Drawing Near
Fri 06 Aug 2010 Filed in: Reflections
Reality is much too good to settle for phoniness. In spite of that truth, I have encountered a lot of phonies along the way. And sometimes I have even been one.
I’m not talking here about the kind of recreational misdirection that can inject some unexpected fun into life. I am occasionally guilty of that kind of phoniness. The other day, for example, I called up a friend who was seeking new tenants, disguised my voice, and pretended to be something that I am not: I need to rent a condo, but I don’t have no money. I could pay you with food stamps. I don’t need food; I can shoot squirrels and other small animals to barbecue. Are there dogs and cats in the neighborhood? You get the drift. It was an interesting conversation, but after a couple of minutes, I had to tell the truth: It’s Malcolm, and I’m messing with your mind.
A couple of minutes of phony might be tolerable. A lifetime of phony is tragic. One of the characteristics of my family for which I am thankful is a lack of phoniness. I was reminded of that again sorting through some of Matt’s old papers. He had the family wysiwyg characteristic; what you see is what you get. And I was reminded of it again in Hebrews 10: Let us draw near with sincere hearts.
One simply cannot draw near to God while being a phony. I am what I am and He knows it and loves me anyway. His character demands that the masks come off, and his grace gently sees through them. I don’t understand people who try to develop a relationship with God while practicing phoniness. The reality of drawing near is much too good to settle for less.
I’m not talking here about the kind of recreational misdirection that can inject some unexpected fun into life. I am occasionally guilty of that kind of phoniness. The other day, for example, I called up a friend who was seeking new tenants, disguised my voice, and pretended to be something that I am not: I need to rent a condo, but I don’t have no money. I could pay you with food stamps. I don’t need food; I can shoot squirrels and other small animals to barbecue. Are there dogs and cats in the neighborhood? You get the drift. It was an interesting conversation, but after a couple of minutes, I had to tell the truth: It’s Malcolm, and I’m messing with your mind.
A couple of minutes of phony might be tolerable. A lifetime of phony is tragic. One of the characteristics of my family for which I am thankful is a lack of phoniness. I was reminded of that again sorting through some of Matt’s old papers. He had the family wysiwyg characteristic; what you see is what you get. And I was reminded of it again in Hebrews 10: Let us draw near with sincere hearts.
One simply cannot draw near to God while being a phony. I am what I am and He knows it and loves me anyway. His character demands that the masks come off, and his grace gently sees through them. I don’t understand people who try to develop a relationship with God while practicing phoniness. The reality of drawing near is much too good to settle for less.
blog comments powered by Disqus