Costumes

Costumes or Are You Wearing a Disguise?

This is the time of year when people dress up in costumes and act like they are some one else. That’s OK if we only do it once a year.

I’m going to tell you about a different type of disguise.

In 1Kings, 14. There is a King of Israel named Jeroboam. Jeroboam was in rebellion against Judah. So he did some really bad things (he followed false gods and made idols). This brought him big trouble with God and as a result his son Abijah, became sick.
He decided to send his wife to get help from a prophet named Ahija. Now Ahija was living in Shiloh and Jeroboam didn’t want people to know he needed help so he sent his wife in disguise to seek the counsel of a prophet of God.
The prophet she went to vist was named Ahija and was blind. When Jeroboam’s wife arrived at his home he heard the sound of her footsteps and knew it was her. He said “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another person?"
Sometimes we pretend to be someone we are not. Sometimes we don’t want to let people see the real us.

The thing about disguises is that people will still recognize us by our walk. The blind man just heard her footsteps and knew it was her.

People will know what type of people we are by our walk. No matter what type of disguise we wear. No matter how much we try to cover up our faults.

Even some one who is blind to Jesus can tell if we are walking with God. Just like the blind man knew. If someone is blind to Jesus we can’t share the gospel with him if we are not ourselves.

Even a blind man knows when the sun is shining because he can feel it.
A person who is blind to who Jesus is can tell by our walk if the Son is shining in us because he can feel God’s love in us.

We need to not try to be self righteous and cover up who we really are. We need to realize that our sin is no different than anyone else. We are all dirty from sin. We as Christians just have found the place to get a bath.

SO LET’S TAKE OFF THE COSTUMES AND BE OURSELVES.
We as Christians are to help others find covering for sin. When we are busy covering up our own faults we can’t help others.

In Genesis 3:7 after Adam and Eve sinned they knew they were naked and wanted to cover themselves. God helped them find covering. When we sin the first thing we want to do is find covering too. We find in Genesis 9 Noah sinned and became uncovered. Noah’s son Ham saw him uncovered and went out and told others about it. Shem and Japheth found Noah uncovered and took a garment went in backwards so they would not see Noah and covered their father. Ham was cursed for what he did and Shem and Japheth were blessed.

When we find some one who is uncovered because of sin in their life we should make sure we don’t point it out to others. The correct thing to do is to find covering for the person. God has given us covering just like he gave Adam and Eve covering. Just like with Adam and Eve the covering God came up with is much better than anything we can come up with on our own (sewing fig leafs together). God gave His son Jesus. Only with the blood of Jesus do we find sufficient covering for sin. His blood doesn’t just cover up our sin it cleans us of it. Our job is to share this with others. Just like Ham and Japheth we also will be blessed when we bless others.

Jesus showed us how to do it in John 13. When He was cleaning the feet of the Apostles Jesus first took off his clothes. He showed them that He was a human too. That He was like them and then He humbly served them. When we minister to others we are most effective when we share in a humble way and serve others. Good results happen when we show others the truth about ourselves that we are imperfect and no better than anyone else. We have the best chance of them listening and receiving what we have found to cover ourselves and them when they know we are just like them (sinners).

So don’t wear a disguise or a Costume it will only limit what you can do for others. If you do people won’t want what you have. They don’t want some cheap costume to cover up their problems. They want the clothes fit for a wedding that only Jesus can give us.


Other thoughts about Jeroboam’s mistakes:
Jeroboam only sought out Gods help when he was in trouble.

Jeroboam did not go himself he sent someone else. He did not want to have to change to get what God has to offer. A change in you will be required.

He sent her with 10 loaves and some honey. Ten is the number of the law. We cannot come to God and get forgiveness just by trying to do something good to sweeten the deal (following the law).

Jeroboam doesn’t ask for prayer he just asked what will happen.

This is a method to get bad results. Jeroboam’s son Abijah dies and His family line comes to an end.