Michael had worked at the same company for nearly five years. He was a friendly man, knew how to make people laugh, and got along with most of his coworkers. On his desk sat a small Bible, and hanging on the wall behind him was a calendar with a Bible verse printed across the top.
One Monday morning, a coworker named Jason noticed the Bible and asked, “Michael, are you a Christian?” Michael smiled proudly. “Absolutely! I go to church every Sunday. I’ve been a Christian for years.” Jason nodded thoughtfully. “Really? I never would have known.” Michael’s smile faded. “What do you mean by that?”
Jason hesitated before answering. “Well, I’ve heard you curse when things don’t go your way. I’ve watched you take credit for work other people have done. I’ve heard you tear down coworkers behind their backs. And when people are struggling, you usually make jokes about them instead of offering to help. I’m not trying to judge you, Michael. I’m just telling you what I’ve seen.”
Michael didn’t know what to say. He had always thought of himself as a Christian because he attended church, knew some Bible verses, and believed in God. But he had never stopped to consider what his everyday behavior was telling the people around him. That evening, Michael sat quietly at his kitchen table with his Bible open. Jason’s words kept running through his mind. He began to wonder whether his coworkers had ever seen anything in him that reminded them of Jesus.
As he read his Bible, he came across the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Michael realized that his Bible on the desk wasn’t what made him a witness for Christ. His calendar verse wasn’t enough. Even his Sunday church attendance could not substitute for a life that reflected the character of Jesus. He knew he wasn’t perfect, and he understood that salvation wasn’t earned by good behavior. But he also realized that if Christ truly held first place in his heart, that relationship should begin to influence how he treated others.
The next morning, Michael made a decision. He would stop worrying so much about whether people knew he called himself a Christian and start asking whether his actions showed them the love of Christ. He apologized to a coworker he had wronged, gave credit where it was due, and began making a conscious effort to encourage rather than criticize. His life didn’t become perfect overnight, but his heart had begun to change.
And that brings us to an important question: If someone watched your life for a week without ever hearing you say you were a Christian, would they recognize Jesus in you?
Let’s take a closer look at the difference between professing to be a Christian and living a life that points others to Christ. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “What do people see when they look at me? Do they see Christ, or do they see the world? Many people profess to be Christians. They attend church, carry a Bible, pray before meals, and may even speak about God. But the real question is not simply whether we profess to know Christ. The question is whether our lives demonstrate that we belong to Him.
Being a Christian is more than a title. It is more than attending church on Sunday or saying the right words when others are listening. It is about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and allowing Him to change the way we live.
James 1:22 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
We can hear the Word of God every Sunday, but if we never apply it to our lives, what good is it doing us? We can talk about love while treating others with hatred. We can speak about forgiveness while holding grudges. We can claim to trust God while allowing fear, anger, pride, and worldly desires to control our decisions. Our profession of faith should be reflected in our daily actions.
Hiding Your Faith from the World
Have you ever been around people who knew you were a Christian, but you remained silent when the conversation turned toward God? Perhaps you were afraid someone might laugh at you, criticize your beliefs, or think you were different. It is easy to speak about Jesus inside the church. But what happens when we leave the church doors? Do we live differently at work, in the grocery store, among our friends, or when we are alone?
Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
God did not save us so we could hide our faith. He calls us to be lights in a dark world. That does not mean we must constantly preach at people or act as though we are better than anyone else. It means our words, attitudes, decisions, and treatment of others should reflect the love and character of Jesus Christ.
When people watch how we handle disappointment, respond to criticism, treat our families, and deal with difficult people, they should see something different in us.
God or the World?
The Bible warns us that we cannot allow the world to become more important to us than God.
1 John 2:15 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
This does not mean we cannot enjoy the blessings God gives us. It means we must be careful not to let worldly desires, popularity, money, entertainment, or the approval of others take God’s place in our hearts.
Some people want the blessings of Christianity without the responsibility of living for Christ. They want heaven, but they do not want to surrender their lives to the Lord. They want others to think they are Christians, yet they have little interest in following what God’s Word teaches.
