So many of us consider ourselves to be “Good Christians” these days, but how many of us are really choosing God? Are we so caught up in the things that are best for us that we are missing the big picture? It is so easy in these times to forget what the Lord wants of us. I’m not necessarily speaking of things such as money, television, or other things of that nature, but focusing so much on ourselves and our own well-being that we neglect those who need us.
“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11: 24-27 Moses it would seem had anything that he could have ever needed in life. He had riches, status, and a great future that most anyone would take in a second. But Moses knew that he was a Hebrew and chose instead to deny the Pharaoh and suffer with his people. Because of his faithfulness, God used Moses to free His people from slavery.
Hundreds of years later we see another example of such faithfulness. “And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers; Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” Here were men who had lives going. They had a good job which in those days would have been considered stupid to just give up. But they were faithful. They didn’t take time to make sure their affairs were in order, or to go and get their things first. They right away dropped the nets they were using and followed Jesus. Today we see a similar situation going on in the world. There are hundreds of people out there who are suffering and in poverty. Not of physical things but of the gospel of Christ. We are all presented with many opportunities to help somebody who is lost by sharing the truth with them. I’m sure many of us are given the chance many times a day; however pass it up for one reason or another. Every single person in this world who is a Christian is a missionary for Jesus and has the duty to share the message to the world.
A good portion of the world is lost and in the dark, yet so many times we ignore these people and choose to focus on satisfying our own needs. We say we are doing well because we attend church every week or read our Bible and pray each day. These are good things to do, but how will we feel when we are in Heaven and find out somebody was not saved because we had the opportunity to share the message with them but chose not to.
A great song by the Christian band “Adam’s Road” states, “Those who don’t love or follow God are your enemies. Show them love by telling them the truth so it can set them free.” We can choose to follow the example of Moses, Peter, and Andrew and share what we know, or we can choose not to. The choice is up to us. We will receive the rewards or we won’t. Let us all have the spirit of God come into our lives. Let’s all turn our lives completely over to Him. Jesus should come first above all else in our lives; above our possessions, our jobs, even our families. We need to be an example regardless of how everybody else acts or what they may say. Be that witness of Christ, help to save someone who is lost and doesn’t know the way to go. Be that light for them and don’t hide your light under a bush. And I know we will all receive such a grand reward we won’t know what to do with it.