Dec. 31, 2014
This past Monday Kelsey and I
traveled to Houston for a second opinion doctor’s appointment. Of course, at just that time, there was a
massive fire in an abandoned building just four buildings down from the
doctor’s office. Yes, that part of town
was a bit dicey. We managed to detour
around it and come around from the other direction to get to the appointment
just 15 minutes late. As I was sitting
in the waiting room, I had an uneasy feeling because, well, I should just say
the waiting room fit in with that part of town.
I kept telling myself, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” over and over
again.
After meeting the doctor for just
3-4 minutes, Kelsey had already decided she loved her. By the time we left an hour later, I
cautiously liked her too. I am skeptical
of most doctors now until they really prove themselves to me.
As I was driving today, I was
thinking about this appointment and how it is generally good advice to “not
judge a book by its cover.” And then, I
was reminded of the book I am currently reading: “Vanishing Grace” by Philip
Yancey. It is largely about how
non-Christians see Christians in a harsh light because of judgmental and
intolerant attitudes. In other words,
they see little grace from those who have received it in abundance. It occurred to me that we Christians are the
cover to the Bible. We are the first
impression of the Bible to those “uncommitted and post-Christian people,” as
Yancey calls them.
It begs questions such as “Do my
actions echo my beliefs?” “Does my
attitude reveal the Word of God held within me?” “Do I reflect the image of Christ?” “Does the Good News look good in me?” It saddens to me know that so many, an
overwhelming majority, have a negative view of Christians. They miss the message of the Bible because
they don’t get past the cover. The more
I think about this today, the more I am convinced that my Bible isn’t covered
with nice soft goatskin leather and a sewn binding. It is covered by every Christian and bound
with love for our Almighty Father. I think
that is true for every Bible.
