Draw Others to Christ
I eagerly expect and hope that I will
in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always
Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. – Philippians 1:20
Paul didn’t write these words from inside a cushy house.
He wasn’t being waited on by servants or enjoying luxuries without end. Paul
was sitting in a jail, uncertain when his life might end.
There’s something about facing death that puts
everything into perspective. Suddenly, it’s not about us. Our faith either
makes us strong enough to endure whatever comes or is so shallow that the
doubts turn us angry and bitter.
Have you ever witnessed someone flattened by sudden
illness? It becomes a true test of faith, doesn’t it? It’s just so easy to sing
Jesus’ praises while life is going good. We are happy and content and our faith
is strong and sure.
Then something awful happens. The test results show
cancer. The shallow breathing reveals a devastating heart condition. The
slurred speech and clumsiness signal a life-changing stroke.
It is in those darkest moments when our true faith
emerges. Circumstances either cast us adrift, causing us to flounder and forget
our anchor, or they draw us toward the only One who can strengthen us and carry
us through the journey.
Have you ever watched someone slammed with the
unexpected death of a loved one? They either turn angry and bitter, blaming God
for their loss, or they lean into the comfort only He can provide. One path
brings life while the other path leads to destruction.
Our testimonies don’t really lie in the good days of
life. Sure, people are watching and we are witnessing whether we are aware of
it or not. People see our faith, how we live and behave in the every day
ordinariness, and they see us as either people of God or hypocrites
masquerading as Christians.
But it is in the valley, in those places of deep
darkness, that people really come to understand who Jesus really is. It is when
we cling to the cross that they understand God isn’t merely about the good
times.
Life really isn’t about how many times we attend worship
services, though that matters. It isn’t about how often we check that Christian
box or whether we volunteer and tithe. It’s about what we show people when darkness
threatens the light of Christ in our own lives.
We never know how we’ll react in devastating
circumstances until it happens to us. We don’t really understand the strength
Christ offers until His strength is all we have to get us through another day.
Paul was facing the worst of circumstances and what he
wanted above all else was that his life exalt Christ. He wanted others to know
Jesus through his words and actions, no matter the circumstances.
What about you? What do you want people to remember
about you when your life comes to an end? Do you think they’ll remark about how
stylishly you dressed or how much stuff you owned? Or will they see you as
someone who loved Jesus and lived for Him in all you said and did?
We only have one life to live before we head home for
eternity with Jesus. No matter your circumstances, let your life draw others to
Him.
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