MAINTAINING APPEARANCES

With the Covid-19 virus going full throttle, a large portion of America’s white collar workforce has taken to doing business from home. 

Suits and Sandals

A large sum of todays current business labor is being performed in isolation, but not all of it. Common work place practices such as daily coordinated meetings, in-progress reviews, and strategic planning meetings continue to take place take place, despite the worlds social distancing climate.

Fortunately, video conference technology (e.g. Zoom meetings) has made it possible for executives to see and talk with their subordinates, all from their own individual private dwellings. Each participant sits at their home computer and interacts with their counterparts, engaging in business as usual. But viewing each other only from the waist up has led to a strange phenomenon.

Major retail outlets are reporting that sales of tops (shirts, blouses, jackets) are up. In contrast to this, the sales of bottoms (pants, skirts) are way down.  Why? It’s because white-collar workers are dressing exclusively for what is visible to others through their screen’s. Along with suit jackets and ties, male employees are sporting pajama bottoms and shorts with their business attire. Well-groomed female employees in blouses and jackets are similarly wearing sweatpants and sandals, both sides neglecting anything out of view.

X-Ray Vision

While this practice makes perfect sense, it also serves as an illustration of how believers can mix up their priorities. Men and Women of faith often worry too much about what others see, and too little about what Jesus sees, and Jesus sees all. In the book of Revelation, Jesus is pictured as having eyes like flames of fire, symbolizing His penetrating X-ray vision (Revelation 1:14).

In fact, in the very next chapter Jesus says, “I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds” (Revelation 2:23).  “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).  “Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, how much more the hearts of men” (Proverbs 15:11).  We may be off-screen, or even half off-screen with people, but never with God.

So let’s adorn ourselves with good works (1 Timothy 2:9-10) and with gentleness and humility (1 Peter 3:3-4).  Let’s focus on developing the inner person – our spirit, faith, and character. For although the outer person is decaying, the Holy Spirit is renewing the inner person day by day. He is using adversity and affliction to produce in us a glorious and eternal being who is capable of both seeing God as He is, and knowing Him intimately (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

PRAYER

Dear Father in heaven, please make me mindful of Your relentless and penetrating gaze, so that I will clothe myself with good works and a humble spirit.  Though Your X-ray vision easily detects every sin and flaw within me, thank You that You not only diagnose the problems, You also administer the cure.  That cure may be painful, but without it I’ll never be fit for heaven.  Amen.