Can I Live for God from the Inside Out?
We all are guilty of making some questionable decisions when we are young.
Am I right?
Especially in high school, we get pulled into strange fashion trends, risky behavior in an effort to fit in, and going to great lengths in order to be seen as appealing to others.
When I was a senior in high school, I let one of my friends talk me into dying my hair. My natural color, a dirty blonde shade, had never been touched with color before, but I wanted it to be blonder.
Thus, the bleaching and dying began.
On the surface, I loved it! It was a new look that was fresh and bright.
But this new look on the outside hid a lot of damage and darkness on the inside.
After several weeks, my darker roots started to show through and the damage from the dye started to turn my hair brittle and limp.
Sara Claudia with her blonde highlights smiling at the camera.
So, what did I do? I put more dye on it and covered up the bad parts.
Once again, it looked fresh, bright, and new, but I was only damaging it more and more with each treatment.
In Jeremiah, we can read a similar story.
King Jehoiakim of Judah built a palace that, on the outside, was beautiful.
“He says, “I will build a magnificent palace with huge rooms and many windows. I will panel it throughout with fragrant cedar and paint it a lovely red.”
(Jeremiah 22:14)
However, the alluring and appealing exterior, just like my fake dyed hair, hid a lot of damage, destruction, and darkness.
“And the Lord says, “what sorrow awaits Jehoiakim, who builds his palace with forced labor. He builds injustice into its walls, for he makes his neighbors work for nothing. He does not pay them for their labor.”
(Jeremiah 22:13)
Sometimes, we get so caught up with the desired end result of our actions, that we do not notice the damage we are doing in order to get there.
We can learn a lot from this simple verse about King Jehoiakim,
“But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king!”
(Jeremiah 22:15)
It’s true, that blonde shade didn’t make me more popular.
It only caused damage to my hair.
Working overtime every evening for years in order to afford that beautiful new house won’t make you a great parent, but it may damage some relationships in the process.
Making a risky business decision in order to afford that diamond necklace for your wife won’t make you a wonderful husband, but it may destruct your reputation at work.
We become so concerned with status and appearances in our society, just like Jehoiakim.
If we take a closer look at the life and legacy of King Jehoiakim’s father, King Josiah, however, we can learn an important lesson.
“…Your father, Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink. But he was just and right in all his dealings. That is why God blessed him. He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn’t that what it means to know me?” says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 22:15-16)
King Josiah, like his son after him, had status, power, and everything that he needed.
A photo of a blonde woman reading the Bible outside from above.
But there was one important difference.
He did not put others down, cause damage, or leave a trail of destruction behind in order to attain his desired results.
He simply put it in God’s hands, trusted His will, and lived according to His guidance.
“Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.”
(2 Kings 23:25)
You see, our actions, our heart, our devotion to God is really what counts.
We care so much about what is on the outside, but that can hide a lot of ugliness, just like Jehoiakim’s palace.
If our inside is right with the Lord, however, the outside will follow as well.
When we live for Him, our actions, our relationships, and our blessings will be much more magnificent than a cedar palace.
