Shiny Cars

Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? Malachi 2:10 (KJV)

Why is it so easy to find differences? If you have ever visited a new church and felt the eyes of the faithful as you searched for a seat or perhaps you have been the faithful doing the checking, you know what I mean. We tend to have a set of standards by which we measure the world. In America we have been convinced by Hollywood and Madison Avenue that the definition of beautiful is the thin, petite model or movie star that spends thousands of dollars on their make-up each week and supplements their figure with extreme diets and surgery. So we judge ourselves and others by an unobtainable standard for all but a small minority. We have a standard of living that requires us to have certain electronic devices, automobiles, clothes, and recreational activities and we expect our friends to either have or strive to have the same. Society has divided along social, economic, political, and moral standards and revels in the idea of belonging to those special groups. Instead of coming together it seems that we are constantly dividing. This is not God’s design for greatness.

Throughout the Word of God we see unity of God flow through every aspect of His work. In Creation we see God designing, The Word declaring, and The Spirit moving. There is a perfect unity of thought and order that move throughout the Universe and reflects the essence of God. “Let them be one as we are one.” Jesus prayed in the seventeenth chapter of John. He knew that when He was gone the enemy would come to bring division. Quarrels and fighting over doctrine and methods would replace humility and preferring their brother and not only hinder the work of God but tarnish the glory of His name. James tells us,

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. James 3:16 (KJV)

These things cannot ever be a part of God’s work. Not if God is to be the Author and Finisher.
Have you ever known someone that couldn’t afford to keep their house, buy food, or take care of their family but they drive around in a brand new, expensive car? That is how I liken the religious spirit that overtakes us. We drive around in our status symbol driven by a religious spirit trying to prove that we are okay. We claim God is on our side. The outside of our lives are shiny and pretty but the inside is corrupt and dying. We are proud and envious, judging others by the very things that we know we cannot keep. Confusion reigns in our lives, yet we try to enforce a religion that we cannot keep on others and judge them without mercy.

God doesn’t judge by the outside but what is on the inside. He looks beyond the shiny vehicle of our religious pride and looks on the heart. The only thing that will impress Him is the humble heart, mourning for their sin, broken in the presence of a holy God. Once we have been to this place how can we ever judge our brother? The repentant heart is ever aware that it is only by the Grace of God that we are accepted. Pride is crushed and destroyed and all that remains is a heart keenly aware that God is their everything. Overwhelmed by Grace this heart has no interest in the shiny façade of religion but instead lives to glorify God.

The desire to glorify God is what becomes the unity of God’s people. God’s Word is no longer used to condemn, separate, and divide but rather to lift up, unify, and create. All things become insignificant in the light of God’s glory and grace. What difference does it make if someone’s customs and dress is different than ours, we aren’t looking at the shiny car we are in touch with the spirit that dwells in their heart. No longer do we compare the size of the car driven by us to those around us. If a congregation has 10,000 or 10 the only thing that matters is does the glory of God abide in the hearts of those that are gathered in His name. We are able to look beyond differences in style, music, dress or anything else that make us different and see only what matters, the presence of God in the midst of His people.

Malachi asked the question,

“Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother,..”

Perhaps we should ask the same question today.