Judgments Based on Appearances

Have you ever looked at someone or something and made judgments based on appearance? It’s easy to do based on what we think something or someone should look like. Society, our friends, and our experiences may shape those judgments.

You know, when I was a kid, I made judgments about bikers. I thought bikers were rough people; maybe even bad people. Most of society probably had an opinion that bikers weren’t the best people to hang out with. I mean, think about it. They usually had long hair, long beards, tattoos, wore leather jackets, and often smelled like smoke. And they all rode loud motorcycles that typically sounded pretty scary.

Later in life, after I graduated from high school and went into the service, I purchased my first motorcycle overseas. I had the opportunity to hang out with some bikers and you know what I discovered? Surprisingly they were a lot like me in many ways. They had hopes and dreams, just like I had; they had families and bills and carried worries just like I did. I discovered my judgments based on appearances were wrong.

What The Bible Says About Judgments Based On Appearances

This reminds me of a story in the Bible when the Lord sent Samuel to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be King. Samuel was instructed to sacrifice a heifer and invite Jesse and his sons. When they arrived, Samuel saw Jesse’s firstborn son, Eliab, and thought “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” Why did Samuel think this? Probably because Eliab looked very “kingly”. We know he was tall and had fair features according to the Bible. He probably looked like a leader, like he wouldn’t have any problem convincing people to follow him.

But the Lord said to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7,

“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Isn’t it wonderful that the Lord doesn’t judge us by our outward appearance, but by the condition of our heart?

What Does The Condition Of Your Heart Look Like Today?

I’m just a man myself and there is no way for me to know the condition of your heart. I can’t tell if you have a relationship with the Lord or you don’t. Only you and the Lord know that…

But what I do know, is that God’s word tells us, no matter your appearance, no matter what baggage you carry from your past, no matter how much wrong you’ve done in your past, you can be saved and have the assurance of knowing that when you die, you will live for eternity with God. His word says it like this…