This is the question that so many of us ask when we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory … when the known begins to give way to the unknown.

A few Sundays ago, Russ stood before the body at Image Church for the first time as Communities Pastor.  I, of course, stood by his side…literally and figuratively.  Lead Pastor Chris Rhodenhizer spoke of our decision …more accurately, our response to God’s calling… to go into ministry by becoming full-time staff as having been made with much prayer and fasting.  While this is certainly true, I’d like to elaborate on the story that goes beyond going without to stretch back almost two decades.

I hope you’ll enjoy reading this series of postings as much as I have enjoyed writing it.  I pray these words will encourage and inspire you to listen to God’s voice, to obey His Word and to keep moving forward.

A Glimpse… (2006)

On a beautiful day in early Spring, 2006, Russ & I sat on a bench watching our three children play on the playground.  As we often did in those days, we had walked to Cameron Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia, from our home a few blocks away.  We would talk and dream and laugh and plan during those afternoon outings, our conversation invariably migrating toward the future.  Our future.  This looking forward was as common for us as for any other military family.  A new assignment, a new city, a new home, a new church … every two to three years…that was our “norm”.  As soon as life would settle down into a comfortable routine, as soon as meaningful relationships would begin to bear fruit, as soon as we had found THE best restaurant in town, the movers would pull into the driveway.   However, by 2006, Army life could begin to wind down if we so chose, opening up the real possibility of a new chapter for the Perkins’ family.  This prospect of retirement would bring with it big dreams … dreams of laboring for the Kingdom full-time…dreams of making disciples…dreams of reaching the world … from a tiny corner of Northern Virginia.   As we verbally expressed our deepest desires and our greatest aspirations that afternoon, we could imagine a life that now is.  As those who know us…and the long conversation that is our life together…can appreciate, this was not the first time Russ and I had discussed such things.

David, recognizing that, while he lived in a fine palace made of cedar wood, the Ark of God (which represented God’s presence) was residing in a tent.  In David’s mind, this simply would not do!  So David declared his desire to build a temple for God to Nathan, the Prophet.  I don’t imagine David – even in his wildest dreams – could have been prepared for God’s response.

“Go tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: “I chose you to lead my people Israel when you were just a shepherd boy, tending your sheep out in the pasture.  I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies.  Now I will make your name famous throughout the earth!  And I have provided a permanent homeland for my people Israel, where they will never be disturbed.  It will be their own land where wicked nations won’t oppress them as they did in the past, from the time I appointed judges to rule my people.  And I will keep you safe from all your enemies.

 And now the LORD declares that he will build a house for YOU — a dynasty of kings! For when you die, I will raise up one of your descendants, and I will make his kingdom strong.  He is the one who will build a house – a temple- for my name.  And I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. …  Your dynasty and your kingdom will continue for all time before me, and your throne will be secure forever.”  2 Samuel 7:5-16  NLT

I can only scratch the surface in this note, but suffice it to say:  God spoke to me this morning through this passage!

My desire to “build” the kingdom pales in comparison to God’s plan to accomplish that..and so much more! My desire to bring people in, to help them grow in faith, to train them to invest in others to the same ends is far surpassed by God’s.  (God is the One who can actually accomplish that work … in me as well as in others.)  While I desire to serve Him, He has already performed the ultimate act of service – even death on the cross.  While I desire to pray for others out of love for God, Jesus continually prays to the Father for me!  While I desire to give from my limited resources of time, money and talent, Christ gave His very life …and continues to give Himself to me! I simply cannot “out-give, out-plan, out-do” God!  God simply takes any desire I have that is of any value … and uses it to reveal that His love towards me and His plans for me (and you!) are infinitely superior.

In the quiet hours of the early morning, I’ve found myself with David lately, my time in 1 & 2 Samuel, Chronicles and Psalms giving me a front row seat to the unfolding drama that is the life of the Warrior-Poet-King. Today my reading took me to Psalm 4, and  I prayed that THE Good Shepherd would speak into my own life through these few verses written so long ago.  And He answered my plea via verse 5.  “Offer proper sacrifices and trust in the Lord.”

Proper: marked by suitability, rightness, appropriateness; fit.  Sacrifice: the act of offering to a deity something precious.  As I continue to mull over these eight words, the Spirit illuminates their Truth.  My question:  what is a proper sacrifice…for me at this point in my life?

