"You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people, all of the time."

We have all heard that quote, but here is another: "You can never fool God or yourself." Those two always know the "real" truth. So, let's ask the tough question, "Are you for real?" Or you do look like you have it all together on the outside, but on the inside you're not who others really think you are? May I remind you, God sees and knows all things. His name "El Shaddi" means "One who sees." And what he sees is your heart. Living a double life is not really fooling anyone. Not all the people all the time, and never God or yourself at anytime.

Let's get real: Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. (Matthew 23:27-28) Getting real with God is the first step to being real before men. And both are a great way to start the New Year!

Dr. William Burnham is a pastor at Point of Grace Church in Covington. He can be reached at burnhamw@charter.net.