Dean Butler

People are very good at judging what they can see. We notice how someone dresses, how they speak, what they drive, where they live, how successful they appear to be, and even how often they show up at church. From those outward things, we begin forming opinions about who they are. God does not look at us that way.

When Samuel was sent to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the future king of Israel, he was impressed by Eliab’s appearance. But God told him, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

That should make every one of us think. We spend a great deal of time taking care of what other people see, but God sees what no one else sees. He knows our motives, our thoughts, our private attitudes, and the things we would never say out loud. He knows whether our kindness is sincere or whether we are simply trying to look good in front of others.

Religion can make outward appearances especially deceptive. A person can attend church, carry a Bible, know the right words, pray in public, and still have a heart far from God. Jesus spoke of people who honored God with their lips while their hearts were far away from him. The outside looked religious, but God saw what was underneath.

That does not mean outward behavior is unimportant. What is in the heart eventually shows itself in the way we live. Jesus said, “For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:34). Our words, choices, attitudes, and actions reveal more about us than we sometimes realize.

The uncomfortable truth is that we can fool people. We may even become pretty good at fooling ourselves. We can compare ourselves with someone who seems worse and decide we are doing fine. But God does not compare us with our neighbor. He sees us as we really are.

David understood this when he prayed, “Search me, God, and know my heart; put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23–24). That is a dangerous prayer if we are only interested in appearing righteous. It is a necessary prayer if we truly want God to change us.

The question is not simply, “What do people think when they look at me?” A better question is, “What does God see when he looks at me?” Does he see someone trying to impress others, or someone sincerely seeking him? Does he see bitterness hidden behind a smile, pride hidden behind religion, or obedience that no one else notices?

God sees the whole person. He sees the failures we regret, but he also sees genuine repentance. He sees weakness, but he also sees faith. He sees what needs to change, and he is not fooled by appearances.

We spend a lifetime looking in mirrors to see what other people will see, but there is a far more important examination. Instead of asking only how we appear to others, perhaps we should ask God to show us what he sees in our hearts. What He sees matters far more than what anyone else thinks.

(Dean Butler is a faith-based writer and Bible teacher based in Newcastle.)