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WHAT ARE YOU WEARING? (standard:non fiction, 922 words) | |||
Author: Marsha | Added: Mar 15 2002 | Views/Reads: 3340/3 | Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes) |
We try to disguise who we really are by improving our outward appearance, but God sees our hearts. | |||
WHAT ARE YOU WEARING? I've been sick for several weeks with a nasty virus that is rough to shake. Except to go to the doctor, I've stayed in my pajamas on the couch. Today, for the first time in two weeks, I got dressed and put on makeup. What a difference it made in the way I looked AND felt. As I put moisturizer on to hide my wrinkles, makeup to cover my age spots, and mascara to make my lashes look longer and fuller, I thought about all the effort I put into disguising the REAL me. I color my gray hair, pluck the hairs on my chin, and buy clothes that will (hopefully) fool people into believing that I am not as fat as I really am. And it's not just my outside appearance I try to hide. Do people see us for who we really are, or do they see only what we want them to see? At times when we lose our cool, our real motives and attitudes can come spilling out. But every one of us pretends at times to be something we are not. It's natural to try to hide our faults so that people will like us. Just like the characters at Disney World, we disguise the real person and "dress up" in costumes to please those around us. And, just as the old cliche says, we are able to fool some of the people some of the time. However, we can't fool God! He sees through our disguises and looks into our hearts. Jesus told the Pharisees (in Matthew 23:27) "You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. On the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." In Psalm 139, it says that God knows all about our thoughts, our actions, and motives. The prophet Isaiah (in chapter 64) wrote that all the good deeds we do to cover up the sinful side of ourselves and all of our best efforts to look and be good still appear no better than "filthy rags" to God. Sound discouraging? But here's the GOOD news: Even though God knows who we really are, He loves us in spite of our failures and weaknesses! His word tells us that He wants to clothe us in "garments of salvation" and cover us with "robes of righteousness "(Isaiah 61:10). Now that's an outfit I want to wear! Galatians 3:27 says that when a person is baptized into Christ, he "puts on" Christ. We don't need a mask or a costume to disguise our REAL self. If we want something to cover up our bad side or something to hide behind, it can be Jesus! We can be covered by God's grace, salvation, and righteousness. And, unlike any worldly clothes, these garments will last for eternity. When we put these on, they don't just cover our faults and disguise us - they make us a whole new person (2 Corinthians 5:17). What a relief! Instead of trying to hide the real me, I can let God change me into something better. God can give us a new heart (Ezekiel 26:36) with right desires and create a new spirit within us! This is what I want. Then I won't have to worry about pretending or hiding or covering up. I may be like an ugly caterpillar right now; but with God's power, I can be transformed into a new creation, like a beautiful butterfly! Want to learn more about "putting on Christ?" Read Acts 2:38 and 1 Peter 3:21 and visit my web page "Have you made your reservations for heaven?" at http://www.hugsandhope.com/reservations.htm ################### Author, Marsha Jordan, is Founder of The HUGS AND HOPE FOUNDATION for Sick Children. She is a disabled grandma who lives in the northwoods of Wisconsin with her husband of 26 years and their toy poodle, King Louie, who rules the household with an iron paw. Once an active volunteer in many scouting, school, community and church activities, Jordan was an energetic homeschooling mom who also worked as a secretary until her life took a sharp turn. Her busy schedule came to a screeching halt when she fell victim to an auto-immune disease which struck her blind for several months. She knows how it feels to be sick, in pain, frustrated, and afraid. When she encountered this roadblock, God steered her into a U-turn, but she continued full speed ahead in a new direction. Through her Hugs and Hope Club, Jordan strives to send a message not just to suffering families, but to all people that we don't have to face life's problems alone. God cares about our pain and desires to be intimately involved in our lives. He wants to help us through the struggles and have a personal relationship with each of us! Jordan likes to remind people that God has a plan for each life. No one is insignificant. And God can do great things with you, even if you lack great talent. It is her earnest prayer that hurting people will come to know the awesome love, peace, and joy available to those who seek God and serve Him. Jordan enjoys creating web pages, collecting and decorating with antiques, rubber stamping, and having fun with her three year old grandson, Cobi, who is the light of her life. She's been published in 29 online newsletters and ezines. Tweet
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Marsha has 15 active stories on this site. Profile for Marsha, incl. all stories Email: mmellow@newnorth.net |