Things are not always what they seem to be. Take Hollywood as an example. It is a world of illusions. Pastor Ron Hutchcraft told about touring one of the major movie studios, where a lot of movies and TV shows are filmed. He wrote: ” I saw this old Western town, there was a World War II vintage French village, and a 1930s neighborhood in Chicago – some really impressive buildings. Until you open a door and go inside any of those buildings. There’s nothing there. It’s all just a set!
Unfortunately, that describes more than just a Hollywood studio set. It describes a lot of people’s lives. Maybe, if you’re honest, it could describe yours.— 2 Timothy 3:5, describes people who have “a form of godliness” (that means they look good on the outside), but they are “denying its power.” Then it talks about people who are “always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.” So, the Bible says there are people with impressive exteriors, but behind the set, there’s emptiness. They have religion, but no real spiritual power. Do you ever feel that way? They have education, but no real answers.
Back in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon described the great “set” that he had up in his life. He had massive wealth, fabulous entertainment, and great accomplishments. But in his own words, he described it all as “meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). Behind an impressive set, he was feeling empty. Look, I’ve had a state champion high school athlete ask me, after having all his dreams come true, “Why do I feel so empty?” A couple of days later a community leader, active in his church, asked me almost the exact same question.
Maybe your life has a great set for people to see, success, friends, and a sense of humor, but you know that behind the act there’s no power, there are no answers, and there is no peace even after years of wearing the right mask and saying all the right things. Clearly, behind the set, something is missing. Solomon figured out what it is.— (Ecclesiastes 3:11). You need something eternal, something forever to fill that hole in your heart.
What’s missing is that vital relationship that you were made for. Speaking of Jesus, Colossians 1:16 says that you were “created by Him and for Him.” You’re missing Jesus in your heart. Even religious people can miss Him. Your Christian exterior may actually have allowed you to believe that you have Jesus when, in reality, you’ve never consciously given yourself to the Man who died to pay for all your sin.
If you’re tired of just repainting the scenery of your life and improving the exterior, why not open the door of that set and let Jesus into the emptiness inside. If you want to begin for real, finally, your personal relationship with Him, tell Him that right now.—- He’s alive! He walked out of His grave. He’s ready to come into your life this very day.”