As a child, a proper sacrifice could have been simply sharing the last popsicle with a friend on a hot summer day instead of keeping it for myself.  Tithing a portion of a teenage girl’s babysitting money would definitely qualify, considering I knew that would mean even more frugal shopping on my next trip to the mall. (This particular sacrifice would prove a valuable learning tool for later, when full-time work meant making some “real” money.)  In early adulthood,  a proper sacrifice meant getting up to go to early worship…and then working in the nursery during second service.  Later as a young woman with a good profession, I felt it proper to buy new toys for that same nursery…rather than yet another new outfit … with my monthly bonus check.  By my late 20′s, I must admit that a very proper sacrifice was to end my relationship with Mr. “I’ll Go To Church With You” … and to wait patiently for Mr. “Spiritual Leader”.  (That really panned out … and didn’t take as long as I thought!)  During my time as a young wife, I began to sacrifice more strategically … at first by making meals for church families in need, then by leading ladies’  small group studies, later writing short studies and leading ministries … all geared toward helping ladies grow spiritually…and all taking time away from my own family.  Each of these sacrifices served to help me grow in my trust of the Lord by creating the opportunity for me to see His faithfulness.  This sacrificing, this offering up of something precious, is not only a measure of how much we trust the Lord, I believe it is also means by which to actually learn how to trust.  I’ve found that along with the sacrifices, comes God’s unlimited graciousness.  I can truly never out-give the God Who makes whatever small thing I’ve given up pale in comparison to the rich reward He grants for my obedience.   Consider the great reward of Jesus’ death on the cross…although His proper sacrifice was no means a small thing…reconciliation between hopelessly lost, sinful man and a holy God!

However, if we never give anything sacrificially… no money, no time, no talent…what are we even trusting God with?  Nothing.  Instead, we are holding onto those things and trusting them! This is not something we can afford to do if we say we know Jesus!

At this point in my walk with Jesus, giving of myself…my time (which is limited), my knowledge and any wisdom I may have (even more limited!), my understanding of Scriptural principles (again, with the limitation caveat) by investing those things into other women rather than hoarding them or spending them on myself or my family alone…seems to be the “proper sacrifice”.  Taking the time to help someone learn the value of spending time in God’s Word…even how to do just that.. when I had planned to run errands that day…seems a “proper sacrifice”.  Supporting my husband as he takes on new responsibility at God’s direction, knowing that means change for our entire family…seems a “proper sacrifice”.  Then I must trust God to make these efforts fruitful.  Self-reliance is not what God intends for us, but rather complete and utter trust in Him.   He longs for us to give proper sacrifices…whatever is appropriate for and truly precious to us…because He longs to show Himself as worthy… and trustworthy.

John 17.3 NLT

 I submit that there are only two kinds of people in the world… those who need to know God and those who need to know Him better.  The good news is that God – the Creator who spoke the heavens into existence, the One who breathed life into being, the Sustainer who holds everything together — makes Himself known to man! The bad news is I don’t always take Him up on His offer.

In the sixth chapter of John’s gospel, Jesus describes Himself as the “Bread of Life”.   His audience was familiar with the provision of manna for their ancestors while they were in the desert, despite their misconception that it had come from Moses.  (Jesus rightly pointed out that, like the Bread of Life, the manna actually had come down to earth from God in heaven.)  As the Bread of Life, Jesus’ offering was eminently more valuable than the temporary sustenance provided in the past or the physical food this crowd came seeking that day.  Jesus offered … Truth Itself… nourishment for the empty soul that would enable the spiritually hungry to knowGod! Sadly for those who would ultimately choose to view Jesus as just the benevolent son of a carpenter, this truth would be too hard to swallow.   The crowd, unwilling to acknowledge their spiritual lack and their very real need for a Savior, would not come to know Jesus as anything but a momentary meal ticket.  They were only interested in the temporal…in filling their bellies.  To address the eternal need — to personally know God– would be too costly.  They simply were not willing to know God as The Bread of Life…so they walked away.  However, others in Scripture were willing.

In order for Abraham to know God as The One Who Provides, he had to give up his most prized possession, raising a knife to the son of promise whom he loved.  Could Ruth have known God as Kinsman-Redeemer apart from being brought to a place of utter destitution and complete dependency? (Ruth 1-4) For David to know God as a “very present help in time of trouble” (Ps 46.1), he actually had to need help in a time of trouble.  For Hagar (Gen. 16) to know “the God Who sees,” she had to come to grips with the fact that no one else did.  How could Jeremiah experience God as “Comforter in sorrow,” unless his own heart had fainted within him? (Jer. 8.18)  If Peter had not left everything…job, home, future… how could he truly call Jesus “Lord” of all?  (Matthew 19.27)  How could John the Baptist recognize Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” apart from seeing himself as unworthy? (John 1) Lazarus had to experience death in order to know Jesus as “the Resurrection.”   (John 11.25) One woman had to bleed for twelve years in order to know Jesus as Healer. (Mark 5) Paul had to consider everything he trusted — his lineage, his academic accomplishments, even his religion – as garbage in order to know Christ alone as Righteous. (Philippians 3.8)  These are only a few examples of the costs involved to personally know the only true God.

