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By David Wright On Mother's Day three or four years ago Carolyn received a book she wanted, The Busy Mom's Cookbook. At the bottom of each page was an interesting tidbit. One short piece told the story of James Barry. He had a distinguished 40-year career in the British military, holding an office equivalent to major general. He fought in a duel. He obtained a medical diploma and achieved almost celebrity status due to his extraordinary surgical skill. But when James Barry died, it was discovered that he was a she. James Barry was the first woman doctor in England. Plainly, James Barry chose to disguise her true identity in order to have career opportunities which, at the time, were unavailable to women. We may admire her nerve and fine accomplishments, and even sympathize with her desires and frustrations, yet we must acknowledge that she lived a lie. She pretended to be somebody she was not. Unfortunately, James Barry has “friends” in every congregation of the church, people who pretend to be what they are not. And just as death exposed Barry's clever deception, so judgment will put the spotlight on the secret life of the insincere Christian. The apostle Paul says that “on that day […] God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus” (Rom. 2:16). He also writes that “the sins of some men are conspicuous, pointing to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good deeds are conspicuous; and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden” (1 Tim. 5:24-25). According to the author of Hebrews, “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (4:13). |