Friday, March 4, 2016

The Measure of a True Believer

(Author's Note: Spring Break begins this weekend, so I will be taking a break during which I will be leading a group of students on a trip to Atlanta to work with a homeless ministry.  WftW will return on March 14th.  Blessings!  Jim)

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:15-24 NIV)

It seems “evangelical Christians” are an important voting bloc this presidential season, particularly among Republicans.  Every candidate is emphasizing how “Christian” they are, visiting churches, Christian colleges, and quoting passages from the Bible.  But as Jesus warns in this passage, BEWARE of what you hear from those who want your vote or, for that matter, anything else.  People will often say a lot of things to get what they want.  

Rather, Jesus says to pay close attention to what people do in order to determine who they really are.  I often tell young men and women on campus who are interested in romantic relationships to observe how the man or woman they are interested in conducts himself/herself in the presence of others, because you can learn a lot about someone by observation.  It is harder with politicians because most of what we see is what takes place in front of a camera; yet there can be hints of whom they really are if we pay close attention.

With regard to any relationship, wisdom leads us to pay attention to what the person does rather than merely taking what he says as certain truth.   Rather, the truth is always eventually borne out in a person’s life. Just ask any married person.  

So when we are seeking to evaluate whether a politician or a potential boyfriend/girlfriend is a true follower of Jesus, it is best not to be in a hurry to draw a conclusion.  Instead, we should practice being an astute observer.  How does this person conduct his life?  How does she handle herself in difficult situations?  Does the content of his day-to-day life reveal a person who is committed to Jesus?  Is the spiritual foundation of her life as solid as she claims it is?  

Today, know that claims of faith are easily made, but the true follower of Jesus seeks daily to be obedient to the One whom he claims as his Lord.  This is the measure by which the Lord will use to judge everyone.  

© Jim Musser 2016

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