"Looking Under the Hood"

 

“Looking Under the Hood”

 

(The title and idea for this article is borrowed from No Guts, No Glory by Brother Andrew, founder of Open Doors, a ministry to persecuted believers around the world.)

 

A friend in New Hampshire once made a reservation for a rental truck. When he went to pick it up he was given the key but got no response when he tried to start it. An employee popped the hood and soon discovered the reason for the difficulty: there was no engine! The vehicle looked fine on the outside but was worthless for its purpose because of what wasn’t under the hood. Many years ago I had a car with what a mechanic called an “exceptional body” but I had all kinds of problems with it because its appearance belied its true condition.

When the Lord sent Samuel to anoint Saul’s replacement as king of Israel the eldest of Jesse’s sons stood before him and God’s servant was sure he was the chosen one because he “looked the part”. But He told Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things (people) look at. They look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, emphasis added). Paraphrased God said, “I’ve looked under the hood of his life and found him lacking.” So He sees what we can’t. It wasn’t until David, the youngest, showed up that God revealed His choice.

Jesus could see into the hearts and minds of people when He walked the earth. Early in His public ministry when He was challenged after cleansing the temple and performing miracles we’re told He “…would not entrust himself to the (people), for he knew all (people).” (John 2:24, emphasis added). Later, just before His death and resurrection He said of the teachers of the law and Pharisees, “You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of (dead people’s) bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matthew 23:27-28, emphasis added).

We allow people to see what we want them to in our lives but what’s under our (my) hood that’s hidden from view? Others may not see it but God does (“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, emphasis added). That’s incentive for a spiritual tune-up—will I allow God to do it?

 

Grace and blessings!

Jim McMillan