Hocus Focus!

I love to watch magicians. Their ability to use slight-of-hand and distraction to make things seem one way when in reality we are being tricked, is marvelous. I'm impressed because I know it is a trick, but don't know how they pull it off. Everything appears on the up-and-up. They stand on an open stage in plain sight of the audience. Sometimes someone from the audience is even up there to watch closely so there is no cheating. It doesn't appear possible for anything to be up their sleeve. Then, "presto", the marked card that was torn up is now back in one piece as it is pulled out of a balloon. Wow!

Now, you might claim I am one of those people who is easily fooled by these tricksters. However, how do David Copperfield and other master magicians pull off tricks with even large objects? We watch, impressed by what SEEMS to be so, yet knowing somehow we are being fooled.

Maybe I am easily fooled. Maybe you have some of those tricks figured out. However, I know One who is not fooled by what may SEEM to be true. Even though I enjoy fooling people with the few simple "magic" tricks I know, I know One whom I should never consider I could pull one over on Him. You know Who I mean. You know I mean the One who knows our inmost thoughts. You know I mean the One who knows every motive behind every action. God doesn't view what "seems". He is able to view what "IS"!

In Proverbs we read. . .
"All the ways of a man are PURE IN HIS OWN EYES, but the LORD weighs the spirit." ( Proverbs 16:2 ESV)
And. . .
"Every way of a man is RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES, but the LORD weighs the heart." ( Proverbs 21:2 ESV)

In both of these passages the New International Version uses the word "SEEM": "ways SEEM innocent" and "ways SEEM right". That is the challenge with our own focus. What seems may not be! However, it is the spirit and the heart that holds the truth and that is clearly evident to God.

John noted this same ability with regard to our Lord when He wrote. . .
"(23) Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. (24) But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people (25) and needed no one to bear witness about man, for HE HIMSELF KNEW WHAT WAS IN MAN." ( John 2:23-25 ESV)

We can put on a good show for all the people around us, but God knows our hearts. And since He is fully aware of what IS, He is the One who is best able to direct our lives. Let us keep our focus on Him that He may help us keep in view, not what SEEMS, but rather what truly IS!

Have a great day FOCUSED ON WHAT IS!
Carl

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[This focus was originally sent 01/09/1999 (Edited some with passages changed to ESV)]

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