The Blue Church

Did you hear the recent news story about how Fentanyl was being sold out of a home adorned with Christmas lights? For a moment, the story made me stop and wonder. Did the drug dealers purposefully put up the lights to quell suspicions of illegal activity? Did they “deck the halls” with all things Christmas because in the midst of their drug dealing they still wanted to enjoy the holiday? The interesting thing is that during the years I have worked in Corrections, I have read accounts of crimes that represented both reasons. I have reviewed cases where brilliantly thought out decoys were put in place to divert the attention of law enforcement. I have also have heard of some cases where a methamphetamine lab, and other illegal activities were going on inside a home alongside of all the normal affairs of life like kids going to school, holidays being celebrated, yards being cleaned, and those committing the crimes associating in friendly ways with their neighbors. The old saying, “You can’t judge a book by its cover” can now perhaps be replaced by, “You can’t judge a drug dealer by their dazzling Christmas display”.  The people who have told me that they have lived that type of dual lifestyle don’t bat an eye at the idea that their drug dealing was just a normal part of life, like food shopping, paying the bills, and washing the car.    Such accounts of crime should make us wonder how people can so easily embrace the good and evil aspects of life without feeling any discord. When you speak to such folks, they are quick to state the reasons why their actions are justified, and how they really are good and loving people who just need to get by however they can.   These stories of dual-lifestyles remind me of a verse:   “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9   The truth of the matter is, such a verse isn’t just for people like I have described. It applies to all of us. We believe we have a good sense of our own hearts, and perhaps to some degree, we do. Yet, it is only God who truly knows our hearts which is why the verse following verse nine reads:   “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”   Sobering words. Nobody is going to fool the Lord with a good holiday display.   Yet, to me the most striking thing about the “Fentanyl and Festivity” story is that to the outsider, the drug dealers may have seemed like ordinary folk. Perhaps they even held a high view of themselves. Yet God sees right through our deceptions and disguises. He can quickly poke holes in our self-righteousness.   In Jesus’ time, He came across those who had a wonderfully righteous external covering. He wasted no time calling them out on their falsity:   ²⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full ^[b]of robbery and self-indulgence. ²⁶ You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. ²⁷ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. ²⁸ So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. ”   Oh my. That wasn’t subtle. He equated religious leaders with self-indulgent robbers, as well as gravesites filled with “all uncleanness”. Yet to the undiscerning eye they looked wonderfully righteous and deserving of all respect. The “Fentanyl” story has caused be to strive harder to follow after Christ. I know there is a mix of good and bad in me and I want God to help me to become more and more like Christ. As daunting as God knowing the deepest parts of our heart may seem, this can also be to our benefit. When we come to Him in prayer and ask Him to help us to change for the better, He knows right where to start. He may even start with things that we are not even aware of, but we can trust Him no matter what He chooses to do.   Perhaps today you would like to join with me in offering this prayer from the Bible.   “ Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: ²⁴ And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139: 23-24   Merry Christmas everyone. I will be taking next week off from blogging. May the joy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you as we celebrate Emmanuel, God with us.   Rob