Introduction
We live in a world where people are constantly being taught to look successful, look important, look beautiful, look wealthy, and look like they have everything together.
Money can create an image.
Clothing can create an image.
A house can create an image.
A vehicle can create an image.
Social media can create an image.
Even religion can create an image.
But God is not looking at the image. God is looking at the truth.
«“For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
— 1 Samuel 16:7»
The great danger is when the outward show becomes more important than inward truth.
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1. The Natural Man Is Concerned With What People See
Jesus repeatedly confronted people who were concerned with outward religious appearance while their hearts were somewhere else.
«“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.”
— Matthew 23:25»
The outside looked clean.
The inside was the problem.
That is the difference between appearance and reality.
A person can look religious and not know the truth.
A person can look successful and be miserable.
A person can look wealthy and be spiritually bankrupt.
A person can have a great reputation among men and a completely different reality before God.
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2. Money Can Become More Important Than Truth
The Bible never teaches that having money is automatically sinful.
The problem is loving money more than truth.
«“For the love of money is the root of all evil…”
— 1 Timothy 6:10»
Money is a tool.
But when money becomes the goal, a person can begin changing his principles to obtain it.
Truth says one thing.
Money says another.
And the person chooses money.
Jesus said:
«“Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
— Matthew 6:24»
The issue is not simply what is in your wallet.
The issue is what has your heart.
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3. Image Can Become an Idol
Today, people can spend enormous amounts of time managing an image.
“How do I look?”
“What will people think?”
“Will they approve of me?”
“How many people will notice me?”
“How successful do I appear?”
But Scripture gives us a different standard.
«“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
— John 12:43»
That is a serious statement.
A person can become so concerned with receiving approval from people that he becomes willing to compromise truth to keep the approval.
The image becomes more important than the reality.
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4. Outward Show Can Hide Inward Emptiness
Jesus described this very powerfully:
«“Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”
— Matthew 23:28»
Notice the words:
“Outwardly appear.”
That is the problem.
Something can appear one way while actually being another way.
A building can have a beautiful exterior and structural problems underneath.
A car can have a polished exterior and a bad engine.
And a person can have an impressive outward appearance while the heart is far from God.
God sees what people cannot see.
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5. The World Measures What Can Be Seen
The world naturally measures:
- Money
- Possessions
- Beauty
- Position
- Popularity
- Education
- Accomplishments
- Influence
- Recognition
- Social status
But God measures differently.
«“For the LORD seeth not as man seeth…”
— 1 Samuel 16:7»
God sees the heart.
God sees motives.
God sees honesty.
God sees faith.
God sees what happens when nobody else is watching.
That means the most important part of your life may be the part nobody else can see.
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6. The Last Days Would Have This Problem
Paul gave Timothy a remarkable description of the last days:
«“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud…”
— 2 Timothy 3:2»
Look at those words:
Lovers of their own selves.
Covetous.
Boasters.
Proud.
These things naturally produce an outward-show mentality.
“Look at me.”
“Look what I have.”
“Look what I accomplished.”
“Look how important I am.”
“Look how successful I am.”
But biblical Christianity turns the attention away from self and toward Christ.
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7. What Does God Want?
God wants truth in the inward parts.
«“Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts…”
— Psalm 51:6»
Not merely an appearance of truth.
Not merely religious language.
Not merely looking good in front of other people.
Truth in the inward parts.
That is where God works.
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8. Christ Himself Warned Against Hypocrisy
Jesus said:
«“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them…”
— Matthew 6:1»
Why?
Because it is possible to do something that looks good while doing it for the wrong reason.
The action may be right.
The motive may be wrong.
That is why God looks deeper than the outward action.
Jesus said:
«“But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:”
— Matthew 6:3»
The principle is simple:
Do not live your life for the applause of people.
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9. Truth Does Not Need an Image
Truth can stand by itself.
A lie needs protection.
An image needs maintenance.
A false reputation has to be constantly defended.
But truth does not need to pretend to be something it isn't.
Jesus said:
«“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
— John 8:32»
Truth brings freedom because you no longer have to maintain a false identity before everyone else.
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10. The Greatest Example Is Jesus Christ
Jesus did not come seeking worldly glory.
Isaiah prophesied:
«“For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness…”
— Isaiah 53:2»
Christ's glory was not dependent upon worldly appearance.
His kingdom was not built upon worldly advertising.
His truth did not depend upon popularity.
And ultimately, the world rejected Him.
Yet He was the truth.
«“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life…”
— John 14:6»
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11. The Question Is Not “How Do I Look?”
The better question is:
“What is true?”
Not:
“What do people think of me?”
But:
“What does God know about me?”
Not:
“How impressive can I make my life look?”
But:
“Am I walking in truth?”
Not:
“How much can I accumulate?”
But:
“What am I doing with what God has given me?”
Not:
“How many people approve of me?”
But:
“Am I willing to stand upon the truth even when nobody applauds?”
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12. Don't Trade Truth for Appearance
There will always be pressure to conform.
Pressure to look successful.
Pressure to have more.
Pressure to be noticed.
Pressure to protect an image.
But the believer needs to remember:
An image will eventually fade.
Money will eventually be left behind.
Possessions will eventually belong to somebody else.
Popularity will eventually disappear.
Physical appearance will change.
But truth remains.
«“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
— Isaiah 40:8»
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Conclusion
Most people naturally look at what is visible.
God looks beyond the visible.
Man sees the outward appearance.
God sees the heart.
The world says:
Get more.
Look better.
Be noticed.
Be admired.
Build your image.
But God's Word says:
Walk in truth.
Walk by faith.
Seek God.
Love truth.
Don't live for the praise of men.
The greatest question isn't:
“What does everybody think I am?”
The greatest question is:
“What am I before God?”
Because when the outward show is gone, the money is gone, the possessions are gone, the reputation is gone, and nobody else is watching—
truth is still truth.
And God still sees.
«“For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
— 1 Samuel 16:7»
The Message
Don't spend your life building an image that hides the truth.
Spend your life walking in the truth that doesn't need an image.
