Okay, I’ll admit it again. Occasionally in church I find my mind wandering during the sermon. I have the attention span of a two-year old. One time, I perked up, however, because something our pastor said really hit home. He said we carry a sign around our neck that reads “Made by God.”
Because I have such an overactive imagination, I immediately pictured myself walking down the street wearing one of those sandwich boards advertising Joe’s restaurant. I’m pretty sure that’s not what he had in mind. At least, I hope not. No, I understood what he meant, and it really hit home, because it reminded me of a conversation I had several years before with a friend of mine at work. He said, “I didn’t know you were a Christian.” I was stunned. How could a man I’ve known for over 15 years not know my beliefs?
I assumed everyone would know because I always wear a cross around my neck. I’m never without it—not only is it my personal statement of my beliefs, but I find it a comforting reminder of who loves me. Plus, I’ll have a cross handy in case I run into a vampire, and it smells better than a garlic necklace. In hindsight, however, I see people like Madonna and Dennis Rodman sporting a cross. Not to be judgmental, but I think sometimes that’s more a fashion statement than a profession of faith.
The conversation was still bothering me on Sunday when I went to church. The pastor preached that week about hiding our light under a basket. Another God-inspired sermon that spoke directly to a soul in need. Timing is everything, no? It finally dawned on me that I had spent so much time being “politically correct” at work that some people didn’t know God was the center of my world.
Oh, sure, some people knew. If I was sure of their “leanings,” I had no compunction about talking about my personal beliefs, but I held back from speaking to others lest I cross that invisible line. Working for the government, I paid more attention to that “line” than I probably would if I worked at McDonald’s.
I changed that day. I made a commitment to take my light out from under that basket and let it shine for the whole world to see. Later, that same friend mentioned to me that I was different. I told him that I was, it was his fault, and explained why. I didn’t know then that I should be wearing a “Made by God” sign. If I had known, I’d have said that I used to be “Under Construction,” but now I’m closer to being what I should be.
Too often, we spend so much time worrying about what others will think of us, being afraid to cross some invisible line, (real or imagined,) and hiding our lights under baskets that we lose sight of the real goal in life. It takes more than a sandwich board or a vampire-protection cross to let our light shine. Yes, actions do speak louder than words, but sometimes…just sometimes, people need to hear the words, too. If they know that we are someone who God can be proud enough of to say, “I am your God,” they’ll want that same life. Probably more than they want a taco from Joe’s. That’s a good thing.
The good thing about this is, You heard, and you responded the right way. I recall a time when I was managing a apartment complex, and I had men there doing repairs. One of them noticed my front tag on my van, that just said ” Jesus” He came in my office and asked, ” Is that your van out here?” I said it was and he said, ” Are you a Jesus freak? ” I said, ” Yes I am, come on in and lets talk about it.” After we talked a while, he said, ” I have to get back in church.” It was a great feeling just knowing that God had just used me for His messenger.
WTG!! Nothing wrong with being a freak. LOL
So true, that line has been in my way more than it should have been!
Ditto!