Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Battery run torchlights go dim when the batteries are not fully charged. As Christians we are meant to shine in this world, to lead an exemplary lifestyle that will attract others to Jesus, and reflect Jesus and God to a lost world.
Nevertheless, as a Christian, one can emit a dim light. Today, I would entreat every Christian reading this article to search inwardly and make a self assessment. Personally, I am getting off every high horse to judge myself. So I shall begin with my own assessment.
I was born into a Christian home but can recall having a personal relationship with Jesus when I was twelve years old. However, just like a battery run torchlight, there were many times that I totally disconnected with Jesus, and hence removed the batteries from my torch. I renewed my relationship with Jesus when I turned seventeen. I spent so much time in the presence of God. I would go out and strangers would ask me if I was a Christian even when I had not opened my mouth. They usually told me there was a Godly aura all around me. By the grace of God I ministered to many and touched numerous lives. I kept charging my battery, I connected continually with Jesus who lit my light and life.
As the years passed, my connection with Jesus has sometimes disconnected, though not entirely. Just like I once heard a preacher describe my situation as a car without fuel. My spiritual car sometimes wouldn't move because I had no fuel - no prayer, not in touch with my God and Lord. During such times I have been cranky, least reflective of Jesus. During such periods I appear to wield less authority in the Lord . Feeling guilty about my state and all , and having a pity party, I somewhat manage to shuffle back to God. A dim- lighted Christian, also known as a carnal Christian is a Christian who acts in the flesh. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3
1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?)
A carnal Christian speaks carelessly, may even quarrel and insult, finds pleasure in gossip and may even indulge in filthy acts. A carnal Christian may be saved but not conscious of his/her salvation and relationship with God. A carnal Christian lives anyhow and does not present Jesus Christ to a lost world. The word carnal originates from the Greek word sarkikos, which literally means “fleshly.” As Christians, we ought to live in the Spirit and be led by the Holy Spirit so we can bear the fruit of the Spirit. However, when we disconnect ourselves from God we bear wrong fruits- fleshly fruits.
Galatians 5:16-23 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
I entreat every Christian reading this to note that it is essential to stay connected to God, or our profession to be Christians (Christ like) becomes a fallacy. I have seen Christians with the worst of attitudes. I have personally sometimes not acted Christlike. To act in the flesh is to act unlike Christ. Jesus was fully led and filled by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit clashes with the flesh. They are incompatible. You cannot be full of the flesh and at the same time be full of the Spirit. And to be full of the Spirit of God, you must be connected to Jesus. You must be prayerful and filled with God's word. You must bear the fruit of the Spirit. You can have the gifts of the Spirit and be doing wonders for the Lord but in character be so unlike Jesus.
Do not be deceived , stay connected and in tune with God's Spirit. Then alone can you truly represent Jesus and reflect His nature and character. That is when we can truly qualify to use the term CHRISTIAN - meaning Christ like.
WHAT IS NEXT?
