Testing For Doneness

All three of my daughters were here for dinner.
My granddaughter was here as well.
My husband, being the only man, was terribly outnumbered.
It was going to be a girl’s night.

I decided to make London Broil since it is a favorite of my girls.
I marinated it that morning.
I could smell the wonderful spices every time I opened the refrigerator.
I knew that they would be pleasantly surprised.

I was trying to time our dinner around my precious granddaughter.
My son-in-love was away for the weekend.
I knew that my daughter wanted to keep the bedtime routine as close to normal as possible.
I got the London Broil out of the refrigerator and prepared the broiler pan.

It was a rainy night, so grilling the London Broil was not an option.
Broiling it in my oven would have to do.
Roasted seasonal vegetables were in the oven.
A large salad was made with homemade dressing on the side.

I stayed in the kitchen while the meat was broiling.
I like to turn the meat when I am broiling so one side does not get overcooked.
I did not realize the thickness of the London Broil.
This is going to take forever, I said to myself.

Many years of cooking for my family has made me fairly adept in the kitchen.
I love to cook.
They all love to eat what I prepare.
I never even thought about the time it would take to broil our dinner.

I was able to keep the vegetables warm in the oven.
I was able to keep the salad chilled.
I must have turned that London Broil over and over a dozen times.
I wanted to make sure that it cooked evenly.

After the sixth turn, I decided to cut into the center.
The outside of the London Broil looked delicious.
I was hopeful that it was not going to take as long as I thought.
I could not have been more wrong.

When I cut into the center, the meat was bright pink.
What looked finished on the outside was still raw on the inside.
I knew that I would have to turn the London Broil many more times until it was done.
I knew that I could not simply go on appearances.

I waited.
I watched.
I cut into the meat another time to test for doneness.
I kept the side dishes warm in the smaller oven and the salad cold in the refrigerator.

Testing for doneness is something I do when I am baking as well.
I keep toothpicks nearby so that they can be stuck into the center of whatever I am baking.
Just because something looks done on the outside does not mean it is done on the inside.
Appearances are deceiving.

It is one thing to test for doneness while you are cooking or baking.
What about testing for doneness in our maturity?
What about testing for doneness in our character?
What about testing for doneness in our faith?

Appearances can be deceiving.
We may look wonderful on the outside but on the inside, we are still raw.
We may be able to fool everyone into believing that we are something we are not.
However, God knows how to cut right to the center and see the condition of our heart.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.  In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. (Matthew 23:25-28)

Can you imagine if I served the London Broil on a special platter?
Can you imagine if I cut into the center at the table and found that the meat was still raw?
Can you imagine if I only trusted the way the meat appeared?
No one would have wanted to eat anything I served.

I do not want to be a cup that is only clean on the outside.
I do not want to be meat that looks done only to find that it is still raw.
I do not want to appear holy but live an unrighteous life.
I do not want to be a hypocrite.

Jesus had strong words against hypocrisy.
Jesus had no time for the cups that were clean only on the outside.
Jesus is able to cut right to the center.
The knife that Jesus uses is His Word.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

The Word of God tests for doneness.
The Word of God cuts to the very center and reveals areas that are not done yet.
This side of heaven, we will never be fully done.
Our heart will always be a little pink.

God watches.
God is tender with us.
God is patient with us.
God does not care about the outside; God cares about the heart.

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

Are we done yet?
No, not this side of heaven.
We are still cooking; we are marinating in His goodness and tender mercy.
One day, God will declare, by His grace alone, that we are finally done.

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