The other day my 3-year old son came to me
saying what sounded like “Ifanginess.” Usually he expects me to say the correct
word or sentence back. But on this occasion I was confused.
So I repeated the
word back. Unimpressed he said it again, and I helplessly repeated it. After doing this a couple of times, he gave up! It wasn’t until later in the day that I realised the
word he was looking for was “Oh my goodness.”
Like me, I think some times as Christians, we fail to give
people the answer they are looking for, and instead add to their confusion.
They look to us for love and peace but find we also hate others. They look to
Christians to be shining examples of honesty, but we are as fraudulent if not
more, than unbelievers. There is hardly any difference between us and those who
deny Christ. Just like I disappointed my son with my inability to provide the
right answer, we too have disappointed many of these ones who are looking for
answers to the questions of life. Indeed because of us, God’s name is been
blasphemed by non-Christians – Romans 2:24
We only act as Christians when we are in church,
a place where it is not needed. Who puts on his lights during the day? Is light
not needed at night time, when it is dark? Same thing with our lives. We need
to turn on our lights as Christians in our homes, schools, workplaces, business
places, on the streets, ..where ever we find ourselves.
It is possible that we might be the only ones
doing it. But we shouldn’t be terrified because of that. God is with us. In the
Bible, God tells us 365 times not to fear. These “Fear Nots” were written to
encourage us daily to do the right thing. Indeed to know the right thing to do
but not do it is sin like James 4:17 says.
Besides all you need is a little candle
sometimes to see in the thickest darkness. Little acts of kindness, goodness,
honesty, love, patience, forgiveness, etc are things that illuminate the
darkness of selfishness, greed, jealousy , and all other forms of godlessness
we see around us.
Make no mistake about it, people are desperate
for something better. People want things money cannot buy: unconditional love,
peace and joy.
Like my little son, they do not know exactly what it is they are
looking for, but as soon as they see it they know. And how will they know if we
don’t show them by our behaviour? No amount of preaching or invitation to our
church will convince them, if we are no different from them.
Let’s look at our lives. Are we excellent,
punctual and hardworking at workplaces, schools or business places? Can our
colleagues say good things about us?
What about at home? What will our family say
about us?
What about those we employ? Do we treat them the
way we treat our children, or do we take advantage of the fact that they are
not as privileged as we are?
How do we treat strangers, waiters, bus drivers?
Is it with respect, as Christ would?
What about those of other religions? Do you
consider yourself too holy to be kind to them? Have you forgotten that God
loves them too?
You might be the only chance someone has to know
about God. Let’s try to be living epistles, an open Bible, by the way we treat
others and the things we do and say.
Amen
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Image1 courtesy:http://headguruteacher.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/helping-hand.jpg
Image2 coutesy:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKA32y5msRT2eWSd1EVkvAsQq1HjONNqW4B7E7WgB9sFe2chiHv5SGmTE2RGESh7b-GgtAHa1REOGsH79ntsnQvr7QL_SLEfEpgefsFkdd_CH2bFwzJkEuXOnqSHn5sJpQQ7SlgyXPkLA/s1600/CandleInTheDark_-SaeedBabaeizadeh.jpg
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