SELF-IMPROVEMENT AND SEDUCTIVE APPEARANCES

Many say, “Jesus has made a huge impact on my life. But others improve their lives without Jesus. I guess everyone has their own way.”

It is true that many non-believers look impressive. They possess abilities and attractiveness exceeding our own. However, is their apparent well-being just a temporary and superficial thing? According to Jesus, they can build alluring houses for themselves. However, they will not stand when hardships come, which will reveal that these magnificent looking edifices were just built upon sand:

·       “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)

Some people build their houses on sand. They can clean their houses thoroughly, but without Jesus, they will not stay clean, as He had warned:

·       “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.” (Matthew 12:43-45)

We are only able to judge superficially, according to appearances. It is God who judges the heart. Even the holy prophet Samuel had made this mistake. God had sent him to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be the next king of Israel. However, based on appearances, Samuel was prepared to anoint Jesse’s first son as king:

·       But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Appearances can be deceiving. Jesse had assembled all his sons before Samuel. However, it was his most unlikely son who became the choice of God, the one seemingly fit to only be a shepherd, the one who would become Israel’s greatest king – David.

We think too highly of our own assessments, as if we could read another’s heart. We have often failed to commit our choices to the Lord and have proceeded according to what we see. Paul wrote:

·       Therefore, do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)