Cell Phone Evergreen Tree Wanna Be

Cell phone towers are a necessity. We like the convenience of our cell phone lives. The ability to chat with someone while on the move.

When I worked for a local church, I called my mother on that 20 minute drive on many occasions. However, there was a “dead spot” about half way. I always wondered how that was possible. But it was possible. There were no cell phone towers in that location.

Wikipedia

I have seen a few cell phone towers that were meant to look like evergreen trees. Branches extend from the trunk with needles spread from the branches. These limbs would continue to the top of the “tree.”

The only problem is that cell phone towers need to be at least 40 feet tall. Much taller than a typical evergreen tree here in Colorado. Every disguised cell phone tower I have seen overshadowed the trees surrounding the tower.

My husband has been to Phoenix for job training on multiple occasions and has mentioned that their cell phone towers are camouflaged to look like palm trees.

These disguises didn’t allow the towers to blend in with the trees, but they do make the towers a bit more attractive.

Have you seen people in disguise? Trying to make people think they are something they’re not? Living a lie? I know we all have.

Jesus called this type of person a hypocrite. There are plenty of passages where Jesus speaks about being hypocritical. Here are just a few where Jesus calls those living deceitful lives out into the open. Matthew 6:2, 5, 16; Matthew 7:1-5; Matthew 15:7-9; Matthew 23:27-28; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 13:10-17.

God’s definition of hypocrisy can be found in Isaiah 29:13. Jesus repeats this message in Matthew 15:8 (NIV). “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

That is where it all begins. Within the heart. The place that no one knows except God. We can fool others into thinking we are something we aren’t, but God will always call us out. He will not allow us to live our lives in this manner.

So how are we called to live? Authentic lives. Genuine lives. Honest lives. Trustworthy lives. Sincere lives. Holy lives.

James 1:22 (NIV) tells us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” In order to live a life worthy of God, we must do what Scripture tells us. Here are a few things Jesus spoke of.

According to Matthew 6:3-4, when we give to the needy, it should be done in secret. It will help to keep our hearts pure. Our motive for giving clean.

When we pray, Jesus says we are to do so in the privacy of our own homes (Matthew 6:6-13). Again for the very same reasons. God knows what we need before we begin to speak. But God wants to hear us call out to Him.

Jesus also mentions forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15) and fasting (Matthew 6:17-8) in this same section. All of this to show us how we can live authentically in our world and within God’s Kingdom.

I can’t help but throw some James into the mix. James 1:26-27 (NIV) says, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Our tongues will rat us out every time if our hearts are not in line with God’s teaching. If we allow our hearts to be polluted by the world, we will all short of living the holy lives God intends for us.

So my question would have to be, are you living like the cell phone evergreen tree wanna be? Or are you the real thing? I know we make mistakes. We all sin. But God is asking that we put aside the ways of this world to live for Him. It really is a matter of the heart.

I pray that you will seek God’s presence and ask for forgiveness of those things that are ugly to His sight. I pray that you’ll desire to live a more authentic Christian life where others can see Jesus through you. I pray that your motives for giving, praying and fasting would be in line with God’s.

God is patiently waiting for you to join Him on this journey. Don’t wait. Life God’s way is filled with abundance. You really do not want to miss out on any of it.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna