Whitewashed

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.” (Matthew 23:27-35 ESV). Have you heard that the fountain pen is making a comeback? After many years of neglect, fountain pens are once again in vogue. Made of fine materials and carrying a high price tag, they are now part of the well-dressed, executive look. There is something interesting about fountain pens. They may look great, but unless they’re full of ink, they’re really not very useful. Without the right things on the inside, the outside is useless.

Jesus used this same principle when he spoke concerning the Pharisees. He called them “whitewashed tombs.” They were painted to look clean on the outside, but it had no effect on the inside. There were still only bones and the decay of death inside. The same is true of people today. We spend money and time to make the outside attractive. Looking good outside may impress people, but unless there’s something inside equally attractive, the outside is merely a covering for ugliness. You see, only God knows what is inside of us. He looks at our heart and our spirit. What does He see in you? Is it ugly, or is it good? The good news is, He offers us a gift, His Son, who will make us beautiful from the inside out. Outward appearance is important, but unless there is something good inside, it’s merely a covering for ugliness. What’s more important in your life, what you look like outwardly; or, do you cultivate that which is within? Compassion, kindness, grace toward others are only a few of the inner marks of beauty that we can develop and show to others through our interaction with them. The holidays are a very stressful time. Use this time to bless others with your inner beauty.