Dear Lighthouse,
Does
anyone remember the 80’s song “Somebody’s Watching Me”? I
always kind of liked that song. But here lately I began to discover that it has
some truth to it - or maybe I’m just becoming paranoid! I got really mad/irritated
at work this week. The details are unimportant, but what is important is the
fact that I was mad and wanted to sin in various ways. I wanted to say things
that were coarse. I wanted to strike back at the person who offended me. I wanted to “get even”. But
I did none of these things. (Eph. 4:26 & 29 whole passage is tough) Now, I am not writing you this
to praise myself, quite the contrary, I want to praise our God because He gave me the strength and the discipline I needed
to guard my witness. I was able to overcome the temptation to sin because of
His Spirit and strength living in me. (Phil. 2:13 for it is God who works
in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.)
The
person I was working with knew I was mad. That person knew what had happened
and thought I was justified in seeking retribution. They asked me why I thought
the person had done such and such. Here was the defining moment. I wanted to describe the individual in less than “nice” terms, but I was able to stop. I didn’t want to stop. I wanted
to open up. And don’t get me wrong, in the past I certainly have opened
up on people. So, once again, I’m not the point of this story. The point is that God was with me and He is with you in times of temptation and trial. He is watching you and so are those people around you - even when you don’t realize it.
So,
I stopped. I just didn’t say what the anger in me wanted me to say. The person I was working with was disappointed.
The person said that they thought they would finally get to see me cuss! This
sounds awful, but you all know people who want to see you fall. I had no idea
that this person really wanted to see me sin. So, I said that I would not dishonor
God by giving in to the temptation of saying what I wanted to. (Matt. 5:16
...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.) Because of obedience, God had turned a bad situation into a witnessing opportunity. I was able to demonstrate what a disciple is all about. Praise
God!
Have
you been there before? This was a nice victory for me and God, but there have
been many failures. I’ll bet some of you have seen me when I have said
or done things that are not good. But the point here is not about me but that
we need to recognize that we are being watched and tested everyday both vertically and horizontally. I mean that God is watching our faithfulness and stands ready to reward and assist us in our need. He uses tempting times and tough spots to grow character, maturity, and confidence.
(Rom. 5:3-4) People around us are watching us as well. Some want to see us fail and some want to see how we handle adversity.
You may not always know when you are being observed, so it is important to live your life for Christ at the heart level,
not just in front of a crowd.
This
same week I learned that I was being observed about 6 years ago and I didn’t know it.
Someone I had worked with all that time ago said they watched my actions and saw my faith. It has caused them trouble, I think, as they are evaluating their own stand with God. Once again, a victory, but one I never would have known until this person clued me in.
Do
you see the point? You are being watched too.
(see Col 3:22-23) How are you doing? If you have failed in the
past then leave it in the past. Your witness today is what is most important. Can you imagine the looks on peoples faces if you were to just blurt out that you
are going to stop cussing or stop doing such and such out of honor for God? Do
you think you could never do that? Neither could I - alone. That is why you need to be available to the power of God working in your life and let Him win the victory. This brings Him glory and it brings people closer to the Father. So, your failures in the past can be assets now as they bring your witness into sharper focus.
If
you believe that there is a Heaven and a Hell and that the actions that we take here on earth (foremost accepting Christ as
Lord and Savior) determines our eternal destiny then you must believe that this rule applies to all men and women. If it applies to us all then whose side will you support when your are among people everyday? Are you going to let your beliefs reside in the safe confines of your mind and never be put to action in
front of others? (James 2:17 ...faith by itself, if it is not accompanied
by action, is dead.) Will you never take a stand for God? Will you never say “No” to temptation in order to glorify God before men? If you will not be a disciple in the world then perhaps you are not a disciple at all. You should reevaluate what your are committed to - if it is anything at all.
That’s
it. I’ll lay down the gauntlet. Who
will step up to the challenge to live for Christ no matter the personal discomfort or loss?
Many of you are already doing this very thing and I commend you. Keep
up the good work and do not grow weary. (Heb. 12:3 Consider Him who endured ... so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. & Gal. 6:9 Let
us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.)
If Christians fail to reveal Christ then the world is indeed lost.
Live
it! And by His power, stand firm!