The World is Watching

What influence do we have?

As Christians, we are the representatives of Christ to our world. Our mission is to lead lost people into a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Some have focused on God’s laws and want to begin by confronting lost people with their failures. That kind of approach tends to make Christians look more like holy policemen rather than a search and rescue team. Confronting first will most likely drive lost people further away, not bring them closer. There is a time to confront people with their sin but, in most cases, they will not receive our correction until they sense our care and protection.

Jesus came to fulfill the law, not necessarily to enforce it. Love is the fulfilling of the law. The New Covenant uses new methods to deal with the sin problem. Rather than using the fear of punishment or death as a primary strategy, we use faith: seeing the things that are not as though they were. Rather than focusing on and speaking to the problem, we focus on the solution. Eradicating sin from our lives will only occur when we become like Christ; that takes place as we behold Him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. NKJV

We are changed as we look upon the one who never changes. We are the canvas that the Spirit of God paints the image of Christ upon. As we position ourselves before Him, His image is reflected upon us by His glory.

James 1:22-25 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. NKJV

There could be two implications for those who look into the word, then go their way without putting it to practice. Not only is it possible to overlook needed change in our lives, but also to miss being transformed by looking upon the glorious image of Christ. We can easily forget what manner of men we are intended to be as well.

If the world is having trouble seeing Jesus, it may be that our reflector is aimed in the wrong direction. Some years ago I sensed the Lord’s gentle rebuke concerning my use of the mirror of His word. I was holding it as if it were a rear view mirror, checking out my neighbor’s faults while overlooking my own; like trying to remove the speck from his eye while having a log in my own eye. I was like the one who looked into the mirror of the word and went my way without seeing my own condition. I was self deceived, thinking I was already presentable. Little did I realize, I was not seeing Jesus as the true standard of righteousness; I was comparing myself to my neighbor. Seeing his faults made me look good in my own eyes. I measured my own righteousness by the failures of men, rather than the glory of Christ.

Faith sees what we are becoming, primarily, yet does not deny our present condition. Faith must have action or it is dead. Faith that works is acting like the one we are becoming rather than the person we are leaving behind. Looking into the mirror of the word reveals our faults, but not for the purpose reinforcing defeat. It is to show us our need for a savior. We must not dwell on our faults, but look upon the glory of the perfect Son of God and see our selves in Him. Keeping our gaze on Him reinforces who we truly are by faith. Faith continues to believe and focuses on Christ, trusting in God to form us into His image.

Having a confident identity in Christ will greatly influence others to receive Him. The world is watching and looking for someone to follow. They will follow someone who can convince them they can produce what they promise.