August is Fair time in the Valley. When those festivities gear up, they hold much excitement, entertainment, entrees, and exhaustion. While children gravitate toward the rides, most adults enjoy the livestock, poultry, and exhibit buildings. Many of us just like catching up with friends we haven’t seen since last year’s fair.
Although I’ve not been at the fairgrounds in the early morning for quite some time, I can still remember what the poultry building sounded like with all those roosters. Many of them have come from their own kingdoms where they rule the roost. They are suddenly thrust together with many others all of which are not used to sharing the duty of morning reveille.
At some point in the wee hours before daylight, one of them awakens and starts the day. And they’re off. One after the other and sometimes all together they each give their best wakeup call. Some are deep and rich while others are high and raspy. The horses on the track compete no more fiercely than the roosters in the poultry barn.
Sadly, no one has explained to these haughty fellas that they aren’t judged on sound. Neither their volume, duration, nor harmony will be evaluated by those who award blue ribbons. They don’t even have to know the proper tune or cadence. For them, it’s all about appearance. Their weight, shape, comb, and color of legs, skin, plumage, and earlobes all influence the judges’ decisions. Some old boy could even be mute and still strut away as grand champion.
Musing about such cockamamie antics brought to mind our own misplaced efforts. Too often, we try to please others with educated vocabulary and depth of insight. We banter about loudly attempting to demonstrate our own superior knowledge and wisdom. Like a bunch of banty show roosters at sunrise, we raise the roof with our noisy nonsense.
We can sometimes be guilty of such showmanship in our Christianity as well. We strut around with our cross necklaces and Christian t-shirts attempting to out-witness everyone else. While we should never be ashamed of Jesus and while it’s great to proclaim our faith through what we wear and say, we need to back it up with who we are.
In His day, Jesus spoke against those who made lengthy prayers for show. In Matthew 6:7, He said, “When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” He went on to share the model in what we know as the Lord’s Prayer which consists of just 66 words in the King James Version. We don’t have to crow louder or longer for our Judge to hear us. In fact, the Psalms tell us to be still and know that He is God.
But Jesus also warned those who strut about in flowing robes to be seen and revered because of their religious office or position. Throughout His ministry, He constantly emphasized humility and simplicity and a type of faith that is not only seen and heard but also demonstrated through acts of love and service to the least and lost. So, unlike our feathered friends at the fair, we aren’t judged on appearance either.
Thankfully, when our Judge evaluates us, if we’ve accepted Jesus as our Savior, He won’t examine our plumage, listen to our crowing, or consider our skin color. Instead, He’ll see the perfection of Jesus who gave us all of His desirable characteristics, aka His righteousness. But we do need Jesus. For without Him, none will be adjudged worthy and all will be condemned. With Him, we receive the golden premium of eternal life.
As we walk through the poultry aisles at the county fairs this month, remember it’s not our crowing or our plumage, but the presence of Jesus within us that matters before our Judge. And let’s crow for His glory. Blessings, George
