The Genuine Article

And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, he went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard it. Mark 11:13-14 (NKJV)

My daughter Dana and I were shopping at a flea market while on a mini vacation in Ohio. We stopped to look at some "designer" handbags, completely convinced that they would be obviously flawed in some way that we would walk away from the vendor without making any purchases. While we both love designer purses, we are not quite as in love with the hefty price tags. As we sifted through what we assumed to be designer "knockoffs", we were shocked. We could not find any evidence that these purses were anything but the genuine article. Finally Dana said to me "if these are not the real thing, they certainly fooled me and will fool anyone else. I cannot find anything fake about them." And although the purses appeared to be authentic I knew in my heart that they just could not be, nevertheless, we bought five handbags that day.

Those bags appeared to be genuine, and I cannot help but think how easy it is for us to do the same thing- appear genuine. We look like we are going about our Father's business: attending church, volunteering for each worthy cause to come down the pike, doing everything that has the appearance of the authenticity of faithful believers.

In the story from the book of Mark, Jesus walked by a fig tree that appeared to be a healthy, fruit bearing tree, yet it bore no fruit and he condemned the tree. This is a very frank commentary on what Jesus thought of something appearing to be what it was not.

Our appearance may seem genuine, but I wonder what deep and honest look in the mirror would reveal. Are we simply appearing to be followers of Christ or are we the genuine article? I think of all the things in my life that have the appearance of legitimacy: a taped and pinned up hemline, eyelashes, subtly highlighted hair. Lacking authenticity in those areas isn't a cause for concern, because the truth is, at the end of the day those things don't have any lasting impact.

My relationship with Christ does have lasting impact, and I do not want to simply appear to be genuine. I do not want to be like the purses Dana and I found at the flea market, able to fool myself or others in regard to my relationship with Jesus Christ. I do not want others to have to examine me as closely as we examined the hand bags looking for tell tale signs of an imitation. It is complete surrender, love and devotion to our Savior that will demonstrate our authenticity. Choose to be genuine and choose a blessing.

Father, I ask your forgiveness for those times when I have given the appearance of following you with genuine devotion and my heart has been far from that. I thank you that your Spirit reminds me and draws me back into authentic relationship with you.

Amen.

Monica Mueller