In the world of sports, there are players in any sport who are said to have a “light-switch” of sorts. These players are the one that never seem to put 100% effort into their game until they feel the need to do so or when it is most convenient for themselves. These players are different from the ones that seem to kick it into high gear when the pressure is on. These “light-switch” players just seem to “turn it on” when they can “show out” or when they might think they can better their own standing with a coach or for other selfish reasons.
Are we, as Christians, like that athlete that has a “light-switch” and only “turn it on” when we feel it will benefit us most? Or do we only live the Christian life when we come to services on Sundays? Or do we only make a show of being a Christian when other Christians can see how righteous we are? Or when we come upon adversity, do we clam up and keep our silence? If you answered YES to any of these questions, I ask you to take a closer look at your relationship with God. I ask you to “re-wire” yourself and get rid of the “light-switch” and be turned on to Christ at all times. During the course of this discussion, we will address three questions. 1.) Do you turn your “light-switches” on and off depending upon the situation? 2.) Does your Christianity depend upon your convenience? 3.) How are you wired? Do you have a switch or will your “wires” have to be cut to shut you down?
First of all, do you turn your “light-switch” on and off depending upon the situation? The “light-switch” Christians says, “I only have to be a ‘Christian’ while I am ‘at church’. When I walk through those doors I can be my own person and do whatever I want and as long as I’m at services next Sunday, I will be fine.” The next day he finds himself at work or at school and his peers are acting and talking in such a way that would not be befitting to a Christian. Because acting like a Christian would cause him to feel awkward and uncomfortable, he decides to participate in the behavior and conversation. As a result, his peers cannot tell the difference between themselves and him, who is supposed to be a Christian. It could be that he attends services faithfully but he regularly goes to bars, attends parties, curses, etc… “But I’m still a Christian. I attend services every time the doors are open.”
The apostle Paul writes, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth;…”(Romans 1:16). The person that acts like the one mentioned above is ashamed of the gospel of Christ. He wants to be a Christian in name but he wants to be so on his own terms. Jesus calls this kind of person a hypocrite. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:27-33). The person that behaves in such a manner puts on an outward show of being a Christian when the fact is he has not repented of his sins and so is living in sin as a wayward member of Christ’s body.
Second, does your Christianity depend upon your convenience? There are those that are only Christians when it is most convenient for them. This person says, “I will pick and choose the times in which I will represent Christ. When my family comes into town for the holidays, I will stay home and visit with them rather than going to services. If my child happens to have a ball game on a Sunday or Wednesday, it will not hurt us to miss one service; God will understand. When a doctrinal subject comes up at work or at school and I do not know much about it, although I know what they are saying is wrong, I will act disinterested or will make up an answer so that I do not feel too awkward.” He will then defend himself by saying, “Well, I don’t drink or do those things that so and so does. I’m a good person.” This person is much the same as the first mentioned, the difference being that this person is not as blatant in his behavior as the first. He simply tries to blend in with everyone. He wants to serve God but only on his own schedule.
Well, what does the Bible say about such behavior? “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;…” (Heb. 10:25). “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15). These two passages address the problem of forsaking the assembling of the saints and being prepared to answer those that ask us questions of our doctrine and faith. If one should come upon a question that he cannot answer, there is nothing wrong with admitting that he does not know and would like the opportunity to study the subject and get back to the person that asked the question. The worst thing one could do is to make up an answer when he really does not know; he could be teaching false doctrine and not even know it.
Finally, how are you wired? Do you have a switch or will your wires have to be cut to shut you down? Some time ago, I was afforded the opportunity to work with an electrical company. I now know that there is a way to wire something that the only way to shut it off is to cut the wire. So I ask, do you have a switch or are you permanently fixed or wired in the “on” position? If you have a switch, lose it. Re-wire yourself so that the only way you will no longer be in service to the Lord is to have your wires cut in death. “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10). Christ tells us that if we are faithful throughout our lives, even to the point of losing our lives, He will give us a crown of life. Do you turn your faith on and off or is it constant? If you have had that so-call “switch”, make it to where it is turned “on” once and for all.
-Josh Romo
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