Flashlights, Krispy Kreme original glazed and HOPE...

Not long ago my wife and I held a garage sale. You know, a day when you gather the tons and tons of things that have accumulated over the past zillion years and you put it all out in your garage, driveway and front yard. You then post signs at strategic places in and around your neighborhood and, at that point, you prepare for the onslaught of hungry garage sale buyers. Well anyway, we held our garage sale and once the day was over we went out for a nice dinner and then, after dinner, we headed over toward downtown for one of my favorite treats in the entire world… Krispy Kreme doughnuts! Oh come on, you know you like ‘em too! I mean when they’re hot, right off the ‘doughnut birthing line’, it is at that time you realize that there are few pleasures that can surpass the original glazed Krispy Kreme doughnut as it melts in your mouth. Okay, okay… back to my story. We went to purchase and enjoy a box of those glazed heavenly clumps of pure fat and as we sat there, eating the doughnuts (one doughnut for my very sensible wife and six glazed masterpieces for her gluttonous husband….me) and drinking our coffee we begin to watch the package store across the street. Well, not the package store itself; package stores are inanimate objects that don’t really do anything entertaining so we were, more accurately, watching the patrons of the package store as they entered and then, a short time later, exited with their purchase… their ‘hope in a bottle’.
Okay, I know that not everyone that entered that package store, or any package store for that matter, lacks hope and this is not a condemnation of drinking and alcohol; but as my wife and I watched those people going into and then out of that package store that day we couldn’t help but think, “They are going into that store and coming out with their ‘dose of hope’ for the weekend. What is it that keeps people from looking upward, to Jesus, for their hope?
Days later, as I continued to contemplate this question, I was reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 5 when he said, “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” I realized that we find our hope in God through our trails, tribulations and sufferings and during those times, often it is easier to medicate with worldly things than to meditate on God’s Word. Now I know… I should have gone across the street and began sharing the Gospel message with those going into the store and I didn’t. I guess that’ll have to be a topic for a later ‘Blog’ but my point is this; even if I had gotten up, artistically maneuvered my way across the busy Atlanta street, and begin to dialogue with those going into the store, sharing Christ with them and telling them, as best I could of His incredible love for us, what would have made the difference for them? What is it that would have caused them to deny their bottle and embrace a Bible and a relationship with Christ? Sure, if we share the gospel according to the exact plan laid out for us in any of a plethora of evangelism training classes or books, then I should have no problem right? Okay, yes, there was a hint of sarcasm in that last comment. But, I really want to know… how do we make a difference in the lives of those who have already decided that the world and its pleasures are a better choice than God and His promises?
I think we must be relational, building relationships as Jesus did but also, I think we must not only ‘talk-the-talk’ but we MUST ‘walk-the-walk’. When we are TRULY living a life devoted to Christ people can see our hearts! Even during a brief encounter a sincere heart for God shines through like a flood light in an underground cavern.
In the days since this experience I’ve had to ask myself over and over, “Am I REALLY living Christ in all that I do? Can others really see Christ in me?” I’m dealing with those questions still today, as I sit at my computer pounding on these little black keys. May I invite you to join me in considering the same questions? If we, as Christians, are going to make a difference it’s time to turn on our ‘flashlights’ and let them be seen everywhere we go, in everything that we do… we don’t have to turn off our flashlights to conserve the batteries. God’s batteries NEVER expire! And remember this… the darkness can NEVER hide the light (unless we fail to turn the light on) but the light will ALWAYS overcome the darkness!

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)