Are You Real?

“Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.” - Proverbs 19:1 
 
Are you real? This might not be a question you think about very often. In fact, it might not be something you have ever really thought of. But it’s a good question to ask yourself from time to time.  

Yesterday, we referenced the hot new app taking young kids by storm called “BeReal.” It is an app that was designed for people to post real-life pictures that they cannot “pre-plan” or edit. It is a way to show your friends what you are doing in real-time.
 
It is a fresh concept that really counters almost all of the other social media apps that have become such a huge production. Unfortunately, for many people, their lives are the same way. Many of us, even true believers of Christ, are too often focused on “putting on a show.” We want to be seen in a certain light, regardless of whether or not that light actually matches our regular lives.

It is funny how when you scroll social media apps or sites, you see a lot of the same things. You see people at the beach; you see people post a fancy meal they are eating or a luxurious place they are staying at. Do these moments make up the majority of their lives? Most of the time, the answer is no.
 
They are taking the highlights, the best moments, and posting them. Now, there is nothing wrong with posting good times or good moments. Just like there is nothing wrong with talking about those same highlights.  

The problem is when we try to give an image to others that this portrayal has become our regular life. We try to appear as one person, even when we really aren’t that person.
If you want to make a real impact for Jesus Christ, it requires authenticity. Proverbs 19:1 says, “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.”

In a heavily edited world, people are looking to those who are authentic. It is authenticity that gains trust. If you want others to trust you, to hear your voice, and have a real impact on their lives, you are going to have to be real with them.  
Let me ask you again, are you real? Or are you edited?