Not being the Great Pretender 

John Mainwaring 27.04.21 based on an article by David Mcgowin

Many of us are familiar with the 1956 song by the Platters ‘The Great Pretender’ with the lyrics, “Oh yes, I’m the great pretender, pretending that I’m doing well; My need is such, I pretend too much; I’m lonely but no one can tell.” This song may bring back fond memories for some, but as we read of the story of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas in Matthew 26, we discover that the greatest betrayal in history had its root in a great pretence.

In a sense, Judas was The Great Pretender, pretending to be someone that he wasn’t, but someone he probably really wanted to be. How often do those words seem to describe our very own lives? Pretending to be someone we’re not, but someone we would really like to be?

A 34 year old man was arrested for pretending to be a policeman. One evening, he pulled over a car by using his emergency lights only to find out that the driver of the car really was a policeman!

No wonder Jesus loved children so much. Children never hide behind a veil, they reveal who they are and don’t care what you may know about them. Whether it’s an ice cream cone or spinach, or whether it’s time to play or time to take a nap, children’s faces reveal what’s in their hearts. 

Without an anchor for the soul that is found in Jesus, our lives can become a sham of their true selves as God intended. When we open up to God with a childlike honesty we discover that we no longer need to put on a show. He knows us and takes us as we are, and the amazing thing is that He still loves us. It is at that moment we truly stop pretending.