SOME GOOD CHEAP PERFUME?
By Bob Plunket
Years ago, when times were harder and money less plentiful, I
determined to buy my young wife some perfume. Walking into a rather nice store, I informed the saleslady that I wanted some “Real good cheap perfume.” She looked at me with pity or contempt, I could not tell which, and answered most matter-of-factly, “there’s no such thing! I think I ended up buying my bride a nice iron. Who needed that old perfume anyway?
But isn’t this what a lot of folks are looking for in religion today?
Some good, cheap religion? The answer is the same. “There’s no such thing!: Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
Many then, as now, wanted something which would make them feel good about themselves – something that would make them smell good without being good. They wanted something which could be splashed on — something to cover the situation without truly solving the problem.
Many desire to attend a few church services when it is convenient; say a few prayers when they are in trouble; sing a few songs when they feel good; and give a little money if there is any left over — all in hopes that this will somehow sway the Great Judge.
What we really need is a good cleansing — the cleaning up of one’s
life and the putting on of Christ (Galatians 3:27). This is the perfume that God has provided for us. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “I am full, having received of Epaphroditu’s the things which were sent from you, an odor of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18).
The sweet smell was the good deeds in their lives. Peter wrote to the
Christian wives: “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of the plaiting of hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (I Peter 3:3-4).
We must not be like the Pharisees, of which Jesus said, “Ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess…Ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:25-27).
Cheap religion is no religion at all!
(The above information was published by the OKLAHOMA BULLETIN)
Christian Information Network
