On an episode of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” the mom is pressured to remove the plastic cover that’s been on the couch since it was purchased years ago. She declares it was saving the fabric of the furniture. So, very carefully and tentatively Ray, his brother and dad, slowly sit on it. I think it goes back on after they dropped food or spilled something.
Well, the original plastic that is often on big ticket items remains on for years and years over here in this country. I’ve often thought this was just silly. When I did a TV program, the new station (which has since gone off the air) had the original plastic on all the very nice, brand-new desk chairs. I joked about it with Suresh back then, and joked some more this time when I noticed various things in his house still with the original plastic. Some of it wasn’t a bad idea—like the plastic on the foot rests of the recliners. Although, since they never have shoes on in the house, maybe it’s not needed either.
On Sunday afternoon when we returned from a preaching gig, I asked my friend and ride, Rev. Sathyabal, why the plastic was still on his sun visors. He chuckled and dodged the real reason but stated that often people do this to show off their car like it is still brand–new. It can be a status symbol, he noted.
But the one vehicle I was in the Sunday before had more than 27,000 kilometers and the plastic was hanging loose and yellowed?
Humans are alike the world over. Status symbols may vary in costs and material from plastic covers to personal attire. But most people are trying to impress others about whom they think they are but really are not. It’s a ruse.
Fortunately, God sees right through the trappings and fakery into the very being of a person. He knows who you are. He knows you are a sinner; that your heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9); and you are serving your father the devil (John 8:44–45). He also knows that when you come by faith to Jesus and receive Him as your Savior that now it’s not your wickedness that God sees, but the righteousness of His Son (2 Corinthians 5:21). But still, since we are trapped in these mortal bodies and continue to sin, we, like our parents Adam & Eve, try to hide and cover it up so that He doesn’t see it or us. It doesn’t work. Oh how it must grieve Him to see us fall back into the same sin over and over again.
1 John 1:9 tells us to confess to the Lord—He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So, don’t try to cover it up or hide from Him. He sees. He knows. And He’s waiting for you to admit it, confess it and come back to him.
As far as the plastic that is on the very nice plaque given to me at the orphanage, I’m keeping it on. I like India and I want to be like my Indian friends.
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