With a flurry of the hands and a little misdirection, many magicians, can do some things that we think are impossible. After all, they showed us the hat before they pulled a rabbit out of it. It was most definitely empty 10 seconds ago… wasn’t it? My son and I just watched the movie “Now You See Me” a few weeks ago and the premise of the movie is fascinating. It is about a group of 4 street magicians that are stealing from rich companies and distributing it to the people that they have wronged. In fact, one character has the line, “The closer you look, the less you see.” I was struck by how true that is. So many times we as Christians are trying to use smoke and mirrors to hide what is really happening. Both in our own personal lives, and in the lives of our families. We try to hide what we are doing so that no one can see how we really are behind closed doors. Lets look at an example of someone who looked the part, but when it came down to it, he was not what he seemed. Saul was supposed to be the king to end all kings in the eyes of the Israelites. 1 Samuel 9:2, “And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.” He seemed to be playing the part perfectly. He looked the part and he sure carried himself in a way that was unmistakably kingly. However behind closed doors we see a man who starts to unravel. He is paranoid, he is angry and prone to outburst, and he is impulsive. You can look the part, but it doesn’t mean you ARE the part.
In fact, later on in 1 Samuel when Samuel is going to anoint the next king of Israel, God tells him, “”But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart'” (1 Samuel 16:7). That is how it is in our lives as well. We can look the part of a great Christian out in public but what is happening behind closed doors? Do our words match our actions? Husbands, do we tell people out in public that we love our wives, but in secret we are speaking down to them? Are you viewing stuff online that says the opposite? After all, over half of the professing Christians, admit to viewing it. Does this sound like love? Do we say we adore our kids, but at home, we can’t be bothered to spend time with them. Once the football game comes on, or the computer gets started up, do they even exist anymore? 
I am not saying, a hobby is a bad thing, but what I am saying is that you cannot abandon your family for these. Colossians 3:19 instructs us, “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” That means we need to love them, and we should be kind and compassionate with them. That means sometimes folding the laundry or putting dishes away, but our words should match our actions. If you say, “They are my world,” then make them your world.
In the same way, wives, do your words match what you do behind the closed doors of your home? Outside of the home do you play the role of the wife that loves your husband and you are supportive, but when no one is watching, do you cut them down? Are you the perfect mom outside in full view of the public but what your family sees is totally different? Now PLEASE understand, I am not attacking you and I am not addressing the occasional bad day, when you lose your mind. Men and women, I am talking about living
a completely different life. I would like to think you understand what I am saying in regards to separate lives. Each person has their bad days and are just at the end of their rope. We should be the same person throughout our lives. We are the example for Christ and so we should be displaying that to everyone around us. We as Christians believe that God is omnipresent and so we should be asking ourselves the question, if God were here with us, would we still say that? The good news is this. Christ makes a way. Change all by ourselves is impossible. We cannot make the changes to our lives all by ourselves. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come.” This is the power of Christ. He is looking to make you new and all it takes is to submit your life to Christ and an intentional living of your life for Christ. Do not hide behind the smoke and mirrors of life. Instead, break free of the manipulation and the misdirection. Be transformed.