Is That Really You?

We just finished five great revival services beginning last Sunday morning! The music was up-lifting, the preaching was right on target and the altars were filled each service. What a blessing it is to see how the Lord is working in our church. We have such a wonderful spirit in our services. The purpose of revival is not to just have a speaker come in for a few nights. The purpose of revival is for God's people to get REAL with God! We just had a pictorial church directory made. As I looked through it, I realized that most everyone smiles when their picture is taken, even if they are not genuinely happy. We want to at least "look" happy. So many times the smiles are fake; just there to make the picture look better. As I thought about that, I wondered how many times that same attitude has crept into our Christian lives. When others look at us, they see someone who appears happy and loves God, but God knows the "real" us. He knows what is behind those fake smiles. We cannot fool him. Jesus said in Mark 7:6 "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." How true that is of people in the church, today. They want everyone else to think they really love God, but when they do not get their way, their true colors show. Their heart is revealed. They are exposed for who they are. I realize I will never be perfect until I am in my glorified body, but until then, it is my desire to be real. I want to be a genuine Christian in church and away from church. I do not want my life to hurt the cause of Christ in any way. I want people to know that when they see me on Sunday, it is really me!