The World is watching us!

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In counseling the Christians in Corinth, as recorded in 1st and 2nd Corinthians, the Apostle Paul had one of his most challenging assignments. The Corinthian church had a lot of problems and for the most part, they themselves did not see or understand what they were doing wrong. So Paul identifies the issues, offers solutions and works diligently teaching the believers in Corinth how to live "in Christ" and "for Christ" in a corrupt society.

The troubles of the Christians in Corinth are not all that dissimilar to the challenges Christians face today in far more corrupt societies. Paul confronted the Corinthians about their sins and shortcomings, they listened. He warns them not blend in with the world around them and accept its values and life-styles. It was no small challenge given the culture of the times and the highly charged city of Corinth.

The Corinthians, like we Christians today, are constantly challenged by the great deceiver, Satan. He has been slithering through the centuries, whispering his smooth-tongued promises, beguiling, deceiving, and tempting... urging men and women to reject God and enjoy themselves, immersed in the pursuits and pleasures of this fallen world. The church at Corinth was spiritually weak. The Corinthian believers were surrounded by idolatry and immorality... and they struggled with their faith and life-styles.

Take a look around where you are living.... and you see a modern replica of ancient Corinth. We are the Christians of now, and Satan continues to tempt us to cast God aside and embrace all this sin-filled world has to offer. Hey, if you look at all this world has to offer... the lures of pleasure, self-indulgences, lusts of many sorts, pursuit of wealth and power... it's all very tempting.

The world of unbelievers, who mock God, Christianity and believers are watching our every move. In the balance... sometimes hanging by a thread, is our commitment to God and His requirement that we live Christ-centered, blameless, loving, caring lives that can make a difference for Him. Our lives as Christians and the way we live them... have an enormous impact on the minds and hopefully the hearts of the unbeliever. How we live... can save lives... for eternity!

I recently heard a fine sermon that really brought home the impact of living our lives as a genuine Christian. David White, an elder and minister at North Penn Church of Christ (North Wales PA) presented the challenge of living as Christians in these two questions....

1. What is the greatest proof for the existence of the God of the Bible?
2. What is the greatest proof against the existence of the God of the Bible?
THE ANSWER: A Christian

Consider these two scriptures as you ponder these questions and your personal impact on the live of countless people you know and may never know, but they know who you claim to be... a Christian.

Psalm 139:23-24; “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Paul said these words to the Corinthians and he says them to us now... “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 2 Corinthians 13:5

There is no question about it... our conduct is having an impact on people around us. If we claim to be in Christ, our failings and shortcomings, our hypocrisy, become magnified in the eyes of those who seek to mock God and condemn Christianity.

Followers of Christ are new creations, born from above and changed from within, with new values and new life-styles that confront and condemn the permissiveness of the world and clash with accepted morality. True believers don't blend in very well... in fact we should sick out like a sore thumb! That's why the unbeliever can see us so easily and clearly... we should be noticeably different from unbelievers.

Are you noticeably different? Do you feel uncomfortable around the corrupting influences of the world? Or... do you blend in, fit in, and find comfort in going with the flow of the world? If you feel like the world fits you pretty well... then it's time to allow God to help you begin a complete makeover... "renovation" of your heart and mind. The Corinthians were able to do it with the Holy Spirit and Paul's counsel... and so can you.