FROM THE PULPIT: SEARCH, FOR THE REAL THING IS GOD

Once upon a time, there was an impressionist who traveled around entertaining audiences far and wide. He was good and always received plenty of applause, but his most popular imitation was when he squealed like a pig.

Once, there happened to be in his audience, a farmer. During the part of the show where the impressionist did his pig imitation, the farmer interrupted the show, stood up, and proclaimed, "that is a terrible imitation of a pig. It doesn't sound like one at all!" The farmer was met with catcalls and jeers, and demands to do better if he thought he could. "Come back tomorrow night and I will show you what a pig sounds like," challenged the farmer.

Sure enough there was a packed house the next evening as the farmer appeared as promised. Jeer and catcalls continued, but subsided as the farmer prepared to deliver on his promise. He bent over as he held his coat tightly around him, and as he did so, the most hideous noises came from the stage. The audience roared in derision. "What kind of racket do you think that is? Who do you think you are? Give us the impressionist!" Unfazed, the farmer replied, "You may call me all sorts of names, and be amazed by this showman, but let me show you what was making this noise' you despise." With that the farmer pulled a real, live pig from inside his coat, which he had goaded and pinched into producing authentic pig squeals for his disbelieving audience. "Next time before you criticize someone, make sure you know what you're talking about!"

The world may promise us peace, prosperity, success, good times, all sorts of things. But are these promises the real thing? Is popularity really found in the right brand of cologne, car you drive, beverage you drink? Is happiness really to be had in things that we buy (usually to consume and throw away within a couple of weeks)? Is peace of mind really found in insurance, investment programs and credit cards?

Of course, almost everything that can be advertised or purchased may have its proper place in our lives, and may even enrich our lives in some ways. But their usefulness is limited, and eternal values are not to be found in any of them.

The real, genuine thing is God's Word. Jesus is the Living Word. The Bible is the written Word. God promises us true and lasting (eternal!) peace and joy, among other things. We can be thankful in every circumstance, patient and loving. All these things are available to us, but only if we look in the right place. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you," Jesus said. (Matthew 7:7) "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon thee." (Isaiah 26:3) "The fruit of the Spirit (of God) is love, joy, peace..." (Galatians 5:22-23)

Why do we waste time and effort seeking fulfillment anywhere but in God? Come to him, He is the Real thing, and He does reward all who come to Him. (Hebrews 11:6, Isaiah 55, Matthew 11:28-30)