| | Explore | | |

June 8, 2008

John 7:24

REALLY LOOKING GOOD

 

Wow graduation.

 You have arrived.

  You are the top of the food chain.

   You are now the cream of the crop.

      You are on top of the heap, the kings and queens of the castle.

       You look good.

        You look in the mirror and see invincibility.

         You can admit all that can’t you?

            I used to know what that is like.

             I graduated High School too.

              I had the world by the tail.

               I was going to bless the world with my knowledge and looks and presence.

                  I needed to hear something really important.

                   But I shut it out.

                    And no doubt you will shut it out too.

                     Oh, you might hear it today.

                        There is the remote possibility you might even remember it tomorrow.

                         But I doubt it because you are cramming for exams.

                          Nothing else is more important than getting that A.

                           That is what looks good.

                              That is what is important.

                               Already you are thinking about that exam.

                                And graduation next week.

                                 And everyone looking at you.

                                    And boy I better not trip going up the steps.

                                     And my hat better stay on straight.

Well listen to this voice from the grave.

 I don’t quite have both feet in it yet.

  But I’m not that far away from it anymore.

   I’m feeling my vulnerability.

      Every week, every day I am confronted with it.

       I make more mistakes and blunders.

        I know I don’t have both feet in the grave because usually they are both in my

        mouth.

         My degrees don’t seem to be helping like I used to think they did.

            You don’t want to know what I see when I look in the mirror now.

             What do I want you to listen to?

              Something Jesus said that amazed people thousands of years ago.

               Something so basic and so simple.

                  What He said left some people slapping their foreheads.

                   “Why didn’t I think of that?” they would say.

                    But then there were others who thought it was crazy talk.

                     I wonder what you will think?

                        We find these words in John 7:24.

Jesus says, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

 We live in a world that judges by appearances.

  Think about the cell phone you carry in your pocket.

   They aren’t just telephones any more.

      They are a status symbol.

       People see your cell phone and they judge you.

        If your cell phone can’t take pictures, access internet, play songs and movies

        you better hope no one calls you in public.

         It has to be the right colour and open the right way and have the right ring.

            And it needs to be hands free so it looks like you’re talking to yourself.

             If you don’t have one that can do all that, it’s embarrassing.

              When they come up with a phone that cuts lawns I’ll be impressed.

The world judges us on our appearances.

 Appearances tempt us to blend in with the world.

  Jesus said, “Don’t do that!”

   You will never get it right when you judge by appearances.

      And this is especially true when we judge ourselves on appearances.

       It will leave us flawed and shallow.

        We will go after whatever looks good or makes us look good.

         Other things will be sacrificed because of appearances.

            Life will be lived on the surface.

             And the surface fades.

              Jesus said don’t even judge me on the basis of appearances.

               He performed miracles like healing a blind man.

                  That caught people’s attention.

                   But Jesus knew that people who followed Him because of appearances made

                   poor disciples.

Jesus said instead, “Judge with right judgment.”

 Judge yourself and others on the basis of truth, not on appearances.

  He said of Himself, judge Me on the basis of truth.

   That will protect you from shallow, superficial living.

      Truth is a rare commodity today.

       It is practically non-existent.

        And that is to be expected when life is lived on the surface.

         The surface changes but truth doesn’t.

            Truth remains true.

             Truth is always right.

              Truth is not something you think up for yourself.

               Jesus said anyone “who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.”  (John 7:18)

                  To judge with right judgment we must seek to glorify God.

                  Why is that important?

                   Because having right judgment results in at least three things.

                    Truth gives us a greater perspective.

                     Truth enables you to know who is a true friend.

                        Truth enables you to identify that which is harmful and helpful.

So who are you seeking to glorify now that graduation is here?

 Are you seeking to glorify God, or will you settle for glorifying self?

  Are you going for the world or are you going for God?

   That is the question we must never stop asking in life.

      We will gravitate to the surface if the world is our goal.

       But when God and His truth is our goal our lives will have depth.

        Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower . . . you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.  If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for My sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.”  (Mark 8:34-35)

         When God and His truth is our goal we will judge with what is right.

            “He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing what is right.”  (Titus 2:14)

             Living for Jesus will leave you really looking good.

              He will leave you looking much better than just appearances alone.

               Your appearance will fade.

                  But Christ in you will make your life more and more vibrant.

              “If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God.  And other people will approve of you, too.”  (Romans 14:18)