Guaranteed to Make You Look 10 Pounds Thinner

Sold.  I knew as soon as I read the label on that pair of jeans hanging on the rack, they would be the ones I would buy.  The lure of a better appearance just by slipping them on was overwhelmingly appealing.  The marketing department knew exactly what they were doing.  Had they been honest, the label may have read, “Get some exercise and eat less, Tubby, then you can really be 10 pounds thinner and won’t have to fake it anymore!”  Not a good way to make sales.

If we were to take a good, hard look at our lives my guess is that we could identify other areas where we also tend to “fake it”.  For some it could be your financial status, you spend money you don’t always have and act as though you are very secure when maybe you are truly living paycheck to paycheck.  For others it could be your home life.  You act as though you have it all together when in reality you often feel like things are a mess and you can barely keep up.

These are important issues, but there is one area in which faking it can mean the difference between life and death...that is your spiritual life.  I am sad to say, but I think MANY people are faking the wellbeing of their spiritual life.  They may attend church (at least on the “important” Sundays), say the right things, and even carry around a Bible, but this is all for appearances.  They may look and act the part very well, but inside they are dead.  They don’t truly know Jesus.  Could this be you? 

Do you feel you are just going through the motions, do you ever stop and think, “What the heck am I doing this for?”  Do you say you believe but then wonder what that even really means?  Do you find yourself thinking people should keep their beliefs to themselves?  Do you act differently depending where you are and who you are with?

If any of the above describes you, time to do a serious heart evaluation.  Don’t take any of this lightly and don’t waste time.  Matthew 10:28 - And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  God is just and he will deal with those who are only pretending to serve him, the consequences are real.

How do you know if you are authentically following Christ?  Here are a few ways: Check the fruit in your life.  Matthew 7:16 - You will recognize them by their fruits.  Your life should be producing godly fruit for the glory of God (see Galatians 5:22-23).  Seek counsel; ask a trusted minister to help you evaluate your condition.  Finally, ask yourself if you really know who Jesus is; are you able to articulate it?  Better yet, do all three of these things.

What you DON’T want to do is compare yourself to others around you.  There are too many fakers out there.  If everyone who claimed to be a Christian was a Christian, the Bible would be a lie.  Matthew 7:14 - For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.  The Bible is not a lie, it is solid truth.  Make sure you are on the narrow path and not following others along easy street to destruction.

We can fool many around us, even those closest to us, but you will never fool God.  God sees your heart and he knows what is inside of you.  Let this cut you deep; you have to get this right.  No more playing around or blindly following traditions taught by men.  No amount of good deeds will get you into Heaven, only accepting the free gift of Jesus Christ.  John 14:6 -I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  Know for certain.

An authentic relationship with your Savior may not make you look ten pounds thinner, but the evidence of his grace in your life and on your face will be glorious and beautiful, more attractive to others than any pair of jeans.  Go ahead and fake your hair color, nail length and skin tone if you must, but let your relationship with Jesus Christ be the real deal.