Where Are You? –Part 1
“Can you find Lennox?” asked the mother of our twenty-month-old great-grandson. “He’s hiding from me.”
Indeed, Lennox is hiding—in plain view. If you’re not careful, you’ll step on him.
I wonder if we, as Christians, are doing the same. Do we stand tall as Christians, or do we try to hide our identity with Christ?
Our culture has rapidly turned from following God and become anti-Christian. If we stand with God, we could be mocked and called insensitive, a hater, or simple-minded. We could be ostracized, marginalized, and penalized for simply stating our beliefs. Furthermore, we could face jail or lose our livelihood because we operate according to those beliefs.
The rules are clear whether they are written or not. It’s often tempting to remain quiet, stay neutral, or play along with the new norm to avoid consequences of going against the crowd.
We can hide our heads, pretend it isn’t so, and let others take a stand, but that isn’t working. Because we have been quiet, Judeo-Christian standards that make America great are becoming extinct.
If we turn our backs on God, we cannot expect His protection or blessings. It’s time to come out of hiding and take a stand for righteousness–for God.
But, how do you know when to speak up so that what you say carries truth with clarity and love? How do you stand for righteousness, while not forcing specific beliefs on someone? How do you help those walking in darkness know right from wrong and lead them to know the Lord? In a hostile environment, how do you share the truth in such a way that others will experience God’s mercy and love?
We are to be in the world, not of it. We do that by following the Lord rather than the rules of the world. However, because we’re in the world, it’s easy to become tolerant of unrighteousness without realizing it. The first, and maybe the hardest, step is to solidly and consistently decide who we follow–God or the world.
If we look to Jesus as our example for how to live in a godless society, He will guide us step by step in when to speak and what to say. But first we need to decide to come out of hiding and let the Life within us be seen.
We don’t need pat answers for debates or megaphones to outshout the loud voices that call us names. But we desperately need to be plugged into the vine so His love and life will flow through us. We need our ears our hearts tuned to hear His voice. Ultimately, we need to be willing to take up our cross and follow with confidence that in Him we win.
God called us to be lights in the midst of darkness (Eph. 5:8). When, like Lennox, we try to hide who we are, we hide our light too (Matt. 5:15).
As Christians, if we cover our lights, we will be a negative testimony of what God stands for. “If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness” (Matt. 6:23).
God said:
- “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matt. 5:16).
- “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (Matt. 6:24).
- The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; (Rom. 8:6-7)
- Those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Rom. 8:8). When we hide and stay silent, we deny Him.
Where are you? Are you lying low, hiding your face, or are you standing tall for Jesus?
Whether it is time for silence or to speak, let God lead. After all, He is our Savior and Lord as well as our commander in battle.
Follow Him and let your light shine. You will be blessed and it will help others see more clearly so they can choose the path of light and life.