Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things.  Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 HCSB

As Christians, we are told that we should avoid even the appearance of evil.  If you are in a situation that may cause you to have to say, “This isn’t what it looks like”, then you may want to rethink that.

I know people that worry a great deal about what other people think about them.  They have to have clothing that is perfect. They want their hair to be perfect. They are concerned with the type of car they drive.  Appearances mean a great deal to them. On the other hand, I know plenty of people who couldn’t care less what others thought about them.  Many of us fall somewhere in the middle.

There was a time in my life when all of that meant a great deal to me.  I wanted a new expensive car.  I wanted designer clothes.  I was very concerned with these things.  Well,  I am happy to say those things no longer matter. I am happy to say that the car and the clothes don’t matter anymore.  What does matter is what’s inside the car and the clothes.  I am more concerned with being someone that has peace in her life, the kind of peace that others can see and perhaps want to attain that.  I want this because I lived so many years of my life without peace.  I may have given the appearance of someone who had it all together, but I was really crumbling inside.  I had grown up in church, I knew what I was supposed to be doing, but I wasn’t doing it.

I had the appearance of someone who had it all, but the truth is I was severely lacking.  But praise God, He didn’t give up on me.  When I finally came to my senses, He was there for me.  He was waiting with open arms to help me celebrate my return to Him.

The only appearance I want to have these days is of someone who avoids evil and is at peace.  Yes, in this world, that is sometimes a struggle.  But, I am happy to say that I have learned that if I keep my focus on God, He takes care of the rest (Matthew 6:33-34).

So, I ask you today, what kind of appearance are you  keeping up?  If people look at you as you live your life day to day, what must they think? Do you impress them as someone whose walk lines up with their talk? Do they see you as a fake and a phony? What do you think others think of you, or do you care?

Just the other night, I had dinner with a couple of friends that I have been friends with through high school and college. One of my friends is a beautiful woman who is always dressed nicely, makeup and hair are always perfect.  I would like to be that person, but most of the time it just doesn’t happen for me.

There are two things that now matter to me.  First and foremost is my day to day living pleasing to God? I have spent enough years screwing up and have broken His heart on numerous occasions.  I am trying my best to make up for those years.  So, my main concern now is making God happy and pleased with my behavior.  I want to be as good a child as He is father.  Now, while I know that is an impossible goal, I can still strive for it, right? Secondly, do I give the appearance to others that I am trying to live a life that is pleasing to God?  Is it possible that someone could look at my life, not what I own but how I live, and say, I want to live like that?  Do my actions point others towards Christ?

I have lived a life of keeping up appearances for fashion’s sake.  I am now keeping up an appearance for God’s sake.  The good thing about living this way is that at times I do go out with my hair not perfect or no make up, but I try to always go out with a heart filled with the Holy Spirit.

If you are not impressed with my hair,  my clothes or my car that’s okay.  That’s not the impression I am trying to make. I want you to have the only impression that matters. I want you to find what I have found in my Lord and Savior.  My prayer for you today is that you are striving to avoid even the appearance of evil.  Pray for God to search you and know your heart and to let you know of any area that needs improving.  Trust in Him and stay close to Him through prayer and Bible study.  Find yourself a good mentor who can help you in your walk with Christ and guide you.  Find someone who will hold you accountable and pick you up when you fall.

We see evil around us in these last days, it’s up to us to be a beacon of light for those lost in the darkness. If you feel as though you are lost in the darkness, then search for the light. Find that someone that can help lead you to Christ. Turn to Him and avoid evil. You will be so glad you did.

Have a great weekend!