"CHRISTIAN" IN APPEARANCE ONLY?
I was driving home from college as usual - with my gas tank on empty. I needed a gas station. I saw one, pulled in, jumped out, unscrewed the gas cap, squeezed the pump handle and looked up.
When I looked up, it occurred to me that this gas station was vacant. Understand, it had all the signs up, the pumps looked to be functioning and the store front windows were plastered with advertising posters.
From a distance, it promised to be an oasis. Upon closer examination, it could not deliver on what its signs promised. At first I was embarrassed. Then I became angry. "If you're not a gas station anymore, then take down your signs and quit pretending to be one."
Jesus had a similar problem the monday morning before He died (Mark 11:12-14). While walking into Jerusalem, He saw a fig tree. From the distance he could see that it was in leaf. That meant it usually had figs. But when He got to the tree, it had no figs. So He cursed it and it died.
Jesus did not curse the tree just because it had no fruit. He cursed it because, from a distance, its leafy appearance promised to have fruit. But upon closer examination, it had none.
The religious rulers were leafy, barren fig trees. From a distance, they looked like they were religious. But upon closer examination, they had no good fruit. They were only concerned with giving the appearance of religiousness.
Some Christians look like they've got it together. By all the outward religious activity, you would assume they are mature. But upon closer examination, you come away thinking: "He looks Christian. But when you get past the smile, handshake, suit and tie there is no fruit. You should see him at home, at work, at play or in the car."
To them, we're tempted to say: "If you're not going to be a Christian, then take down the signs and quit pretending to be one."
Jesus said we will be known by our fruits. Not how we appear. Sometimes, we can become so concerned with appearing Christian that we forget to really be Christian.
I was driving home from college as usual - with my gas tank on empty. I needed a gas station. I saw one, pulled in, jumped out, unscrewed the gas cap, squeezed the pump handle and looked up.
When I looked up, it occurred to me that this gas station was vacant. Understand, it had all the signs up, the pumps looked to be functioning and the store front windows were plastered with advertising posters.
From a distance, it promised to be an oasis. Upon closer examination, it could not deliver on what its signs promised. At first I was embarrassed. Then I became angry. "If you're not a gas station anymore, then take down your signs and quit pretending to be one."
Jesus had a similar problem the monday morning before He died (Mark 11:12-14). While walking into Jerusalem, He saw a fig tree. From the distance he could see that it was in leaf. That meant it usually had figs. But when He got to the tree, it had no figs. So He cursed it and it died.
Jesus did not curse the tree just because it had no fruit. He cursed it because, from a distance, its leafy appearance promised to have fruit. But upon closer examination, it had none.
The religious rulers were leafy, barren fig trees. From a distance, they looked like they were religious. But upon closer examination, they had no good fruit. They were only concerned with giving the appearance of religiousness.
Some Christians look like they've got it together. By all the outward religious activity, you would assume they are mature. But upon closer examination, you come away thinking: "He looks Christian. But when you get past the smile, handshake, suit and tie there is no fruit. You should see him at home, at work, at play or in the car."
To them, we're tempted to say: "If you're not going to be a Christian, then take down the signs and quit pretending to be one."
Jesus said we will be known by our fruits. Not how we appear. Sometimes, we can become so concerned with appearing Christian that we forget to really be Christian.
No comments:
Post a Comment