Gilded Ages
Dear Beloved,
A few months back, in my history class, we learned about a short era in American History called the "gilded ages." A time where everything in America was polished and blooming. It was seemingly perfect.
For those of you who don't know what "gilded" means, trusty dusty dictionary.com says, “covered or highlighted with gold or something of a golden color." OR "having a pleasing or showy appearance that conceals something of little worth."
Gilding is something people do to make the ugly look pretty. And no... I am not just talking about the trim on the outside of a building and picture frames. People do this with social media and even in conversations. If the truth isn't adventurous enough, cute enough, Christian enough... they alter it.
What do you mean by "Christian enough Alyssa?" For example, you stay home and spend the whole day in bed watching Netflix. Then your pastor calls you and asks how your day was... What sounds better? "I wasted my day away." OR "I spent some time reading the Word today and God spoke to me and I'm super glad that I got to stay home and dwell in the presence."
When you polish things to make the ugly truth look like something valuable, you're embellishing. You're gilding. You're lying. There is no point in pretending to be a "super Christian" when you are truly mediocre. God doesn't see our embellishments the way people might. He sees our hearts and all our intentions. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, "But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The law doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
I have said it before, and I will say it again... on judgment day, God won't look at all of the charity work you do or pretty words you might say. He only sees your heart. He sees every intention and "hidden" agenda.
I've heard people say before that who you are on the inside bleeds into who you are on the outside. If your ugly underneath, but pretending to be this awe-inspiring Christian... It will bleed through. the only way to avoid that is to genuinely pursue God. If you want to come off as this patient, kind, generous person but you are really rude and greedy... it's going to show. The only way to match the inside to the outside is to draw near to the Lord.
