A Pretense of Worship

Advent Day #20

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. Matthew 2:7-8

One thing that marks Jesus’ authenticity for modern historians is His utter selflessness. Jesus neither pursued power and fame nor asked for earthly treasure. In fact, Jesus shifted the modern world into new territory because He insisted everyone was made in the image of God and was equal in God’s sight. Jesus’ followers were willing to die for this kind of teaching, gaining nothing of earthly value in the process.

Two things will authenticate a person’s character: time and outcome. Given enough time, what a person truly worships will be revealed. The outcome, or the fruit of what was growing in his heart, will come forth. Jesus taught in Matthew 7:15-21 that many false prophets might even say and do works in His name. However, He said to look at the fruit that comes out of their lives to determine whether they are truly followers of God. Does greed mark their lives? Do they crave authority or the esteem of others? Do they want to be seen when they do their good works? Does envy and covetousness drive their service? Given enough time, what they worship will be plainly seen.

Herod’s pretense of worship led to a mass murder of innocent babies. The fruit of His character was easily seen in time. Jeremiah 17:9 reveals, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” It is hard to discern one’s own heart, let alone another’s heart, but it is wise to pray like David for God to search our hearts and reveal anything that is pretense. What a tragedy it would be to spend your whole life in a pretense of worship, only to find that all your “good works” gained nothing of eternal value.

Search me, O God, and know my heart:
try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24