February 24, 2007
Not So Pretty Inside
by Lydia Rule, RT Staff Writer
My family went on vacation, spending the night at a luxurious three-star hotel. Clean white sheets, folded tissue in the bathroom, music to help you sleep, a computer desk, and a t.v. graced the seemingly perfect room. Everything was a sterile white color, and the common clutter traces found in most houses were nowhere to be found… at first glance anyways.
By accident, a glass of water splashed onto the stiff carpet. Sopping up the mess with a soft white towel, I discovered a strange wonder. The towel turned grimy black. I stared at the towel in disbelief. Someone hasn’t shampooed these carpets in a looooong time, I thought. The enchantment faded. Traces of filth appeared in hidden places. Strange black hair congregated in the corner of the bathroom. Grease stains on the remote. A wad of dry gum on the bottom of the trashcan. Smudges on the mirror. A growing colony of mold on the shower’s ceiling tiles.
Yep. The outside looked nice and clean, but the inside told a different story.
Jesus said in Matthew 23:27, “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.”
God can’t be tricked by a sparkling outward appearance. He sees things the way they truly are. I Samuel 16: 7 says, “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
Being real inside and out isn’t something you can do on your own. God is the only one who can turn a filthy heart into a priceless jewel. Let Him be your “clean-up” crew, room service, and fixer-upper. Don’t try to hide little sin stains in the unnoticeable areas of your life. Let go, and let God take over!
copyright, 2007, Lydia Rule
BIO: Lydia Rule is a homeschooled senior in high school. She has been published in Nextstep magazine, Long Story Short, Aboite Independent, Fundsforwriters, Acceleration, Around the Bloc, The Torch, and (of course!) Real Teen Faith. She is currently working on her fifth novel as well as a variety of other writing projects.
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Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 6:15 pm
Anonymous says:
Great devotional, Lydia. I really enjoyed it!
And “ick” on the carpet…last time, I stayed in a hotel, I brought several extra pairs of socks and a pair of bedroom slippers. I don’t go barefoot on those hotel floors because of all the germs.
your friend,
jade
Lydia Rule says:
Thanks Jade!
LOL).
I know what you mean… after a few nights in a hotel, you really appreciate your own home!
Socks… hmmm, sounds like a good idea! Next time we go on a trip, I can use that as an excuse to get some new socks (and hopefully while I’m at it, a shopping spree as well.
In Christ,
Lydia