Cheap Imitations

They were just little twinkle lights that looked like fireflies in the trees, but I thought about them often after I walked away that day leaving them on the store shelf. Little lights shining in the dark make me happy.

When I saw them the next spring, I quickly put them in my buggy. I couldn’t wait for dark when I could watch them twinkle in my own backyard trees. My husband plugged them up, and as the sun faded in the sky, we ceremoniously flipped the switch. Little green lights danced on the trees, not quite like fireflies. I acted excited, but honestly, I was somewhat disappointed. After a year of thinking about them, they didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

I thought about those lights when my husband and I were out in the boat one day. He fishes. I read. We trolled into this little cove escaping the main flow of the river. It was a glorious spring day. The sky was perfect blue. The leaves were newly bright green. Fluffs of willow seeds floated through the breeze like thousands of dandelion tufts. I was enjoying the sun and my book when we floated under the canopy of trees. I looked up to adjust my eyes in the dimmer light and that’s when I noticed: thousands of lights shimmering in the trees. Everywhere they danced, moving, swaying, glittering, twinkling. I caught my breath. “Oh look!” I exclaimed. “Look at the trees!” “Yeah, that’s nice,” my husband replied, more interested in his bobber.

It was the sunlight sparkling off the moving water, casting its reflection above on to the trees. It was captivating! As I sat there in this glorious spectacle designed by God, I could not help but think: No twinkle light could ever compare to the handiwork of God. No wonder I was disappointed in my store-bought lights.

But I wonder how often we settle for cheap imitations instead of looking for the real thing. How often do we fill our lives with a continuous scroll of superficial posts from friends when what we need is the deep abiding relationship of our Lord? How often do we over consume to feel some sort of satisfaction when what we need is but a drink of the living water offered by Jesus to quench our desires? How often do we search for something to fill us up, move our hearts, bring rest to our weary souls? The idols of this world do not have what we need. They are only cheap imitations packaged and parked on a shelf for easy consumption.

Our idol-filled world can feel hopeless but our God is faithful. Cast aside the cheap imitations you are clinging to. They may sparkle, but they can never shine as brightly as our Lord’s love. Like spring overtaking winter, the Lord can overtake your idol-filled heart with a symphony of song, twinkling sunshine, green leaves, and bright flowers. So, “stop and consider the wondrous works of God” and worship Him (Job 37:14).