THE LOVELY TREE

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For you are like
whitewashed tombs which on the
outside appear beautiful, but inside
they are full of dead men's bones
and all uncleanness.
So you, too, outwardly appear
righteous to men, but inwardly you
are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Matthew 23:27,28

Our daughter Beverly with our granddaughter Madelyn, came for a visit just a few weeks after we moved into our new house here in Townsend, Tennessee. Bev not only got to see all of the in's and out's of the house, but we also did some of the usual looking around at some familiar places in the mountains we had all enjoyed together for years.

While standing on our front porch one day, our attention was draw to a mountain top in the distance where there has been erected a telephone tower. The people of Townsend had a fit when it was put there, but I guess it was sorely needed. To keep people happy, the company did some decorating of the tower with some kind of fake branches and the like to help make the tower fit in a little better with the surrounding trees. While looking at the tower, Madelyn came near to us knowing what we were looking at and she commented, “That is a lovely tree.” I think she said “lovely” or some such grown up adjective. We saw a tower, she looked at the tower and saw a tree.

In Matthew 23, Jesus gave a good portion of attention to the scribes and pharisees, even to the point of referring to them as hypocrites. From verse 13 through 36, we see what has come to be known as the “Eight Woes.” Eight times, Jesus directed his remarks to those leaders He referred to as “hypocrites.” In each woe, Jesus gave examples they should have understood regarding their hypocritical behavior.

In the above verses, Jesus gave the example of what people did in that day to make a tomb look less than what it was. However, anyone seeing even a painted or decorated tomb knew quite well what was inside. Inside was still death and decay. No matter how lovely the outside, the inside was nothing but filth. A phone tower isn't really anything attractive. We see them all over the place, often in the oddest of places. They are usually gray, very tall with ladders, wires and other mechanical necessities. We can paint them, cover them with branches to resemble trees, but guess what...it's still, under all the décor, an unlovely telephone tower. A child may see a lovely tree while the adults know what it is and what it would look like minus the décoration.

We've all known Christians who really look good on the outside spiritually speaking. I've unfortunately known pastors in their fine suits and ties, preaching from a well worn Bible who preach so profoundly they hold the attention of the youngest of children within the sound of their voices. We don't expect perfection from them or any other professing Christian. We know we are sinners saved by grace, capable of a terrible fall if we don't keep our focus where it should be.

It would be too much of a job trying to keep track of Christians who put on good fronts. I'm not saying they aren't saved, but being hypocritical can befall any of us. Therefore, judging the motives of others is futile. Our job is to take a good look in our spiritual mirror, the Word of God and just view what we look like . Anyone, saved or unsaved can be hypocritical. Hypocrisy is basically putting on a front or pretending to be something a person is not in reality.

My caution is to we Christians who want very badly to please the Lord in every way. We want to be genuine witnesses for Jesus. However, there are times we may grow cold in our faith, but no one on the outside knows about it. We still look good and sound good, but hypocrisy has crept in. We have to call it what it is. The key for you and me is to keep the inside as cleaned up spiritually as the outside. The Christian world is crying for believers who are authentic, real, genuine and honest in their living and witness. We must maintain a close relationship with Jesus Christ that is real and in depth. When in that condition, there is no need for pretense and God is pleased.

Like that “lovely tree” I spoke of, it would be found out if we hiked up the mountain to take a good look at it. We would quickly see the phony facade attached to nothing but a big metal tower. As folks get near enough to know us better and better, may they see no facade. May they see people, not perfect ones, but people who love God with all their hearts and who are living to please God in every way.

Dear Father, thank You for drawing me closer and closer to Yourself. Thank You too for any correction You extend when I'm not who and what I ought to be for You. I want Your blessing on my life and that can't happen with a pretender. I love you. In Jesus' name...Amen