We must remember that nobody lives a perfect Christian life. We all stumble, make mistakes, and need God’s forgiveness. The difference is that a genuine relationship with Christ produces a desire to grow, repent, obey God’s Word, and become more like Him.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) reminds us, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Salvation is not earned by good works. We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. But genuine faith should begin to produce a changed life.
What Do Others See in You?
Take a moment today and examine your own heart. When your family sees you, do they see patience, kindness, and forgiveness? When your coworkers hear you speak, do your words honor God? When someone mistreats you, can they see the grace of Christ in your response? When you face trouble, does your faith remain visible?
Remember, people may never open a Bible, but they may observe your life. Your actions could be the very thing that encourages someone to seek the Lord—or causes someone to question the reality of your faith.
Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”
What a powerful reminder! Christianity is not about pretending to be perfect. It is about allowing Christ to live through us. So, I ask you one final question: When people look at you, do they see God, or do they see the world?
Do not be satisfied with merely professing Christianity. Make sure your life reflects the Savior you profess to follow. Let your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers see Jesus in your words and actions. You may be the only example of Christ that someone encounters today.
Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” May we never be Christians in name only, but believers whose lives point others to Jesus Christ.
An Invitation: Is Jesus Christ Your Personal Savior?
As we come to the end of this message, I want you to consider something more important than what other people see in you. I want you to consider what God knows about your heart. You may go to church every Sunday, know many Bible verses, help your neighbors, and try to live a good life. But have you personally trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior? Do you know for certain that your sins have been forgiven and that you have eternal life?
Being a Christian is not simply about being a good person, belonging to a church, or knowing what the Bible says. It is about recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and placing your faith in Jesus Christ, who died for your sins and rose again.
Romans 3:23 (KJV) says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Every one of us has sinned. None of us can earn salvation through good works, church attendance, or religious activities. We all need God’s forgiveness. But God loves us so much that He provided a way for us to be saved.
Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Eternal life is God’s gift through Jesus Christ. We cannot earn it; we must receive it by faith.
Perhaps you have spent years professing to be a Christian without ever personally trusting Christ. Perhaps you have been relying on your church attendance, good deeds, or family traditions to make you right with God. Today, you can stop relying on those things and put your trust in Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:9 (KJV) says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” And Romans 10:13 gives us this wonderful promise: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you recognize your need for salvation, turn to God in repentance and faith, believing that Jesus Christ died for your sins and rose again. You can speak to Him honestly in prayer. pray something like this.
Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I need Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again. I turn to You in repentance and place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive my sins and give me eternal life. Help me to follow You, grow in Your Word, and live a life that honors You. I no longer want to hide my faith or live only for the things of this world. Help others to see Jesus Christ in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Remember, the words of a prayer do not save you. Jesus Christ saves you when you place your faith in Him. Salvation is by God’s grace through faith, not by repeating a particular prayer or earning God’s favor through good works.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
If you have already trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, let this message be a reminder to examine your life and renew your commitment to Him. Ask God to help you stop hiding your faith, turn away from worldly influences, and let your light shine before others. The world does not need more people who merely claim to be Christians. It needs people whose lives point others to Jesus Christ.
So, I leave you with two important questions: Have you trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? And if you have, can others see Him living in you? Do not settle for a profession of faith without a personal relationship with Christ. Trust Him as your Savior, follow Him as your Lord, and let your life be a testimony of His saving grace. May the people who know you best see more than someone who talks about God. May they see someone who belongs to God, loves His Word, and is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
May God Bless you! Bob
I thank you for reading my blog. I do not claim to be any expert or affiliated with any religious organization. All I can say is that I’m affiliated with my Lord Jesus Christ. This is one man’s opinion and observations. My hope is I stirred up some thoughts for you to think about. There is one place that we can find all the answers to life. That road map is Commonly known as the Bible. If you want the answers to life all you have to do is read. If you would like me to pray with you or want to send a comment, please email me at Bob.L@Magnificentpromises.com
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
