Camouflage

I came across a word today that got me to thinking: "Camouflage". Interesting word. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear this word? For me our troops camouflaged in their desert gear comes to mind. Maybe you think about a hunter in his camouflage. Or if you are a Discovery Channel junkie, maybe you think of all those wildlife shows and how the snakes and other critters camouflage themselves in their natural setting.
Webster says camouflage means 1) the disguising of troops, ships, guns, etc. to conceal them from the enemy, as by the use of paint, nets, or leaves in patterns merging with the background. 2) a disguise or concealment of this kind. 3) any device or action used to conceal or mislead; deception. [Websters New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, Macmillan, NY, 1994, p.201]
"Camouflage" comes from the French word "camoufler" meaning to disguise and possibly influenced by "camouflet" meaning puff of smoke. (we say someone is 'blowing smoke'.)
Two things grab me: 1) the third definition-any device or ACTION used to CONCEAL or MISLEAD. 2) Puff of smoke. Some so called professing Christians are, what I call, "Camouflage Christians". Their actions conceal their true idenity and really they're just a puff of smoke. They come to church, sing the songs, speak the language, but they do not have a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" And I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matt.7:21-23 NKJV). The NLT translation says, "Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to Me as Lord, but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey My Father in heaven."
People may camouflage themselves from other people, but Jesus knows the heart. And the one key revealing thing is "Obedience." Do they obey God and His Word? Are they blowing smoke? Only way to know is are they obeying God's Word? What about you? The Bible says, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified. [unless indeed you do not stand the test."] II Cor.13:5. (For more on salvation see our Web site www.sandhillbaptist.com and go to our links page and click on the NEED HIM link.)
Camouflage. Interesting word. Just rambling about it on a beautiful September Saturday. Tell me what you think. God bless,
Bro. Royce