So you call yourself a Christian, huh?

See, that's God in the middle.

As the moon reflects the sunlight, so too should we reflect the Son's light.

Being that our God is perfect in holiness, ultimate in creativity, sovereign in action and absolute in character, it behooves us as his people to render unto him our best in all that we do. This not only applies to our prayers, offering, testimonies and praise, but also, and more emphatically, to our everyday lives. What we wear, where we go, how we speak, what we purchase, our church attendance and countless other taken for granted actions show to the world who and what God is. If we accept the title of Christian, as defined by scripture, then we know that we are commissioned to carry on the work of the Lord Jesus Christ in our present world. And what was the work of Jesus except to show to all of mankind the nature of Almighty God?

It follows then that since we have Christ the Lord God within us, working and living in us, the life we lead shows forth to the world God’s attributes, personality, character, and holiness. Ultimately God’s holiness is the defining characteristic of His immortal being. It is His holiness that sets Him apart from any other being in the universe. His holiness is absolute in purity, righteousness, cleanliness, and power. There is none other like the God of Abraham, Jacob, David, and the church of Jesus Christ. He is self-sufficient, in need of nothing. His glory is manifested not only in the physical created world, but now through the people of his kingdom, namely, the church. The church is the express image, the imago dei, of God himself. It is common sense, or, if not, common consent that actions speak louder than words. No where does this truth ring more clearly than in the life of a redeemed man. He knows all eyes are looking to him and at him because his life is different. He lives under a different kingdom than the unredeemed man and, thus, is under not only natural eyes but also the spiritual eyes (angels, demons, and man’s own spirit) that lie behind and beyond the natural. They observe rightfully so. The Lord himself said we are the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hid. Thus, when one is quickened by the Spirit (receives salvation, that is), he is automatically placed in a position of being one who is no longer of this world. He is now a part of the kingdom that he was originally created for: the kingdom of God.

Consequently, his life will have changed and be set upon a new course of glorifying God through his newfound life. Because of this, unregenerate man cannot help but look and wonder at this quickened individual. If a candle is set in the midst of total darkness, no matter how small or weak the candle may be, the darkness surrounding it takes note and flees in all directions. So we see that by virtue of the man being saved he is, whether he wants to be or not, a representation of God on this earth. An ambassador who not only represents his God and God’s kingdom, but who, through his lifestyle and everyday actions, shows forth the very essence of God and what life is meant to be under God’s sovereign rule.

That being the case, it we profess to be baptized believers, filled with the Holy Ghost, then our lives should manifest our profession. "I am a disciple of Jesus Christ”, is a powerful testimony not ever to be taken lightly or for granted, but must be carefully considered by both speaker and listener. If we confess to be that which we are not in truth, then we become hypocritical, bringing the witness of our lives down to the level of the Pharisee who cleans only the outside of the cup while leaving the inside filled with filth and spoil. Jesus has called us to first clean the inside thus allowing the greater light to shine forth, believing that the outside will follow. Why must all these principles be taken seriously? An old adage comes to mind: “You are the only Bible some people may ever see.”

If we are quick to become angry at situations, we show forth a God who is impatient and unapproachable; when we continually boast of ourselves and our abilities, we show forth a God who is arrogant and haughty; when we allow our worship to be half-hearted and haphazardly put together, we show forth a God who lacks integrity or purpose; when we fail to address the needs of our fellow brother and sister, showing a genuine concern for their well being, we show forth a God who is apathetic and uncaring; when we live a life that is not in sync with what God has commanded us to live as redeemed human beings, we show forth a God who is not God at all, but who is a mere man as we.

Is this what our God has called us unto? Is this the way we have come to understand and experience our great God? Do we serve an apathetic, prejudice, impatient, arrogant, lazy, inept, unholy God? Quite the contrary is true. Our Lord God is one of majesty, glory, perfect-ness, creativity, holiness, power, greatness, unmatched goodness and a host of other qualities not worthy of being embodied with words. Thus, we as his chosen people should embrace these very same attributes and characteristics in every part of our lives.

Historical Considerations
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” –Romans 12:1. In the Old Testament, animals were sacrificed by reasoning of a man’s sins. The Jewish people were commanded by God to sacrifice an animal without spot or blemish; one that was of the utmost health and ability, a strong body and clear eyes, one that had all the signs of the perfect sacrifice God demanded.

Of course, the person seeking the sacrificial animal had many to chose from (the nation of Israel was by nature a shepherding nation and therefore livestock was common). But they had to search and find the best sacrifice from the thousands of animals in their stock. How were they to go about this daunting task? What would set one animal apart from the others? How could they identify a most perfect representation of a sin offering unto God? The only way one animal was to stand out from the rest was by its life and actions. Those animals that were lethargic, diseased, weak and lacking in form were overlooked. Only those who were characteristic of God’s standards were chosen.

Today, we are the ones who must present ourselves a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. When we exemplify the truth and power of the gospel in our lives, when we allow our hearts to be led by the Holy Spirit in every situation, when our actions show forth energy, vitality, pureness, righteousness, and love, when every iota of our being cries out, “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ!”, then and only then will we be fit for the Master's use as a willing living sacrifice.

-Duane T. Black