IHS-Witness

Witness

•	Dirty Chandelier

   We have a modest little 5 little bulb chandelier in the dining room of our house. The light is on a control so that you can set the level how you like it. Of course there are times, like when I burn a pancake or two, that we prefer the lights to be off!
   Over a period of time, the glass covers around the flame shaped light bulbs get dirty. I think it used to be a little more often when we still had toddlers around. Sometimes their food could attain some real height! But normally a little kitchen grease and the accompanying attracted dust make up for the unwanted covering.
   When we first clean those little glass shades and put them back the amount of light that it puts out is wonderful. The formed patterns in the shades make designs on the ceiling and everyone immediately notices that they have been cleaned. As they get dirty, the light slowly diminishes, and the pretty design the glass casts seems to disappear.
   Our lives as followers of Christ are supposed to be "the light of the world" (Matt. 5:14) Jesus told His disciples that we have to be careful that our light does not diminish. Like my chandelier glass lampshades need to be kept clean to put out the best light, so our lives need to remain "unstained by the world" (James 1:27).
   Remember, the buildup is often slow and almost unnoticeable. Regular checkups by God's Word are essential so your light will shine brightly.

•	The Alarm

   Bonita (my wife) and I often have trouble with sleeping schedules. It seems like if I have to get up early in the morning, she is sleeping. If I don't need to get up, she's awake at 5:00am! If I lay my clothes out the night before so as not wake her, she's looking at me when I open my eyes. But if I am not prepared, I will have to stumble around in the dark and ultimately wake her!
   In order to try to keep from being late, I often set the alarm on my watch. If she needs to get up early too, she sleeps through it. If she needs to sleep in, she'll hear it and I won't.
   Alarms can be very irritating. At one point in my high school years I had to put my loud alarm on the other side of the room so I made sure I got up to turn it off and wouldn't destroy it in frustration. Otherwise it was far too easy to go back to sleep. I used to hate that alarm but I hated being late more. Not many choices.
   Paul spoke of having to be an alarm in 1 Thess. 2:4. He said, "but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts." The Gospel needed to be sounded whether everyone liked it or not!
   Just as Paul was entrusted with the Gospel, so we are entrusted with a responsibility to warn people of the coming judgement and the soul saving Good News. Everyone may not like it, but they need to be told!

•	Say It Right

   Sometimes translating English ideas into a foreign culture can be a little tricky. Take for instance the efforts of the two soda pop giants. The name Coca-Cola in China was first rendered as Ke-kou-ke-la. Unfortunately, the Coke company did not discover until after thousands of signs had been printed that the phrase means "bite the wax tadpole." Coke finally found a close phonetic equivalent, "ko-kou-ko-le," which can be loosely translated as "happiness in the mouth." In Taiwan, the translation of the Pepsi slogan "Come alive with the Pepsi Generation" came out as "Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead." As believers we are called on to translate the love of God. Jesus said, "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." (Matthew 5:16).
   A popular Christian song says, "you're the only Jesus, some will ever see." God's love was given to you and me so that, in part, we may be able to share it with others. When we don't live the Christian life, the translation becomes confused and the world gets the wrong idea.
   Seek to live your life as a translation of God's message of love. Ask God to show you the way!

•	Representatives

   One of the joys I have is taking my two littlest children with me some of the time when I do pastoral calling. I don't think it would work well all the time but they can be an asset in some situations. If I want to talk to a person who has a bit of cold hard shell, they often help to break the ice. They ask questions that I would never think of like, "Is that your mother?" (referring to a man's accompanying wife). Or, "Why are you so short?"
   I have learned not to show embarrassment on such occasions. They may also tell someone more information than they might normally seek. Of instance, Daniel currently has a small nearly healed scrape on his palm. He will show it to anyone who will pay attention.
   Through all of this "childish" behavior, they are representing me as their Father. If they are well behaved, I am more likely to be regarded as a good father. If they become disruptive, I may be looked upon as one who really doesn't care about other's peace or rights.
   As children of God through the new birth in Jesus Christ, we represent our Heavenly Father. If we live like children of the world (1 John 2:15), or worse yet, children of the Devil (John 8:44), we shame the Name of Him Who loved us. We instead are to live as children of the Light (Eph. 5:8) and "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" (Matt. 5:16).

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