Hollow On The Inside

There is this unforgettable drive above the Hudson River. In fact the highway just kind of hangs out on Storm King Mountain. This is a few miles north of New YorkCity and as you look down on the Hudson you get this incredible view. Now every time I've been able to catch a glance down there at this view of the Hudson, Ihave been fascinated with this castle that sits right in the middle of the river on an island. It's a very strong fortress or at least it looks like one. It's kind of like a RobinHood type of castle. Well, not too long ago Karen and I got to take a cruise along the Hudson River and I could take an extended look at that castle. We went rightpast it, and our tour guide said, "That's Bannerman Castle". Mr. Bannerman, apparently, was an arms dealer for many, many years, and over many decades there area lot of very interesting stories about people coming and going for weapons all through wars and all kinds of things. Then in the 1960's there was a large explosionthere on the island. What about the castle? Well, I was surprised to learn the truth about the castle.

Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Matthew Chapter 23, beginning at verse 25. Now I must tell you that Bannerman Castle according to thetour guide, though it's very impressive on the outside, it's hollow now on the inside. Well listen to what Jesus says about human Bannerman Castles. "Woe to you,teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish but inside they are full of greed and self indulgence.Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, youhypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everythingunclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

Look at this. Jesus says there are people that look great on the outside, religious on the outside, but they have problems on the inside. This could be you. I mean itcould be true of a marriage, it could be true of a church, an organization, a leader, you or me. You know we live in a world where image and appearance areeverything. You know we work on our fitness, and our hair, and our wardrobe, making good comments, making good impressions, looking like we have it alltogether, but there might be another you. When you're alone, when you're thinking honestly, you can feel that emptiness inside that hollowness. You can't explain it -you can't deny it. And beneath the image you know the darkness, you know the sin. You know the struggle that's in there. Like one young woman said, "There's adarkness inside me that scares me." And eventually it will collapse.

Mickey Mantle said not long before his death, "I filled my emptiness with alcohol". Now listen to what Jesus said in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world.Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness". Jesus is saying invite me into that inner darkness, into that emptiness. I can fill it. He said later in this Chapter inMatthew 23, "How often I had longed to gather your children together, but you were not willing".

Jesus says he has been knocking on the door of your life. Why don't you give the emptiness and the darkness to the one who knows all about you. Who sees pastthe image. Who can forgive that sin. Who can clean that darkness. Who can let you free from it. Let it bring you not to depression, but to the cross of Jesus where hedied knowing the sin inside of you and wanting to set you free. You need to clean it up, not cover it up. Say, Lord I need a Savior, no more trusting in me. It's all inyour hands now. Jesus builds people from the inside out. So open the door of that empty castle and let Jesus in. He will make you strong inside and you can finallybe done with that hollow spot in your heart.

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Today's Daily Wisdom is written by Ron Hutchcraft, based on his popular radio broadcast,"A Word With You"."A WORD WITH YOU" daily devotionals are now available via e-mail. To subscribe send a blank email to:awordwithyou-subscribe@hutchcraft.com,or to request the "Yours for Life" booklet, fill out the form on this site:http://www.gospelcom.net/rhm/yours/yflorder.html. Ron Hutchcraft Ministries has been on-line with Gospelcom since February, 1996, providingpractical answers to real life issues. (c) 2000 Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc.PO Box 400, Harrison AR 72602