So, how about me?  Am I willing know God in the way He wants to reveal Himself to me?  This is a question I’ve been pondering for quite some time.  Am I really willing to know God as Comforter?  Most likely, then, I will have to endure suffering.  Am I willing to know God as a Friend of sinners?  Then I not only have to admit I am one…I may also have to reach out to another.  If I am to know God as Refiner and Purifier, most certainly I will have to rid my life of internal and external impurities…displeasing attitudes, words and actions.  Knowing God as Lord will, by definition, require submission of every area of my life to His control.  Coming to know God in the new and fresh ways He desires to reveal Himself will cost me…that is certain.  But the value of knowing Him will far exceed that cost.  After all, as He was with Abraham back in the beginning, I believe God Himself will also be my Very Great Reward. (Gen.15)

“When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?”  The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.” Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.”  Mark 8.22-25 NLT

 These words from the gospel of Mark puzzle me. Although I have more than a few questions regarding this particular bit of Scripture, my main query is this: Why doesn’t Jesus completely heal this man the first time?  Surely, Jesus is powerful enough to do so.  In Mark 1, Jesus takes Peter’s sick mother-in-law by the hand, and she is healed from a dreadful fever.  Jesus simply speaks a word to the man with a shriveled hand in Luke 6, and the man’s hand is fully restored.  A woman is healed by touching the fringe of Jesus’ robe as he walks down the road in Luke 8.  Jesus goes so far as to raise a dead Lazarus back to life … by commanding him in a loud voice to come out of the grave!  Furthermore, in a most astounding display of Jesus’ healing power…he heals the Centurion’s servant in Matthew 8 without touch, without words, without being anywhere near the servant.  Jesus simply marvels at the Centurion’s faith and pronounces that the servant has been healed. Why then, with limitless power at his disposal, does Jesus make two attempts to fully restore the sight of the blind man in Mark 8?

As I mull over this passage yet again this morning and consider my own experience with Jesus over the past two decades, I think I am finally getting some clarity.  Jesus brought numerous people from death to life (in a physical sense) in an instant. However, as I reflect on the life of the disciples, (those in Biblical times as well as those in my day), I see a progression.   Much like the eyesight the blind man is being given in Mark 8, truth is being illuminated for those of us who follow Jesus. A progression. At first, the man’s eyes could only see shapes…perhaps colors.  Although he was looking straight at people, he could not see them.  At first, his vision was blurry.  Isn’t it the same for us who know and follow Jesus?  Salvation is instantaneous.  In a moment, we are brought from death to life…just like Lazarus.  However, spiritual growth is anything but immediate.  It is a process. And no one, even the greatest Biblical scholar or theologian sees everything perfectly…nor will he in this life. No one will have perfect doctrine; no one will gain every insight into Biblical principles.  Truth, however, is illuminated bit by bit as we spend time in the Scripture and in prayer.  So, we press on. We can and must learn more, obey more, study more, love more … and we should not be discouraged when we don’t get it all the first time.  I believe Jesus is faithful to work with us until all becomes clear.

       ”Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5.1-2

Yesterday, I read the Facebook post of a sweet young mother, describing her latest experience at the playground.   My heart went out to Jenna, who had taken her little girl out to play and have fun with the other kids, only to see her being rejected by one potential playmate after another.  Like her mother, Elyssa is beautiful, kindhearted and outgoing… which, of course, makes the story all the more painful.  Elyssa first approached a little boy, who was not interested in playing together and very vocal about it.  Later entreating an older girl, this little darling simply wanted to go down the slide.  But she didn’t want to do it alone.  After a while, Jenna decided she just had to do something.  So, she marched right over, put her daughter on her own lap, and down the slide they went!   I’d be willing to bet Elyssa was smiling the whole way!  I don’t know if Jenna even recognizes how Christlike she was toward her daughter in that moment, but I do.

