By Ann Weaver.
When I was younger, I could never understand why my parents enjoyed beach vacations if they weren’t playing in the sand and water. I always wondered how lounging on the sand could possibly be fun.
Now that I’m older, I understand it better. My parents enjoyed the beach because it meant they were away from the cares and worries of everyday life. My dad didn’t have to answer phone calls from angry customers; my mom didn’t have to make sure food was on the table and the house was clean. They could simply relax, watch the ocean waves, and enjoy time with the family. Put simply, they could take a break.
However, while my parents could take a break from their everyday responsibilities, Christians cannot take a vacation from accountability. Those who are Christians are watching us according to Scripture, and unbelievers are measuring us against their personal conceptions of what Christians should be like. Whether we’re out in public, at church, at home, or alone in our rooms, we are constantly held accountable for our behavior.
Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” It gives us no exceptions for times we can slip by the rules. We have no instances where we are allowed to cover up our light, do something that would cast a shadow over our witness for Christ, and then turn it back on again. Instead, we must always be a light for Jesus and display His glory for all to see.
At times, it seems we forget this. Our conduct becomes something less than what Jesus would want, or we make a bad decision when we think no one is watching. Or we may think we can relax our vigil when we’re with popular friends, strangers, or our family, but that’s not true. People are always watching, and even when they aren’t, Jesus is.
Sin is always sin. Wherever you are, whoever you’re with, and whatever you do to cover it up, it is always wrong. Even if you’re alone, you’re still accountable to the Lord. He sees you, and you will suffer consequences for your wrong choices here on earth. Think of Achan’s disobedience in Joshua 7 and Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. They believed they were conducting their wrongdoing in secret but later received dire consequences.
This is not meant to be frightening. Rather, it’s to show us how we must live above reproach. It’s to remind us to make sure to keep watch over our actions, our words, and even our thoughts. It only takes one small decision to start on a path of disobedience, just like David’s seemingly small decision to stay home from battle in 2 Samuel 11. This one choice led first to lust, then adultery, and finally to murder—all because he didn’t do one single task he was supposed to do.
To keep up a reputation that honors the Lord, remember these points:
Realize why you’re keeping up this reputation.
We’ve already gone over this, so I’ll keep this point brief. But never lose sight of why you’re striving to live your life above reproach. It’s not for your own merit, or because you’ll gain extra favor with God when you appear especially honorable. Instead, it’s for these four reasons: to honor God and give Him glory (Colossians 3:23), to be an example to other Christians (1 Timothy 4:12), to be a witness for Christ to unbelievers (Matthew 5:16), and to ensure opponents to God have no grounds for accusing you of being a wrongdoer or immoral (Titus 2:7-8).
Avoid even the appearance of evil.
This can look like many different things to everyone. In the end, it means we should avoid appearing as if we are doing something wrong, even if we’re not actually doing anything bad. Examples of this might be hanging out one-on-one with a guy in a private setting, going to websites that may have harmful content, or singing songs by an artist who sings other songs that are immoral. All these actions can paint you in a negative, non-God-honoring light, even if you weren’t doing anything bad. It’s always best to avoid these situations to protect yourself from appearing to dishonor the Lord. Remember, others may see or hear of your actions and never receive an explanation, and that’s not a good witness for Christ.
Don’t fear man’s ridicule or criticism.
In many places in Scripture, we are reminded not to be afraid of mere men. After all, if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) In Proverbs 29:25 we’re told, “The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.” Likewise, in Psalm 118:6, we’re reminded, “The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Over and over, God reassures us that we do not have to be afraid of what men can do. Nothing they can do is eternal. (Matthew 10:28)
Rejoice to suffer in any way for God.
Accepting pain or suffering for the Lord’s sake is not only good; it is honorable. It’s what Jesus Himself did, and we follow in His footsteps when we do so (1 Peter 2:21). He died for us—can’t we suffer for His sake? In fact, Philippians 1:29 tells us that we should expect to suffer for Jesus. When we’re in these circumstances, we should glorify God in them, giving Him all honor and refusing to be ashamed (1 Peter 4:16).
As we strive to live above reproach as a witness for the Lord, we can also thank Him for the grace and forgiveness He gives us when we stumble and even fall in our witness. Let’s remember that all credit for any good we do should go to Him. We can do nothing alone, but it’s through His grace that we can glorify Him at all. Let’s give Him thanks for all He has done for us and pray for His help in living a life above reproach.
Post a Comment