In Matthew 7:15-23 Jesus preaches about facades – pretensions - trying to be what we are not.
When we build false fronts – facades and wear masks for protection to avoid getting hurt or perhaps to “fit in” with a certain group we fail to anticipate or understand the repercussions for ourselves, our families, and our communities.
We also fail to live, as if we know that God loves us just the way we are and that He loves us too much to leave us that way.
Some versions of this saying add, “He cleans the fish that He catches.”
We can’t clean ourselves up to be acceptable in God’s sight. God does that. We, however, have to be willing. Willing to change, willing to learn and grow, willing to trust, willing to take down the facade and stay out of the construction business.
Willing to be what God wants us to be, regardless of what other people might think.
Ultimately, building facades is pointless because we don’t need to impress those around us, and we can’t impress God because He knows the real us and loves us anyway.