August 18, 2015 (Tuesday)
The television show, “Humans,” is about robots; the show, “Mr. Robot,” is about humans. An odd state of affairs, wouldn’t you say?
My gas range is a “Frigidaire” stove; my refigerator is a “Hotpoint.” Odd?
Interesting irony, but just trivia. When it is a person, however, who claims to be one thing but inwardly is something else, it becomes serious. Ancient actors wore masks to portray themselves as someone else for the stage. Sometimes people seem to do this in their real lives on a daily basis. Jesus called such people, “hypocrites.”
What does the Bible say about this subject? Here are a few verses (ESV):
1 John 4:20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
James 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
1 John 2:4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Jesus reserved his harshest words for religious leaders whose evil hearts were cloaked by a facade of goodness (Matthew 23).
St. Francis of Assisi had a reputation for being a genuinely good person, beloved mainly for his piety and sincere love for God. There’s a story about him that’s probably just a legend, but the tale is that one day a man approached him and asked, “Are you Francis of Assisi?” Francis replied, “Yes.” Then the man looked him in the eye and said, “Take heed that thou be as men believe thee.”
Be like Popeye the Sailor, who famously said, “I Yam what I Yam.”