It’s Time to Tear Away the Veneer

It’s time to tear away the veneer.

In today’s world, we are often deceived by the veneer. From the outside, it looks like the genuine article. It looks solid and beautiful. But the reality is that the outward appearance is only a thin layer. Underneath lay a more common substance of less value.

Isaiah 58….We have been given words of counsel to examine this chapter in depth. I have taken those words to heart. I have studied this chapter in great detail, praying for God’s insight and understanding; praying to be able to apply the needed lessons to my own life.

It’s a beautiful chapter in some ways, but very hard to stand in other ways.

The chapter begins with a cry of warning.

‘Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins.’

It’s time to tear away the veneer.

‘Spare not’ means not to withhold anything. Give the word of warning to show my people their sins.

‘My people’ is a general term referring to the worldwide church of believers.

‘House of Jacob’ refers to God’s Remnant people who are still not awake and have their lamps filled with sufficient oil.

“Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God, they ask of me the ordinances of justice, they take delight in approaching to God.”

These people God is sending a warning to have the right veneer (outward layer). They have their daily devotional times. They lead out in church services. They are considered one of the ‘leaders’ of the church. They say all the right things.

Yet, there is a hidden part. They have ‘leaven’ in their hearts that ‘the church’ is unaware of.

These are the ‘besetting sins.’

This is what keeps the veneer from being real.

It’s time to tear away the veneer.

Although from the outside they appear to seek God’s will, to follow His law, inwardly, their hearts do not display the proper motivation. It’s those besetting sins. Those cherished secret activities may not be ‘completely’ wrong, but God does not want His remnant children to be performing them.

We must remember not to compare ourselves to others who may call themselves Christians, but to seek God’s word as our standard alone.

We can even try to justify it as we are only seeing the outward appearance of the world around us. We are not able to see into the heart. We cannot discern the hidden evil thoughts, the resentments, the grudges held, the sense of discontentment.

It’s easy to cover it up with the veneer. To say the right things. To do the right things outwardly. But God sees the heart. He sees those things done when one is alone at home. He knows the sense of impatience that grabs you when you have that smile plastered on your face.

“Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and You see not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and You take no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exact all your labors.”

The question is, ‘Doesn’t God see all we are doing for Him? Why is He not answering our prayers? Why is He not doing more for His people? Aren’t we doing the right things?’

See, My erring child, you have already received your reward. I’m looking at your heart. It’s time to tear away the veneer. Get rid of the self-proclaimed righteousness. Your piousness is only as real as the outward veneer.

It’s time to tear away the veneer.

“Behold, you fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: you shall not fast as you do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.”

You think because you do all that you do, that you hold those Bible studies, participate in community services, and lead out each week in the church that you will be heard. Remember, I see the motivation of the heart. I see the color of your anger and resentment. I see your jealousy and envy.

All of these outward fasting I’m not interested in. The things you appear to withhold yourself from according to the world will not provide you with the desired response from on high.

It’s time to tear away the veneer.

“Is it such a fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you not call this a fast, and an acceptable day of the Lord?”

Do you think I really want all these outward demonstrations of your piety? Do you think the polishing of the veneer will be enough?

I want all of you. The real you. I’m tired of the outward demonstration that does not match the inward heart.

It’s time to tear away the veneer.

“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?”

Rather than the outward show of religion, I desire to see the besetting sins that are secretly destroying you, broken. I want to see true love in your heart, rather than the resentment, jealousy, and strife that overlay all the outward show now seen by those around you.

Look to Me. I will give you the strength to break those bonds that are keeping you chained to this world. As you look to Me, I will fill your heart with the love that flows outwardly to those around you. Let Me heal those secret hurts that you have kept from everyone else. I can see your hurt. Please, let Me heal you, to give you beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning.

It’s only when you allow me to take away all the hurt that you can truly begin to forgive and to love with My love.

It’s time to tear away the veneer.

It’s time to share your story, your hurt, your fear. It will be ok. You are loved. Even when the full truth is heard, you will still be loved.

They want the real you. Not the outward artificial appearance. They need the real you. I have a mission for you yet to fulfill, but first, true healing must come. My love must flow through unobstructed. Otherward, it will not do its complete job.

“Is it not to deal your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you hide not yourself from your own flesh?”

It’s time to get real. Although you do all you can to help those in need, it’s time to allow others to see the true you underneath. You have much to offer. I have given you much insight over the years, but it is time to start passing it along to others.

It’s time to stop hiding. Invite others into your home. Stop hiding those secret sins. It’s time to bring light to your struggles. Those you are hiding from can help you shine light into your darkness. Open up and be real. Don’t hide the real you from your church family.

It’s time to tear away the veneer.

“Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rereward.”

As you remove the covering, the false, and begin to allow yourself to be real, to allow Me to give you the oil of joy for mourning, then you will begin to demonstrate My righteousness in truth. My love will be able to flow unrestricted through your heart.

Not only will you begin to heal spiritually, but those silent pains you keep to yourself will also fade away. I will bless you with abundant health to the level you never thought possible at your age.

