Are you a fake?

1 Samuel 16:7  "People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart." If God is mostly concerned about what's going on in our hearts, why the need to put on a show?

We all do it:  say we love people but then talk bad about them when they're not around; say we're kind but then drive on by the stranded motorist; say we value marriage but then treat our spouse like an afterthought.

Why the need to maintain the illusion if we really don't feel it inside?  Pride.

Pride demands we nurture a certain aura:

• I really am mild-mannered (even though I want to cuss out the police officer);
• I really am merciful (even though on the inside, I'm plotting how I'm going to get 'em back);
• I really am 'in control' (even though inside things are spiraling out of control);
• I really am patient (even though on the inside I'm furious that I was made to wait).

Yes, pride keeps us striving to look perfect regardless of what's really going on inside.  But God is not fooled.  Look at Psalm 11:4 and Hebrews 4:12:  "The Lord is in his holy temple;  the Lord sits on his throne in heaven.  He sees what people do;  he keeps his eye on them [and He] is a judge of the thoughts and motives of the heart."  If God is truly the judge of our thoughts and motives, then he’s the One we need to be trying to impress, not others.

So the next time you're tempted to trick everyone into believing you are something you're not, remember what Hebrews 4:13 says "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable."