Everything That Glitters Ain’t Gold

Acts 17:19-20
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

When I was younger my mother would always tell me, "Everything that glitters ain't gold son". She would always say this to me when I was dating a girl. I would come home talking about how pretty they were and how popular they were. Most every time it would end with her making this statement. It wasn't that she didn't like these girls, she didn't even know many of them. It was they way I spoke of them and what attracted me to them.

I really never understood what she was trying to teach me by always telling me this statement until I grew older. You see I always saw the face, the features and sometimes even the status of a girl. My attraction was just skin deep. I'm almost certain that I wasn't alone in this battle. Boys always wanted the pretty girls and girls always wanted the good-looking guys. It's our youthfulness. What is funny is how my mom would say it. Her eyebrows would raise and give me that look of, "Be careful son... Remember, everything that glitters ain't gold".

Can I tell you that we live in a world today that will tell you that all is well. Everything is okay if you are enjoying it. "Do what makes you happy" is the motto of America. But always remember this, "Everything that glitters ain't gold". It's sad to say, but even in our churches this attitude has flooded our pulpits. The lack of conviction, preaching and repentance is prevalent. The scriptures say that God once winked at ignorance but now commands that everyone should repent. Repent means to feel sorry, or convicted for your sin to the point that you confess it and TURN from it. Feeling bad or sorry about sin isn't repentance, turning from it is. Repentance is like gold because of its worth.

Thank you Lord for giving me an opportunity to repent. Thank you for showing me that repentance isn't just skin or statement deep. It goes to the point of turning from sin and turning toward you. Please help all today that are at this point right now. Help them to see the golden opportunity and not just fool's gold of feeling sorry.