How Do You Look?

This past weekend, Jason and I watched a show about a young couple who flips houses for a living.  On this particular episode, the couple thought they had lucked out.  Upon first glance, the house they bought appeared to be in very good shape.  The rooms were open.  The kitchen was extravagant.  The rooms were large.  All in all, it seemed that the couple had gotten a great deal for their investment.

Unfortunately, as the renovations began, the couple soon realized that what had appeared wonderful on the surface was a real mess underneath.  Parts of the house were covered with toxic mold, which had to be professionally removed.  A section of the attic had literally burned away, leaving behind charred wooden beams and piles of ash.  Termites were crawling through every area of the house, leading to a rather expensive pest treatment and even more expensive repairs to all the wood that the termites had ruined.  When all was said and done, the couple invested over $50,000 and a lot of time and hard work in repairs to this "lovely" home.

While watching their unfortunate situation, my mind recalled Matthew 23:27 which says, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.  According to Jesus, the Pharisees and scribes had the same problem as the house the couple purchased--it looked good on the outside, but the inside revealed a host of problems.

What about us?  How do we look?  While I do think it's important to have a nice, clean appearance, Jesus' words remind me that it is even more important to make sure my heart is right.  After all, it doesn't matter how nice I look on the outside if my attitude stinks.  Yes, man looks on the outward appearance, and God looks on the heart, and that alone ought to make us desire to clean up what's on the inside. But we must also consider that after a while, whatever is on the inside will come out for all to see.  Luke 6:45 says, A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.  Just as the problems with the house quickly came to light, so will our inner nature, and when it does, will others be shocked and disturbed by what they see?  I pray that what is revealed is far more pleasant than dead man's bones.  Heaven help us!