SWEET Global Ministries

LOOK INSIDE

Most people can identify precious stones by their color, but, like myself, cannot identify a gem in the rough - it looks just like any other rock. A Geologist knows exactly what to look for when identifying a rock. He is frequently hired by companies to help evaluate the worth of land before it is purchased. Looking at the land is easy - anyone can see the trees, terrain, location, and layout. But to determine the land's true value, you have to look a little harder because the true value of the land lies beneath the surface.

I recently learned about Geodes. What is a Geode? It's a large rock that is unexpectedly lightweight for its size and usually very ugly. When you cut a geode in half, water pours out of it. A Geode has a hollow core that is filled with water, making it lighter in weight than a regular stone of the same size. The water, along with minerals that leech into the geode, form beautifully colored crystal formations on the inside of the rock. When you look inside the geode - it is absolutely breathtaking! You would never guess that something that looked so plain and worthless on the outside could be so beautiful on the inside. One glimpse at the interior beauty completely changed my opinion!

The thing with Geodes is, you never know for sure what you've got until you look inside.

The Same is True With People!

How easy it is to fall into the trap of judging a person by their outward appearance. How easy it is to be attracted to or pushed away from a person simply because of what they wear, how they talk, how well they sing, or preach or write; where they live, what they own, who they know, etc. We see examples of this all the time: The restaurant that looks run down on the outside yet serves great food; or the person who lived their entire life in anonymity who makes a large donation to an organization.

Who would have guessed just by looking at the outside? Fortunately, God doesn't look at the outside, He looks much deeper - He looks into the heart of man. In I Samuel 16:7 we read:

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (NIV)

Why would God look at the heart of man? Because the heart reveals what is truly important to a person; it reveals their character and all that makes up who and what a person genuinely is. "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)

Maybe that's why Jesus spoke so often about the condition of each person's heart. And why He chose to live in the hearts of those who have made him the Lord of their life. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21 (NIV)

What does your heart reveal about you? What treasure is found there? Would you find Jesus Christ sitting on the throne of your heart and life? If you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and He is your treasure and your hope, then your heart and life will reflect the love that He has shown for each of us.

Perhaps you have never invited Jesus to come into your heart and made Him the Lord of your life. Maybe you need to RENEW you relationship with the Lord. What better time to do that than now? Jesus has promised "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;" Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV) - a new life with Christ at the center!