A Christian In Name Only
Are you putting the precious knowledge of God into action? God calls His people out of the world (John 15:19); He warns them, “Come out of her, my people”, speaking of a society living in rebellion against Him (Rev. 18:4). Called “Ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20), true Christians represent God’s own government, His laws, His way, His values. But a faithful ambassador is more than just a representative – he is also a reflection.
Jesus Christ lived a perfect human life on earth as the example for all, ultimately, to follow, yet how often do even Christians find themselves emulating the imperfect ways of life promoted by the world around them? How easy it can be to let this world shape our thoughts, ideas and actions! But true Christians will strive to be moulded by God’s word as having authority over their lives. And this submission to God will manifest itself in what the apostle Paul called “newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Rom. 6:6). Followers of Jesus Christ have to see to it that their old man becomes just that – old. Our old habits, our old prejudices, our old views need to stay old; in fact they need to stay dead, just like the old man that died at baptism, a symbolic burial in water (Rom. 6:4). The new man, with new habits, attitudes and ways, patterned after God’s perfect law and Christ’s perfect example must live and grow.
Serving God is a wonderful and joyful experience! It produces happiness, it creates marvellous peace of mind and freedom from the crushing fear and anxiety produced by sin. Yes, the gate is strait and the way is narrow, but the great God who possesses all power and wisdom in the universe makes available His incomparable aid to enter that gate and follow that way (Matt. 7:13-14; 11:28-30). God did not call His people into the spectacular light of His Truth only to let them fend for themselves. Our great High Priest, the resurrected and glorified Jesus Christ, is at the Father’s right hand at this very moment for the express purpose of enabling us to “come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).
True Christians realize that God is there to help, not to condemn, but they must learn to go to Him for the help needed for overcoming the old human flesh so that they can be both representatives and reflections of Jesus Christ; God said He will “work in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).
The Christian life is one of change, of growth, of pioneering a new and different way of life! Jesus Christ lives in his true followers through the spirit of Christ manifesting itself in a person’s life which is fully submitted to God’s rule over them, just as Jesus instructed in Matthew 4:4, seeking God’s help to live by every word that proceeds from His mouth. Remember the admonition of the apostle James, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).
Bro David Yelulani (Banket Zimbabwe)
