but not ever letting them take root in their hearts and produce change in their lives.
When you get close to them, you see the grease stains, the lack of fruit in their lives. Their life is stained with sin that they don’t clean up by repenting and turning away from. They have cracks that have allowed the enemy to come in and start removing things of value in their lives.
Does this currently describe you?To God, it doesn’t matter how good you look on the outside. You can put in all the work to look spiritual, do all the right “Christian” things. God, though, looks at the heart, at what is on the inside, at the fruit you re producing in your life.Jesus says in Matthew 23:27-28 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead mean’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”If you find this describes you, today is the day to change.
- Get on your knees and ask God to search you and show you the things in your heart that need to change (Psalm 139:23-24)
- Repent (1 John 1:9)
- Allow the blood of Christ to cleanse your conscience from dead works (Hebrews 9:14)
- Let Christ work in you, giving you a new heart with a new Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26)
#EverythingUnderTheSon
Rachel Guest
