EXTERNALS

Externals are just merely

The outer shell of same;

The distinguished features of a facade

With a fancy name.

Externals can inspire us

When enhancements can be made,

Since they beautify our world

With a creativity that remains.

But eventually we take for granted

All that’s in our midst,

And perhaps want bigger and better

With more desires on our list.

Externals can be pretty

And are pleasant to the eye,

But there’s a wall that can hide the truth

That is cleverly disguised.

Externals are skin deep

And sometimes shallow too,

Since the true intents and the real motives

Will conceal all that is true.

Externals can be polite

For the sake of keeping peace,

And although the smile may be intact

The eyes the truth will release.

It’s easy to love those

Who love us in return,

But Jesus instructs us to love our enemies

And His ways we need to learn.

The only satisfaction

Is the depth that’s in our soul,

Where joy, peace and love will flood

Our heart where beauty unfolds.

Externals will never satisfy

Since they’re temporary in nature,

They can never fill us nor fulfill us

Since they’re transient in stature.

Externals can be deceptive

And we will never ever know,

When the focus is to impress others

And our integrity we forego.

Externals can be carnal

And can be seductive indeed,

To trap the simple and the foolish

When with lies the heart it feeds.

The Pharisees focused on externals

But were white washed tombs within,

Placing heavy burdens on their followers

But were laden with various sins.

Externals can be hypocritical

When there’s an image to maintain,

Because the approval of man becomes paramount

But where substance does not remain.

To draw water from deep wells

This will nourish our famished soul,

And look beyond what the eye can see

To discover true treasures behold.

Jesus spoke in parables

And those who desired the truth,

Could understand the deeper message

And produced much godly fruit.

The depth and meaning of Jesus’ words

Transforms many lives indeed,

They have authority and are convincing

With the conviction we all need.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:27

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44

“To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand.'” Luke 8:10

“For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil. But in the end she is bitter as wormwood.” Proverbs 5:3-4

“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptious sins.” Psalm 19:12-13