In the Bible, the gospel of John says Jesus “became flesh and dwelt among us.”  He (Jesus), who was with God and was God, left His lofty position to come down to earth to be Immanuel…God with us.  Jesus came to rescue us.  To redeem us.  To restore us.  He also came to enlighten us, to encourage us, to sustain us.   He knows we need Someone to slide down with us.  And Jesus has commissioned the church, the body of believers, to do the same.  Because we need Him, and we also need each other.  We must come alongside each other and love and accept each other. We must befriend each other … and help each other.   Jenna followed God’s example and acted selflessly, thinking more of her daughter than she did of herself.   She met Elyssa’s need regardless of its cost to her pride (what will the other grown-ups think?) or her clothes (have you actually put your hands on a piece of equipment used solely by sweaty, sticky-fingered kiddos?!) or her comfort (a bench in the shade is much more relaxing than plastic in the sun). I daresay Jenna saw the value of meeting the need as outweighing the cost.  We can follow God’s example by doing the same.  We must be willing to reach out and pay the cost on the playground, and at the workplace, and in the neighborhood … because someone around us wants to go down the slide.

Thanks, Jenna, for letting me share your story.

Myth #1:  ”We are all God’s children.”  Alan Jackson’s song by the same name is pleasant sounding enough.  All humanity meld together …Jew, Mormon, Buddhist, Hindu, and Protestant.  (Not quite sure where the atheist fits into this scenario – a bastard child perhaps?)   This kind of erroneous thinking, however melodic or politically correct, simply does not equal truth.  No matter how profoundly proliferated an idea, we are not ALL God’s children.

To bust this myth, we need only look to Jesus.  Truth is a person by the name of Jesus Christ. The written Word confirms that all of mankind is indeed created in the image of God (Genesis 1.26).  However, this does not mean that we are all children of God. Speaking of Jesus Christ as the true light, the New Testament gospel of John records:

” The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”  John 1.9-13

Plainly spoken, only those who receive (accept) Jesus and His redemptive work of the cross, only those who believe  (trust, place confidence in) the name of Jesus are given the right (prerogative, privilege, birthright, liberty, power, permission) to become the children of God.  Not everyone, not “all” of us … only those.

The good news is that it is not too late to be adopted into God’s family! Romans 10.9-10 says that “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord (receive Jesus) and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the grave (believe in the redemptive work of Jesus), you will be saved.”  Belief and trust in Jesus is the only way to become a child of God. (“Jesus said, “I am THE way, THE Truth and THE life.  No one comes to the Father but by me.” John 14.6)

I hope you’ll stay tuned for the next episode…

 ”As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.”  Mark 1.16-20 

For the past several months I’ve been lamenting the loss of what I had considered  to be a growing friendship.   We had just barely moved into town when I first met her.  She showed up at our front door with frosted brownies to welcome my family to the neighborhood, so I immediately knew I liked her.  Our children were close to the same ages and genuinely seemed to enjoy each other’s company.  We would chat about the usual things… the busyness of life, the cost of school clothes, how we’d much rather visit than go inside to cook dinner.  We spent a good deal of the next summer side by side at the pool, judiciously doling out snacks to our ravenous children.  As we became more comfortable around each other, our conversation deepened.  I dug beneath the surface and shared more and more of myself.  She listened thoughtfully and began to do  the same.  I shared openly with her about my faith, and I drew encouragement from her kind words and willingness to discuss such matters.  At least in part due to our relationship, she became a part of the weekly community group that met at our house.  I was thrilled that she felt comfortable enough to come!  She seemed to enjoy getting to know the others in the group as we shared laughs, snacks, prayers and God’s Word.  By the end of our 9-week semester, our friendship had changed dramatically.  Sadly, not in a good way.  Suddenly, our interaction was reduced to minimal greetings and waves from the car.  We did meet briefly for coffee one afternoon, but it just wasn’t the same as before.   These were my thoughts as I sat down to spend time in the Word this morning.  I asked the Spirit to speak Truth to me, and I believe He’s given me some valuable insight into the situation.

The verses from Mark’s gospel seem to speak to man’s need for true fellowship.  An old Southern Baptist expression simply describes fellowship as  ”two fellows in the same ship.”  Community.   It is evident, in the Triune God,  that community existed before time itself.  Genesis 1.26 records, “Let us make man in our image…”, indicating that mankind was created for community, real and vibrant connection not only with the Creator but also with people.  We long for it, we need it; with it we flourish, without it we wither into a sort of sad, shriveled selfishness.  Jesus could not afford for His new disciples to suffer this fate.  So, He made sure they had …fellowship with Him and with others on the same journey.  Simon Peter and Andrew had each other for comfort, encouragement, accountability.  Peter and Andrew also had James and John…friends who had answered the same call and who were heading the same direction as they were.  Knowing Jesus, this was no coincidence.  Jesus understood full well the key role genuine fellowship would play if these men were to weather the storms that lie ahead … and more importantly, if they were to effectively deliver the gospel message to the masses.  Jesus knew the value of camaraderie between the men He had chosen for this mission…because He also knew that there would be rejection along the way.  Jesus Himself had suffered…and continues to suffer…this same rejection.  Some people are only willing to go so far with Jesus, then the path just becomes too demanding.  The cost seems too great because they have not yet seen the value of a richer relationship with Christ through community.  Others have been willing not only to embrace Jesus and His teachings, but willing to embrace me as well.  I am grateful to have more than a few of those ladies in my life … those who have answered the same call and are heading in the same direction as I am.  These are friends who will pick up the oar right next to mine and get rowing…these are the ladies with whom I can experience true fellowship and lasting friendship.

