Notice the Phony

I once found, in my garage, an old lawn decoration that was a cute rabbit. It was a little chipped and cracked, so I put it out by my back fence, about 50 yards from the patio.

My grandkids were visiting when they noticed the rabbit. I told them it was real, so they went to take a closer look. They went about 3/4 of the way, then turned and walked back.

I said, “See? It was real!”

My grandson said, “It had cracks in it.”

They were smart enough that they didn’t need to keep walking toward it, once they knew it was phony.

In the beginning, man had a choice between the tree of Life, or the tree of knowledge of good and evil. One was real Life, the other, a decoy. The true Life was God, living by His Spirit, and enjoying the fruit of His Spirit. The decoy was a sensual life, living by our own senses, being dominated by our outer circumstances, and an animalistic “fight or flight” instinct.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” – Proverbs 14:12

The way that SEEMS right, is the way that believes in a fulfillment that comes from the outside, rather than the inside. Its victims are always in striving mode, vying for happiness by trying to control the world and even the people around them.

In Christ, we have found fullness. Our hearts have been filled by the Love that comes from God. We have noticed a peace that doesn’t depend on everything going our way. We experience a joy that just keeps coming from within us every day. We no longer have to be intimidated by the imitation of life. With God, we are bigger than temporary things. We have overcome!

In all situations, just remember that you are truly alive, and you need nothing from the deceptive system of the world. Have a great day!