M-G: 7.17.19 // What is Your Lifestyle Telling Others

It was on April Fool’s Day; I was walking through the front entrance of a church with the 1730-sun behind my back. The sun rays were blazing through the entrance doors and the huge windows above it. A man was passing by, and I said, “Hello,” as he looked up at me, making a visor with his hand as the light was drenching him as if standing beneath a waterfall. So, in that shaft of light, I approached this man as he was being bathed and blinded by the light streaming around my body.

I seized the moment to be humorous as I reached out to shake his hand, “I’m so sorry!” I said. “Without my veil, I usually have that effect on people whenever I make an entrance! April Fool’s day!” I quickly realized that my sense of humor was grossly unappreciated. With great restraint, I refrained from telling this brother to “Lighten up!”

Do you remember when Moses was on Mount Sinai to receive the second tablets (cf. Ex 32:19; 34:4)? He had requested to see the glory of Yahweh (Ex 33:18), but Moses was informed that he could not look upon the face of Yahweh and live (Ex 33:20). All Moses was able to do was see the back of Yahweh (Ex 33:23). Moses had no idea that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him (Ex 34:29).

When Moses came back down from off the Mount a second time, they (Aaron and the children of Israel) were afraid to come near him (Ex 34:30). Also fresh on their minds was what happened the first time he came down the Mount and broke the original tablets of the Decalogue over the Golden Calf incident (cf. Ex 32:28, 35). With a new set of tablets, Moses' face was aglow! The look of Light on Moses’ face caused fear and uncomfortableness. The people didn’t know what to expect.

Moses kept his face covered except for when he spoke to the LORD or gave further instructions to the people from Yahweh. It reminded the people that he had the backing of the Light. What if we earnestly prayed to Yahweh as Moses,

…let me see Your glory (Ex 33:18),

or, David,

Make Your face shine on Your servant, and teach me Your statutes (Psa 119:135).

What we need today is not the look of hypocrisy but of holiness in alignment with the teaching of Scripture. Spending time in fellowship with Yahweh and in His Word reflects a perception to others that we had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13b), or are “a follower of Jesus Christ.”

Jesus declared that we are the light of the world (Mt 5:14). This is only possible through spiritual regeneration,

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (Eph 5:8; cf. Col 1:13; 2 Cor 4:6).

It makes sense that Jesus commanded,

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Mat 5:16).

Walking in the Spirit has the backing of the Light (Gal 5:16). People may fear the face of God or even speak or write His name, but this is not reverence but a testament to a religion that is non-relational with Yahweh. The same people who feel and think that way also believe that their traditions are more important than the Word of God itself (cf. Isa 29:13; Mk 7:9)! They reject God’s only Son, Jesus, as the true Messiah. 

When people see us, do they deduce that Jesus lives within us? Do our talk and walk have the backing of the Light? We cannot be in fellowship with God apart from obedience to His Word. Sadly, love for the Word is often replaced by the things of the world. Darkness cannot shine though it appears as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14).

(1Jn 1:5) This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

(1Jn 1:6) If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

(1Jn 1:7) But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

This reminds me of something Chuck Swindoll once said (though he didn’t associate it with this passage above), “Most Christians are uncomfortable with genuine Christianity.” This is a very troubling statement because light disrupts the darkness.

Walking in the light has a way of making others, dabbling in darkness, most uncomfortable. What is your lifestyle telling others? Is it backed by the Light or are you just doing your own thing? <>< 

For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart (1 Sam 16:7b).