Saturday, September 8, 2012

Our Lives Should Reflect Jesus

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. -- Hebrews 4:13

Do you ever wonder if others see the motivations of your heart? Do you see your own motivations? Are you honest with yourself? Do you look in the mirror and see what you’re really doing and why?

I am forever amazed by some of the things really good people do. I know. We’re all human. We all make mistakes. None of us are perfect. But what really gets my dander up is when a Christian who prides himself on living his faith does something wrong and then laughs it off.

I’m sure Satan is having a wonderful time with it all. This man who volunteers with a jail ministry one night a week, who brags about always spreading the gospel, did something to benefit himself financially while hurting others. And in so doing, he really diminished his voice for Jesus.

That’s what happens when Satan gets a foothold in our lives. It’s something we all have to guard against. And put me at the front of that group. I am aware every single day that Satan is working hard to silence all Christian witnesses. One of the best ways to do that is to discredit those who speak for Jesus.

Another man just resigned his job because he’s being investigated for an illegal real estate transaction. It would be sad under any circumstances. Taking money from local taxpayers hurts all of us. But the saddest thing is that this man really supported and encouraged programs to help people turn their lives around by developing a relationship with Christ.

So who loses? Well, obviously he does. But what about all those who believed what he said about living right and living for Jesus? What about all those who believed him when he said the way out of a past filled with drugs and theft and violence was to make a commitment to Jesus? Now you and I know that anyone can falter. We understand that Christians are still sinners. But what these new Christians see, what those on the edge of belief hear, is that Jesus doesn’t really work when it comes to living a different kind of life.

Which brings me back to the first man. He knows he did something wrong. I believe he does. I just don’t think he cares. It’s like there’s a separation between what he does for Jesus and what he does for himself. He doesn’t want to admit that his business ethics -- especially when his actions harm others -- make people not want to hear anything he might have to say about Jesus.

We don’t fool anyone when we shove Jesus aside when it comes to how we handle our business affairs and financial dealings with others. Our lives reflect Him. And if they don’t, we’ve got a problem.