Bella Vista Church of Christ
LIFELINES
February 21, 2001 Randall Caselman
Glorified or Embarrassed?
Paul admonishes us to walk as children of light. John tells us that our souls are continually cleaned as we walk in the light. Jesus said, I am the light. Then in the Sermon on the Mount, we find this sobering statement...
You are the light of the world, a city set on a hill cannot be hid, neither do men light a candle and place it under a basket, but on a candlestick... Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Now there is a world of difference in letting our light shine and shining our light. Some use their light to draw attention to themselves. They shine their light in the faces of others, forcing them to look at their greatness. It is called Theatrical Goodness. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were light shiners. They sounded the trumpet whenever they prayed, fasted or gave to the poor. They did their good deeds so others would see them and appreciate them. Jesus plainly gives the reason for our good works: It is not for our glory, but that God might be glorified. So, God can be glorified or embarrassed by us and how we behave. For instance, He is embarrassed or glorified ...
By our calendar. God has set aside some days to be glorified in very special ways. In the Old Testament it was... Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Under the law of Christ, it is the first day of the week. The Hebrews’ writer tells us to not forsake such assemblies. It is amazing today those who claim to be Christian lights who embarrass God by choosing to ignore assembling to worship Him. We embarrass God by choosing to go to the lake, the golf course, the mall, by choosing to sleep in or watch television on the Lord’s Day. Are we a proper example to others, or are we an embarrassment to the God we have promised to honor and worship?
By our tongue. Two of the seven things listed in Proverbs as being an abomination to God concern lying. John plainly tells us that Satan is the father of lies. When we lie we align ourselves with Satan and bring about an embarrassment to our heavenly Father. Paul tells us in Ephesians chapter five that we should be imitators of God, as His children. Then he writes, there should be no obscenity, no foolish or coarse joking from your lips... Because this is out of place for His children... But rather words of praise and thanksgiving.
God is embarrassed when we use his name in vain, when lewd, off-colored jokes are voiced by His children, when we gossip and spew hate and vengeance toward others. Think about it... Light is never ugly. Light is never hurtful, harmful or hateful.
By our dress. You mean God can be embarrassed by the clothes we wear?
I would that women dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. Fig leaves were not enough to modestly dress Adam and Eve. God was embarrassed, so He fashioned clothing for them out of animal skins.
However, immodest dress is not just confined to sexually explicit clothing. Modesty is conservative dress, not lavish, not extravagant, not ostentatious, showy, not pretentious, but moderate and reasonable. Webster says modest dress is according to conventional standards and free from coarseness or indecency, but chaste and moderate. Who are we attempting to impress... Man or God? God help us to not be so overly concerned with dress, but with good deeds so that God can be glorified in us.
Another thing that ought to be said about light. Light provides direction. Light points the way. Light guides. We are the light of the world. Children of light point to God, the Father of lights. Jesus said...
If I be lifted up... All men will be drawn to Me. May we lift Him up... Point to Him... Light the way to God and never embarrass Him.
RANDALL CASELMAN