I’m reading through the Bible chronologically and have finally made it through the wilderness of Leviticus and Deuteronomy to the Promised Land of Joshua.  At long last, the Israelites have come into this land God had sworn to give them.  Right off the bat, God  gives very specific instructions in regards to capturing the city of Jericho.  The Israelites are to completely destroy the city,  only keeping the silver, gold, bronze and iron for the treasury of the Lord.  (I wonder if this is to keep an emphasis on the One who clearly gave them the victory.) The nation of Israel  takes possession of the city, places the precious metals in the treasury, then completely destroys the city.  All is well…or so it would seem.  The next battle would be for the city of Ai.  After the complete and utter  (albeit unconventional)  victory at Jericho, conquering a much smaller Ai should be a piece of cake.  However, Ai’s ragtag army soundly routed Israel’s soldiers, killing 36 and putting fear in the hearts of those who managed to evade the sword.  Houston, we have a problem.

As Joshua sought the Lord for an explanation for the defeat at Ai, the Lord revealed the truth of the situation.  Sin.  Hidden sin, to be exact.  You see, one of the Israelite men named Aichan disobeyed God’s command by taking a few treasures for himself and hiding them in the ground inside his tent.   A beautiful robe, a bar of gold …and a number of silver shekels. (Interestingly, pieces of silver are often linked with trouble in Scripture.)  No one else knew Aichan’s little secret.   That’s the way it is with sin.  It lies to us, deceiving us into thinking no one else will find out about it… that no one else will be affected by it… that there will be no real consequences for it.   However, this wasn’t true  for Aichan …and it isn’t for anyone who truly follows Christ.  As is the the case with my backed-up drain and Aichan’s buried treasure,  the truth eventually comes to light.  We must deal with our sin … or, as we see in Joshua 7, God Himself will.   It would appear that Aichan had opportunity to repent, to confess his wrongful actions; however, he did not.  In the end, his disobedient and unrepentant heart cost him and his entire family their lives.   That is an example I do not want to follow!  Instead, I will live out the truth of 1 John 1.9, “If we confess our sin”, (even our hidden sin that we think no one else knows about…even our hidden sin that we think affects no one else) “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  That is a promise.  Not so unlike a bottle of industrial strength Drano melting away whatever nastiness clogs my bathroom pipes, the blood of Jesus Christ washes over me, completely ridding me of whatever filthy, obstructive, even hidden sin that keeps me from a right standing with Him.  Bottom line:  if I want water from the faucet to flow freely through my bathroom pipes … and if I want the Living Water to flow freely through me … whatever is hidden must be acknowledged and then  cleaned out.

Cheat, also referred to as cheatgrass, is one of a wheat farmer’s worst enemies.  Cheatgrass is said to have gotten its name because pioneer farmers felt cheated when the grass invaded their fields and reduced wheat yields.  As the wheat and cheat grow side by side in the field, it would appear that the farmer is to have a bumper crop.  Outwardly, the cheat seems every bit as fruitful as the actual wheat.  However, at the harvest time, it becomes apparent to all that the cheat has been aptly named.   Although appealing to the eye, it has produced nothing of value.  The farmer has been deceived, in the end realizing only half the crop he had expected.

 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.  But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.  When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.  

 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?” 

 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’  “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”  Matthew 13.24-30 NLT

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

  He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.  The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.  The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.  They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.  Matthew 13.36-43 NLT

Jesus’ explanation would seem to indicate that there are faux Christians in and around us,  just as certainly as there is faux wheat in the fields of those Kansas farmers. Outwardly, these people appear to be followers of Christ.  They obey the rules, they attend services, they appear very knowledgeable.  However, the inside – the heart-  is empty, dead, fruitless.  In the end, cheat is revealed because of its lack of fruit (kernels). Fruitlessness is its defining characteristic.  It is time, once again, to examine myself…to make certain that my salvation is yielding fruit~ both internally  (Galatians 5.22-23) and externally (John 15.1-17).  God will not be cheated.