UNDER THE SURFACE

HOW'S YOUR INSIDE?

A LESSON FROM PLANTAINS

The first picture shows a perfect pair of plantain so sweet, beautiful, ripe,and in good condition.  

The second is the same pair flipped over reflecting rottenness, brokenness and exposed.  

In the natural many portray/display a good looking facade and may put up a good front, but yet are experiencing hurt, loss and other emotional turmoils.  Others look good on the outside but have many physical known or perhaps unknown ailments and diseases.  

To the world, like the first picture above, everything looks great, pretty and happy. But only you know what happens when you are left with you, your thoughts, emotions and pains which look very much like the second picture.  

How often have you gone to the dentist with a perfect tooth and after an x-ray told that you have a cavity.  Where? Of course on the inside not visible but still there.

Sometimes people feel real good but decide to go for a check up only to be given very grave news.  No signs or symptoms but rotten and messed up on the inside. Sometimes the results are like the second picture - cannot be repaired or salvaged.  

What can be done to avoid this or limit the damages? 

Some might suggest more frequent checkups, home routine checks, listen to you body, avoid alcohol, cigarettes and other abusive substances, good eating habits, adequate rest/sleep and exercise etc... 

While you can pray and ask the Lord to heal you and help you that your bodies will not become diseased, (my heart will not attack me, my kidneys will not fail me, my lungs will not collapse within me, my blood will not be pressured or diseased, my colon will not strangle me, my brain will not burst, my breast/uterus will not have abnormal growth or my prostrate will not be enlarged, my breathing will not be labored, my teeth will not hurt or decay, my mind will not be confused, blocked or wandering, my eyes will not be blinded or clouded, my faculties will not be distorted, parasites and viruses will not overrule, knees and legs will not be crippled, nerves will not be frazzled, ......(add to list as it suits), it goes deeper than the natural.

TODAY'S FOCUS:  A SPIRITUAL APPLICATION  

As you reflect on the picture and the physical analogy let's take a closer look in the spiritual.   WHAT'S EATING YOU FROM THE INSIDE OUT?

HOW DOES YOUR INSIDE LOOK UNDER THE SURFACE?

If you were to be flipped over, pressured, squeezed or exposed what would be found?

Would there be things like anger/temper, unforgiveness, lasciviousness, hate, adultery, lying, wickedness, dirty living, rotten character, idolatry, selfishness, evil intentions/desires, rebellion, faithless,  un-thankfulness etc........

These can and will eventually materialize in sickness or harm to others.  

There are still others that are not easily seen, detected, may never get exposed because they are deep rotted and are not things that are necessary demonstrated in the physical realm such as... a perverted/lustful and carnal thought pattern/spirit, guilt, etc....

How's your spiritual health?  Let's do some some searching - (Psalm 139: 23-24)

Using your body parts in the spiritual do an assessment of your spiritual health ie... 

Heart - desires

Kidney's - filtering the good from the bad

Mind- thoughts  etc...

Secondly, like the suggestions of the natural, what are some things we can do to keep our spiritual decay?  

PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS.

Remember, God sees the heart.  Nothing is hidden from him.   He is aware of even the secret desires.   Reflect on the picture again and the message and go deep.  Ask the Lord like David to search you.  Catch it in the early stage before it's a too late cry. Don't let circumstances cause you to reflect what is truly the real you and don't let God expose what you are really like on the inside or what you have been hiding.  It's not only wise to use the Balm of Gilead but make daily use of the Spirit of God to wash, to clean, to lead, to guide and to make you a perfect man.  Well in body, soul and spirit.  

God Bless and Keep the Faith!

Virtuous Jewel