Get Real - July 17,
2001
The other day some friends were in the van with us and
I had one of those rare moments of brilliance (for me
they are few and far between!) With my newfound insight I
proclaimed, "The problem with the church today is there
aren't enough real Christians and there aren't enough
Christians who are real." After a moment of silence (in
sheer admiration for the revelation that had poured so
eloquently from my humble lips, I'm sure) my friends
responded ... "Huh?" Just in case you are siding with my
friends, please allow me to explain.
Everyone in the world fits into one of two groups,
they are either Christian or they are not. What is a
Christian? In simple terms, a Christian is a person who
follows Christ, someone who doesn't just acknowledge
Christ as God, but does what He says. I acknowledge that
Buddha was a real person and have read some of what he
taught, but he doesn't impact the way I live or who I am
so I am not a Buddhist. With this definition in mind,
unless Christ makes a difference in how you live and who
you are, you probably aren't a real Christian. 2
Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed
away; behold, all things have become new." That doesn't
mean that the minute you accept Christ you instantly
become "Super Saint", but it does mean that God begins a
work in you called sanctification that will gradually
transform you into His image. No doubt about it, if you
are a true follower of Christ, your life has been
changed. The first part of my statement, "The problem
with the church today is there aren't enough real
Christians" refers to the fact that I see too many people
claiming the name that are just playing a game. It's time
to GET REAL.
The second part of my statement, "there aren't enough
Christians who are real" refers to real Christians who
seem unbelievable. I'm not questioning these people's
walk with Christ, just the way they act. These folks seem
to float a few inches off the ground. Rain just parts and
goes around them. With their devout faith in God they
never have a doubt or a need or a problem. They are
always cheery and perky and never get up on the wrong
side of the bed. Come on, who are they trying to fool?
Following Christ doesn't take away problems, (Jesus said
"In the world you will have tribulation" - John 16.33) it
gives you the hope, help and strength to make it through
them. One of the biggest turnoffs to nonbelievers is a
fake. Christ was real and His power today is real, so why
should His followers be fake? It's time to GET REAL.
Where do you fit in the big picture? If you haven't
let Jesus come in and change your life, now is the time.
Talk to a pastor or e-mail me if you have any questions,
then ask Jesus to be your Lord and surrender everything
to Him. If you are a Christian, are you for real? Are you
afraid of what others would think if they saw the real
you and the problems you still struggle with as you
follow Jesus? God already knows all your hidden secrets,
and He says "My grace is sufficient for you, for My
strength is made perfect in weakness."- 2 Cor. 12:9. God
working through your weakness may be the testimony that
will bring an unbeliever to faith. Nobody likes a fake,
so brothers and sisters, it's time to GET REAL!
