Lisa was an attractive 22 year old college student who was preoccupied with the “defects” in her face and hair, constantly comparing them with others and magazine models. She avoided many social situations and spent a lot of money on makeup and styling remedies. Her grades dropped, she withdrew from others, and even considered suicide because she thought she was so ugly.

These are days of self-deception and lies. These are times marked with focus on ‘self’. Many are deceived and many good people have bought into myths sold to them about what’s really important in life. The average American spends more than 5 hours a day watching television. By age 65, you will have spent over 20 years of your every hour awake watching television! That’s over 3.5 million commercials filled with sticky sweet idolatry marked with slogans such as “A diamond is forever”, “Because you’re worth it” and “Have it your way.” All telling you how to be “fulfilled” and “in”. It is no wonder so many have bought into the lie.

Have you bought in to today’s “self-worth” mentality? A good way to tell is to examine the fruit in your life. Good fruit comes by love for God and love for others. Bad fruit is the product of concentrating on “self”. Be discerning about the fruit in your life. There is great potential for every person to bear awesome fruit. What are your priorities? Whom do they point to? Do they point to you, or do they point to Jesus?

Life Lesson: You cannot fake fruit.

When Lisa finally realized that she really didn’t have all of those perceived “defects”, she became socially active, performed better in school, related better to others and realized she had been deceived. A hard lesson learned.

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David McGee is the founder of Cross The Bridge Ministries as well as a pastor, teacher and author.  He may be contacted using the form here.