Cover Art

(Pro 7:10 KJV) And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

We are often told not to judge people by how they dress or by outward appearances.  A popular way of saying it was, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”  Of course someone asked, “Then what is the cover for?”  This is a reminder of our need for discernment.  Think of all the things we judge by superficial observation.  Think about how often the initial impression is wrong.  With people we often think someone is intelligent and informed only to find out that they are a really slow person who had someone coach them and dress them.  Have you ever read a headline and found out that the article does not back it up?  One thing I will sometimes do is examine the cover of a book after I have read it and see if the artist had bothered to find out the story line.

That is common wisdom and often experience.  We are told, however, that often what we see is what we get.  If I see a 60 year old man with a lot of chest hair and gold medallions, I know not to take him seriously.  If I see a women with lots of skin showing and clothes that are designed to stimulate male observers, I know a bit about where she is coming from.

So?  We need to make sure that we are good book covers for the hope that is in us.