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Once again, it’s “Real Stuff My Father-In-Law Says”, as my wife’s dad, Bob Erickson, joins me at the North County Media Center.
Together, we reminisce about the morning when Bob and I met for breakfast and I asked for his permission to marry his daughter. Now, unlike most future father-in-laws, Bob had been my pastor for over 20 years. Additionally, he had been a counselor for my family and me and was aware of my life’s highs and lows, beauty marks and warts.
During that breakfast, I offered Bob a Rolex watch – not as a bribe, but as a metaphor. It was a fraud – and imitation Rolex bought on a New York City street corner. The metaphor was that my days of being a “Fake Rolex Christian” (shiny and pretty by appearance but broken and junky on the inside) were over.
While I thought that this metaphor was for a singular moment over breakfast, Bob actually has used this illustration over the years in his own teachings and counseling opportunities.
According to Bob, our lives consist of either genuine parts or we are using fake imitation components. The fake imitation parts are those behaviors that look good on the outside but don’t carry with them any substance on the inside.
The real things – the things that God values such as love, joy, peace, patience and kindness – those are the things that have lasting value. Not the successes of life, wealth or power. These are merely fake stones and gold paint in comparison to the genuine parts of our lives.
When we fill our lives with that which is real, our lives will continue to have precious value and operate as they should and endure over the years.
However, if we fill our lives with fake imitation elements, then we will inevitably break down, erode and eventually hold no value whatsoever.
One key to recognizing what you are made of is to start by taking an honest look at yourself and ask the tough questions: Am I concerned about my image and how my life appears to others or am I more concerned about showing other people God’s character through my life?
As single people, we may be able to get by for a season with “imitation parts”. Even a fake Rolex keeps time for a short while.
But in order to be a good husband or wife and an effective parent, true, genuine components are imperative.
We see this “masquerading” in many aspects of life – even at church. Because, to be truthful, it’s difficult to be vulnerable and honest in certain contexts.
But God wants us to be who He has created us to be – not what we think other people want us to be. He wants us to be filled with love, joy, peace, patience and kindness – even through life’s tough times.
When you can just be “you” (warts and all), then God can use you for His purposes.
Sadly, it often takes a crisis in life that causes people to take that honest inventory of their lives.
But no matter what spurs on your moment of self-assessment, the key is to move toward contentment. Contentment in any life-circumstance begins with being comfortable with who you are as a person.
And when we are real and authentic, we will then find ourselves content, comfortable and useful.