The picture of the “homeless looking” pastor who supposedly showed up to the church he was due to be installed in not “looking the part” has never been verified but has caused me to consider an opposing thought to this view. I wonder how many church attendees do show up “looking the part” (to appear to be suited to a type of work or suitable for a particular situation). I wonder how many of us show up Sunday after Sunday, Wednesday after Wednesday “looking the part” but yet find ourselves as guilty as Peter of denying Christ as soon as opportunity presents itself (Luke 22:56-62).
This morning, I imagined what the sight would look like if God took his covering hand of grace and mercy from us during worship and allowed each of us to be exposed with some symbolic fixture of the lifestyles of sin we continue to live seemingly with no conviction or real desire to turn from our ways and wholeheartedly follow Him. The thing that has come so clear to me recently is no matter how much I’m able to cover up my mess, it is always seen by God. As a matter of fact, I’m convinced that there is no attack of the enemy in our lives that Satan must not first get permission from God to make.
In an earlier portion of Luke 22 (v. 31-32), God mentions that Satan has asked to sift us as wheat and all the while God is praying that our faith will not fail us. He further says, “so when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” What an awesome blessing to remember that God knows us and our ways better than we do. This is no excuse to continue in sin but should humble us and make us more determined to live a life holy, acceptable and pleasing to Him. Furthermore, we must evaluate our salvation if we can continuously make a practice of sinning (1 John 3:9) without even an attempt at taking the way of escape God has provided (1 Corinthians 10:13). When we fall, and we know we will, God simply asks that we don’t wallow in the mud, but hurry to get up, clean up and allow our experience to be a testimony for others.
Satan wants to sift us and God is actually good with that because He knows that prior to us being ready to answer the callings that He has on each of our lives, there is real sifting that is needed. What Satan means for bad, God will use for His good and our good.
God wants so much more from us than simply “looking the part”. He desires that we “act the part”. In this posture, we not only look but behave in a way appropriate to the particular role or situation we are in. Remember the trials that come to hinder our ability to “act the part” are assigned to us, alongside a God who is praying for us to endure each of them. God sees them as a part of His refining process for us when we remain strong, overcome and endure them. (1 Peter 1:7). When we yield our will to His, our loving God, who knows every flaw in us, will ensure that we look and act like Him(1. Thessalonians 5:24) Our God is faithful!