ARE YOU A WHITE WASHED TOMB, OR A CRACKED EARTHEN VESSEL?

ARE YOU A WHITE-WASHED TOMB OR A CRACKED EARTHEN VESSEL?


Matthew 23:23-27 (Amplified Bible)


23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you give a tenth of your mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected and omitted the weightier (more important) matters of the Law--right and justice and mercy and fidelity. These you ought [particularly] to have done, without neglecting the others.
 24You blind guides, filtering out a gnat and gulping down a [a]camel!(A)


25Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but within they are full of extortion (prey, spoil, plunder) and grasping self-indulgence.



26You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside may be clean also.



27Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you are like tombs that have been whitewashed, which look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead men's bones and everything impure.

Are you a white-washed tomb or a cracked earthen vessel? Before you answer that question, let me give you a brief description of what each of these are:

a "white-washed tomb" = As you've read in today's passage, is basically a person who appears to be perfect on the outside. They follow the letter of the Law to a 'tee' and even add some of their own man-made rules and regulations to oppose on those who look up to them. But on the inside (the heart) is full of evil! They long for people to look up to them and praise them! They are in love with their titles (many self-given), and the status and authority that their positions carry......

a "cracked earthen vessel" = On the other hand, has noticeable 'cracks.' They may be a little 'dirty' to the eye upon first glance, or further inspection; but if you could peer inside their hearts, you'd find it full of love for God and a willingness and desire to please Him! They aren't impressed with their titles (usually ORDAINED and appointed by GOD), as they are more in love with Him and realize that in and of themselves, they are nothing, nor can be nothing! BUT they are well aware that WITH Him, they are everything and can be anything He needs them to be!

So, which one are you? A white-washed tomb or a cracked earthen vessel? No matter how you answer, God knows the truth! He is the One Who searches all hearts and minds! He is only concerned with the heart, what's on the inside; because what is in us, always comes out! Even with the white-washed tombs, the 'dirt' on the inside may stay 'hidden' for awhile, but once it gets too full, it will eventually spill over; which will then show that they had 'cracks' too! Their 'cracks' were just concealed! Yes, they are pretending to be something they are NOT and thereby deceiving many-but they aren't deceiving God! Eventually the TRUTH is revealed and we will see their true colors!

To go deeper: With an outwardly 'appearing' flawless or perfect pot, if light were to be closed inside of it, there would be no way of escape! No one would be able to see the light, as it would be hidden behind all of the 'mess' stored inside! But with a cracked pot, even with light stored inside of it, the light would escape through the cracks because there is nothing in them that they have to hide! All of their 'mess' would spill out through the cracks daily, therefore cleansing the vessel, and equipping it for Greater use! They would decrease, so that CHRIST inside of them, could INCREASE!

None of us are perfect! Whether we want to admit this or not, we ALL have flaws! Maybe not in the same areas, but we all have flaws nonetheless! God wants to use those imperfections and weaknesses (cracks) to draw us closer to Him, and to teach us valuable lessons; such as how to depend solely on Him! He uses them to keep us from becoming too prideful; yes to humble us or to keep us humble. But He also uses them to show us and others His amazing Strength; and He uses all of this, to equip us to be a blessing by teaching the lessons we have learned to others!

So again I ask you, are you a white-washed tomb, or a cracked earthen vessel? I know my answer, and I THANK GOD for every single 'crack in my pot!' And each time He repairs one crack, I notice another! But that's ok, because it goes to show that I'm a work in progress... and as long as I'm a 'work' that means He hasn't given up on me! The Lord is keeping me humble, and reminding me that I need Him more than my next breath! And He reminds me that He is continuing this work in me, because He is planning to use me in many capacities! Thank You Lord!

Copyright © 2010