Appearances are Deceiving

The world is governed more by appearances than by realities, so that it is fully as necessary to seem to know something as to know it.

Daniel Webster 1782-1852, American Lawyer, Statesman

Jer 20:10-12
For I have heard the whispering of many, "Terror on every side! Denounce him; yes, let us denounce him!" All my trusted friends, watching for my fall, say: "Perhaps he will be deceived, so that we may prevail against him and take our revenge on him." But the LORD is with me like a dread champion; therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will be utterly ashamed, because they have failed, with an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten. Yet, O LORD of hosts, You who test the righteous, Who see the mind and the heart; Let me see Your vengeance on them; For to You I have set forth my cause. NASU

When I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck. We have heard that saying from our youth haven’t we? It is good advice for us to pass on today as well, and to teach again to our children. The world today has many definitions for peace and prosperity, but increasingly peace is not identified with God. Why is this so and what prevents the world from acquiring and desiring the lasting peace that can only come from Him?

Well, for the most part, the world has no desire for the lasting peace whose birth begins with pain. Birth requires pain doesn’t it. Most every beginning that ends with success has hard work, and sacrifice associated with it. Jesus gave us some clues in Matt 10:33-34, "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

A duck is born a duck, and will always be a duck, but you and I were born in sin, and reborn in Christ Jesus. Therefore we are not what we were, but what He has remade us to be. All the ducks will want you to be like them and walk like them and quack like them, but you are not a duck any longer. You and I are to let them laugh. The ugly duckling can face these unpleasant times knowing that one day, the world will stand in awe at what Jesus has recreated us to be, forever…God Bless.
Pastor William