Do you know those perfect, prim and proper Pentecostalists? They aren't all that perfect, neither prim nor appropriate. Under all that white packaging, the inner product, the "real" person, is lost, bitter and raging. It's true, and we see a few perfect examples in scripture.

Let's look at one - the perfect elder brother.

Why am I calling him perfect? It's because when we read the story in Luke 15:16-32, almost the entire story is about this son who does everything his Father wants. Anyone today would call him a perfect son. But who he is gets revealed when his younger, rebellious and wasteful brother returns.

We know the story. Let me get straight to the truth. Here are 10 evil natures evident from reactions to his brother's return.

1. No love for his brother - He was neither merciful nor forgiving to his brother - unlike his Father who ran towards the younger one in mercy and love.

2. No peace in him - He got troubled when he heard about his brother's return party.

3. Lost the joy in living - Unlike his Father, he could not understand the joy of restoration and salvation from the world and its traps.

4. He was hopeless - He thought he was going to lose a portion of his hard-earned wealth now that his brother was back.

5. Lived according to the flesh - He loved money more than God. He believed in his efforts of hard work and doing right.

6. Did not know his father - He did not have the character of his father who expressed love, kindness, mercy and grace, for the return of his son. He could not reciprocate the same way.

7. He rebelled against his father - His anger against his brother is reflected in his response to his father - questioning his actions for how he treated a disobedient son.

8. He remained stubborn - He never went to the party and remained in a selfish idol mindset.

9. Lived a ritualistic lifestyle - He lived a hypocritical lifestyle. He was proud of his faithfulness to the Father in earthly matters.

10. Lacked the vision of eternal life - He failed to realise that all that he loved was temporary and would get destroyed. His lack of vision failed to help him grow in the character of Christ.

Are you hoity-toity Christian? One who does everything externally to prove to the world rather than prove to God?

How to break away from this mindset and lifestyle? Let your obedience grow in love. Let all you do be unto God, in word and deed.

Maranatha, Praise God, and Amen.