We Don’t Need To Pretend…

Growing up there were people in my life who did a lot of pretending. They would always try to “look” better than they really were. Now, being many, many years later, it’s interesting seeing how many of them actually grew up. We are all faced with the pull of the world to be successful, to look good, to be great parents, to live in a nice house, etc.... to live the “Facebook Life”. But where we seek our significance from determines our ability to deal with this “look at me” attention-needing dilemma. When we pretend to look better than we really are, we begin to believe it. It eventually leads to our downfall. When we pretend to be someone other than ourselves, we are merely actors playing a role in life. Eventually the movie will end. Then what? On to a new role? Our significance comes from God alone. Believers are sons and daughters of the King. We are created in His image (image bearers), made for His purpose, and reap the blessings when we chose to honor Him in our actions. We don’t need to pretend because we know where our worth comes from. If you haven’t realized this truth, maybe you need to read the New Testament. There you’ll find why Jesus died for you and me. And where His motivation came from in doing it. God loves us, so much so He came to earth, giving up His place in Heaven. He came to be the atoning sacrifice for all humanity. To erase the barrier keeping us separated from Him. His death and resurrection are proof. And the Holy Spirit is His deposit for us to help us through to the other side. We don’t need to pretend anymore. We just need to surrender to His Spirit daily, and watch what happens. There’s a reason actors get paid lots of money these days; it’s to help them cope with the reality of fame and the disappointment when their roles end. Today’s scripture verses show us firsthand that we don’t need to pretend. God will love you no matter what. You don’t have to try to impress Him.

1 But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. 4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. 6 Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”9 And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened. Acts 5:1-11