As you do this, your life will begin to reflect my character in authenticity as never before. I will remove every obstacle, every secret sin, every resentment, and every hurt. I will bring healing to all aspects of your being.

It’s time to tear away the veneer.

Dear beloved child, it’s time to allow Me to shine into every crevice of your heart. It’s too late to continue to cling to those cherished sins. Please let Me strip you of what is keeping us from being one.

“Then shall you call, and the Lord shall answer; you shall cry and He shall say, Here I am. If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity,”

I desire about all to meet you where you are and fulfill all those secret desires of your heart, as I heal the unspoken hurts. I want to say, ‘Here I am.’ I want to bless you abundantly. Yet, I cannot unless you are ready to ‘tear away the veneer.’ The bondage of the past is holding you prisoner to your hurts and resentments.

Before continuing to look down on and silence those whose words are creating discomfort, ask yourself, ‘Am I being completely honest? Are my intentions pure? What is God wanting of me? What do I need to do to make sure I’m being 100% authentic in my walk with God?’

The truth will not be stopped. My word, My purpose will be carried out. Right now, I’m getting ready to shake awake those who think they are awake. Who thinks they are ‘one’ with Me. Will you allow the truth to shine light into your soul?

I’m waiting. It’s your choice. It will not be easy. In fact, it will be very hard and very painful, but it must be done in order for you to survive the shaking coming upon my church.

“And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in obscurity, and your darkness be as the noonday:”

Be willing to allow others to see the hurt inside. Allow them to see all the messiness. Although it will be uncomfortable, it is why I put you in this family of believers to begin with. They will continue to love you, despite the messiness.

You have much to give if you can allow yourself to be honest about your own struggles. There are some here who need to hear your full story. It’s time to tear away the veneer. Then my light will bring full healing and the darkness of soul will melt away.

“And the Lord shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat your bones: and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”

As you become authentic and stop hiding your true self, I will be right there with you, leading you to the next step of My plan for you. Rather than feeling like a spiritual desert that you hide from those around you, My spirit will fill you with an abundance of joy and fresh insight. Your sharing your secret parts will cause others to speak out. There will be such a well-spring of My spirit flowing among each of you, bringing the fruit of unity.

This unity is needed for the closing work I have for you and your family to do in this little spot of the world. Without being one with Me and one with your spiritual family, then you cannot be a part of the closing work. And I need you to want that. Your family needs you to be authentic.

Your willingness to be genuine will have a cascading effect. Others will continue the trend, speaking out, and sharing their struggles and pains. With the sharing, there will come an unexpected strength as each shares ways they have overcome similar struggles. Dear child, please allow yourself to be real. You are in a safe place. I am here.

There will be some who reject the real, but they will be few. There will be some who will attempt to drag you down with the new information, but you are safe in Me. Remember that. Your safety does not rely on the acceptance of others but in My acceptance. Remember I will not turn anyone away who comes to Me with a sincere heart.

“And they are shall be of you shall build the old waste places: you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.”

Do you now understand the importance of being authentic with your family? I have a mighty work for you and your family to do. It’s almost time for you to come home. Before that, though, you must become completely ready. The first step in that is to be authentic.

Nothing counterfeit or fake will be in My kingdom. Only truth is allowed.

This also means truth in how we show ourselves to our family.

It’s time to tear away the veneer. Let Me replace that inferior foundation under the outward gloss with my Rock foundation. It is only when you are standing upon the Rock that complete victory can be won.

The times that are coming soon upon this earth will be shaking the very foundation of every believer. If each believer is not completely standing firm on the Rock of Truth, then he will be shaken off.

I cannot make you remove the veneer. I know the hurt you are experiencing. I know how you think no one in the family will care, but they do. I can tell you that it is time. I can give you the strength once you decide to trust Me and move forward. I can be your safety when you feel everything around you is failing.

When you are able to take this step to be real with your family, you will be amazed at the transformation. I’ve been waiting for you to become one, as My Father and I are one. It is through this ‘one-ness’ that My full power will be displayed throughout the whole world.

People everywhere must hear the truth. They have to be equipped to make informed choices. It is time to tear away the veneer in order that My love can bring true unity in My children.

“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words:

Then shall you delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to rid upon the high places of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.”

In the tearing away of the veneer, the resulting flow of love will create a new awareness of the blessings of My Sabbath day. Rather than struggling to keep My Sabbath, that special blessing will become the highlight of your week. Your time with Me, with your family, will consume your thoughts.

Although you have been keeping My Sabbath, there are still areas to improve. As we come into ‘one-ment,’ those areas will be lit up. Your attitude toward my holy day will change.

You will ‘delight’ yourself in Me. You will allow me to complete the work I have begun in you. By allowing yourself to become authentic, you will open yourself up for the finishing work I have to do so you will be ready to dwell with Me in heaven.

It’s time to tear away the veneer. Be the lovely person you are, the messy person, the hurting person, and even the angry person. It is only by tearing away the false that I can give you light and truth and joy. My healing is waiting for you. Will you finally be willing to tear away the veneer?