May 9, 2006
By Gary Rogers
It was a sunny summer day, and I was cutting through downtown Tulsa, Okla., in my 1968 Camaro Z28 to make the connection from Interstate 44 to Route 51. This was back in 1973. I was 18 years old. There was no interchange from what is now the Keystone Expressway to the Broken Arrow Expressway. I was traveling down a one-way street and just romped on it. With more than 300 horsepower, that car fishtailed and laid rubber for about half a block. Man it was fun!
My fun came to an abrupt end when I looked in my rearview mirror and saw the flashing lights on top of a police car in hot pursuit. When the middle-aged police officer walked up to my car he said, ÒYou got a good looking Corvette, boy.Ó I didnÕt feel correcting him would win any points so I just said, ÒThank you.Ó
After looking at my license, he made eye contact with me and made a statement that came totally unexpected. ÒSince youÕve got short hair, IÕm not going to give you a ticket. Slow down and have a good day.Ó
It is amazing to consider the criteria we use to pass rash judgments on people. We look at skin color, clothes, age, physical abilities, good or bad features, physical build, and about every other surface trait to determine a personÕs worth. How foolish this is! IÕm thankful that at 18 my short hair got me points É but it shouldnÕt have.
ÒBut the Lord said to Samuel, ÔDo not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heartÕ Ó (1 Samuel 16:7, NKJV).
God knows us from the inside out. What a blessing to realize we donÕt have to look like models or body builders to be found acceptable to the Lord.
Following GodÕs example would be good for all of us. We need to stop evaluating people based on outward appearance. We need to wait until we get a good understanding of their heart, and from that truth measure the person.
Gary Rogers is senior pastor of First Assembly of God in Coweta, Okla.