Beyond the External Appearance

More about Beyond the External Appearance

As Christians, it's easy to get caught up in the beauty and grandeur of church buildings. We often spend a lot of time and resources constructing and maintaining these magnificent structures, which can be a source of pride and admiration. However, we must remember that the most important aspect of our faith is not the physical building, but rather the sincerity of our hearts and our commitment to turning away from sin and turning towards God.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus warns us about the dangers of focusing too much on external appearances, rather than the condition of our hearts. He says, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness" (Matthew 23:27-28).

This passage reminds us that it's not enough to simply look good on the outside. We must also focus on cultivating a sincere heart that is free from hypocrisy and wickedness. This means turning away from sin and striving to live a life that is pleasing to God.

Let us remember that while church buildings can be beautiful and inspiring, they are ultimately just buildings. What truly matters is the condition of our hearts and our commitment to turning away from sin and turning towards God. As we gather in our churches, let us focus on cultivating a sincere heart that is pleasing to God, and let us remember that it is this sincerity that truly makes us worthy of God's love and grace.