After twenty years of teaching art, I've become very particular about the supplies I purchase for my classroom. I know what works & what doesn't. I know that if something says "WASHABLE" I don't want it. In theory it is a great idea, children & art supplies can become really messy at times. From the outside the products even look the same. However, when you go to use them for what they were intended....you realize it is a poor imitation of the real thing. Washable glue is extremely thin & watery. It warps paper & doesn't really create as strong of a bond as regular glue. Washable crayons are spotty when you color and do not have as nice of a coverage. Washable tempera paint is transparent, and takes multiple coats to get the color to become close to opaque. Though "real" supplies can be messy at times...I will accept no imitations. The risk of the real thing far outweighs the results of the imitation.
"Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of traditions learned by rote."
Isaiah 29:13
There are several places in scripture that talk about those who "appear" to be people of God, but their heart & actions do not match their appearance. Lets just say...it is never good for them! Scripture is very clear that this type of imitation is not pleasing to God. The Lord has never wanted our "appearances"...he wants our heart. He doesn't want us to fake it...he wants us to live it. That can get messy. That can get ugly at times. We can make mistakes. However, the results are so much more beautiful & pleasing to the Lord than those who just appear to do the right thing & have it all together. When we look at the "heroes of the faith" in scripture, we will see that none of them had it all together. They made mistakes, were selfish at times, doubted God...and so much more! Yet God chose to use them. Why? They were real with Him! They came to Him humbly & broken hearted for their sin. They knew that in & of themselves they could not do it, but with God.....ALL THINGS WERE POSSIBLE! Sometimes in our world today...they say FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT. That is not what God wants from us. He wants us to be real. He wants us to come to Him as we are. Bring Him your messy. Bring Him your pain. Bring Him your questions. Bring Him Your doubt. Bring Him your everything! He is big enough to handle it.
Amen.
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