This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in him. If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim.
1 John 1:5-6 MSG
It all starts with a personal encounter with Christ. The power of your testimony and the strength of your witness is tied to your inner content. The apostles and Paul who wrote almost the entire New Testament met with Christ, and it showed in their entire lives. In fact, the Pharisees and Scribes at a point claimed that these men were turning the world upside down. A life that has met Christ must have the same effect. Light is so clean and pure that the smallest trace will light your way even in the deepest darkness. You can't explain its power but its effect is seen everywhere you find it.
If I have truly met and known Christ, his life will be lived out in me. I cannot claim to know him, yet live a life of darkness and sin. I cannot have God living in me and still make space for sin in me. I would have to step out of Christ if I am to engage in sin or acts of darkness. I would have to deny that inner voice if I am to satisfy the flesh and its desires. You can't sit on the fence, or take a middle course; you are either all in or all out.
When a man comes to Christ, the promise is that the old life is taken away, and a new life imparted. His Life, Light and Grace become visible in that life. That person becomes a living, breathing testimony of the grace and power of God to all men. That life becomes a message of Christ to a world struggling for identity and direction.
Do you know Christ? Does he know you as his own? Carefully consider your life's focus and contents; eternity is tied to the truth of your response. His time of favour is here.
No comments:
Post a Comment