We talk all the time about our inability to witness to our family. We love quoting that a prophet has no honor in their hometown. But how does our salvation look to our family? Often times it is not that they "knew us before" it is that they know us after! The event of your salvation should have had a dramatic change in who you are. If it does not, you may be able to fool some people who don't know you very well but your family will be able to tell. We also like to talk about the people we work with and how we can't seem to reach them either. But what do they see when they look into your salvation? Do they see you gossiping at work? Do they see how you talk bad about your supervisor behind their back? Do they hear your Christian music, see your Jesus coffee mug, but can't quite seem to locate your salvation? Your talk has to line up with your walk beloved. Don't wear Jesus on your sleeve if He is not at the forefront of your heart because people will see the hypocrisy. What about the unknown people we come across every day in our lives? That person we hope doesn't sit next to us on the bus. That homeless person we convince ourselves will just spend our money on alcohol. Any number of people that walk right by us every single day. What do they see when they look into our salvation? Can they see it at all? Is there a discernable difference between us and the people sitting next to us that people can pick up on? Is there the love of Christ in us or do we act the same as those around us? Moving through the crowds, pushing people aside, never interacting. Can the people who do not know we are saved, tell we are saved? Can the people who know we are saved see anything different inside of us; inside of our salvation?
Besides not complaining or arguing, Paul says that we are to live clean and innocent lives and hold firmly to the Word of God. Too often our lives are dirtier than our profession of faith says they should be. We tell our family we are saved but we still curse. We still go places we know we should not. We still have illicit relationships. We tell our co-workers we are saved but we still cheat our boss for time. We still go to happy hour. We still remain in the filth of the world while claiming Jesus. And what about His Word? The Bible is the operational manual for this life yet so often we can go it alone. We can rely upon the logic of the world and the solutions it offers instead of reflecting to what God has already said. When Joshua was set to rule over Israel God gave him some advice:
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1: 8 (NIV)
God did not give Joshua military advice. He did not send him to a leadership conference. He did not give him self help tips or the latest seeker-friendly fad. He gave him the answer to any and every problem he would ever face the Word of God! Well the answer has not changed since then. God's Word is transcendent it transcends all time, cultures and kingdoms. God's Word is still the answer for anything we might encounter in this life.
The second truth in our key verses today is that these results we should be seeking regarding our salvation are only obtained through hard work. You want to show the results of your salvation? Work hard to do so then.
Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. "Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come." This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers. 1Timothy 4: 7-10 (NLT)
This is why we work hard! Look, I am not suggesting this is easy beloved. The ways of God are contrary to the flesh we live in. The world we live in will mock the things of God because they do not understand them. It is easier to think that the homeless person deserves their fate rather than show them compassion. The truth is that we can easily get lazy in our Christianity. We do not feed enough on the Word of God. We do not praise enough or spend enough time in prayer. Take a good look at how much time the world gets in our lives. Unless you work for the church, the world gets the majority of our waking time to begin with. The Bible says we are to be salt and light to a dying world. Salt because your salvation should be flavorful to people. It should be attractive to people. Things you touch should be more savory to people. Salt also preserves it does not destroy. Our salvation should be preserving in nature to others. Likewise, we should be light to the world that is walking in darkness:
"You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5: 14-16 (NLT)
