Appearance

 I once knew a person a GE who believed that appearance was everything necessary for success. If you looked the part you will probably become the part. I have come to realize that a person can look the part but often doesn't have the ability needed. Consider, (1 Samuel 16:7-), " But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'" David was chosen that day though he was not the one most would have thought that God would pick. I'm immediately reminded of  another, John the Baptist. He wore camel skin clothing, wandered in the wild and eating locust and honey. What about Jesus himself. Many misinterpreted Him and few recognized Him as Messiah.
    One of the issues in faith is that often people are not as they outwardly appear to be. Man often fails to internalize the truth and outward appearances deceives many. Man often talks, appears to have a resemblance, but inwardly the heart is not in it. Jesus spoke many times about the hypocrite, the luke warm, those who had an appearance of holiness, but the truth was not in them. Many start on the road to glory but often fail because they have failed to allow the Holy Spirit to empower and support their daily lives: the inward power of God is not there. Other's want association only, nothing more. The price is too high and the path too difficult.
     I believe if there was ever a time for Christians to be genuine it is now. I believe the time has come where if we the Christian element in America don't stand up for our faith we will be just another country without God's guidance and blessings. What troubles most is that America has allowed appearance to overshadow the reality that we have lost our first love. I'm concerned that even the appearance is being eroded and a good many of our leaders seek neutrality in their appearance as it is no longer popular to have a Christian appearance. No, I'm not getting off on jewelry, make up, etc; what I'm talking about is the presence of God that finds its way into our lives and makes our actions Christ like. We are not afraid to say as a country, " In God we trust," and our actions and laws represent that faith.
    So where do we go from here? I have a plan and hope all will join me in that effort. Start today by reading God's word everyday. After you have read then write down what you have read. Then pray asking God to reveal the truth to you. Ask for the Holy Spirits leadership as the Word becomes a living part of your very being. Seek at least one person a day, e-mail, phone, personal, somehow get more outward with your faith. Determine that your family knows what you believe and ask God to give you the courage, wisdom, and above all love as you interact with them daily. Become a voice at home, on the job, in your community, assuring that God is recognized and honored in our community. Make your presence and testimony known. That is a tough assignment but what is our purpose. Do you get it yet? We were born with a purpose. That purpose is surround with people. Jesus depends on us, our inward and outward being is to be like Him. I know when people start telling other people what to do there is often a rub and so I must be careful. I feel an urgency, that what we are going to do, we need to do it now. We must realize as Christians that we have a job to do. That responsibility is not to be taken lightly. Appearance is not enough!
     So what does a coach say to his team when they are facing defeat? Few really good coaches accept defeat because they are down. Most will appeal to the team members to go out there and play as you are capable. Sometimes the team will rally, put on a full court press, seek the rewards of victory. Other teams, will accept defeat, and hope at the end the coach will commend them for giving it their best. Jesus said, (Luke 9:23-25), "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow Me. If you try to keep your life for yourself you will lose it. But if you give up your life for Me, you will find true life. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose or forfeit your soul in the process." Paul realized the goal, (Philippians 3:12), "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of for me.......... Forget what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal, to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." We all need to consider, it's late in the game. the team is struggling, do we win or lose?

Have a great day!
Bill Gooden