HOPE TRIUMPHS
WHY SHOWCASE JUST TO WIN PRAISE?
Are you worried about what others might think about you? Image credit: ABHISHEK SHEKHAWAT on Pexels.
By REVEREND TONY ZEKVELD
Recently someone spoke to me about “showcasing” in their family. Everyone has to look good before others even though internally life is falling apart. We “showcase” ourselves.
I’m reminded of the old proverb, “an elephant has two sets of teeth – one for eating and the other (tusks) to show the world.”
Some pictures do lie. We showcase a happy family, but in reality, relationships are broken. We put on an image before our relatives and close friends. But we put it on to hide behind it, not revealing our sins and brokenness. We showcase our beautiful home, our new car, showing the world that we are successful, while in reality we are neck deep in debt. We get worried about what others may think, so we put on a false front. We showcase ourselves.
Image is what matters, not truth. What people think is important, not reality. We become professional liars and it becomes a generational curse because our children see it in us and, therefore, they practise the same. We deceive others and then they play the same game, hiding the darkness, the evil within.
But God sees. We can deceive others, but we cannot deceive God. The Bible says “for the LORD does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart”.
But don’t we get worried about what God thinks and says about it all? He sees all our sinful thoughts, motives and schemes. The night shines as the day before Him! The Bible says that “there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
No, religious showcasing does not work either! We can’t fool God.
Yet God offers to cover you. Here is the good news! God sent His Son, Jesus, who willingly and lovingly took the punishment and curse that we deserve, upon Himself, on the cross. God calls us to run for covering, not by showcasing ourselves, but to Christ the perfect sacrifice for sins. We can bring our ‘mess’ before God. Christ covers us with His perfect righteousness; that is, for all who trust Him. Whatever others may think, God accepts me. My life is hidden, safe and secure, in Christ.
I am no longer a slave to showcasing.
If you want to talk more, feel free to phone or text Reverend Tony Zekveld (“call me Pastor Tony”) at Hope Centre at 416-740-0543. His email is hopecentre@primus.ca and website: www.hopecentrebrampton.com.