Who's watching you?

This amazing photo was taken on December 14th 2006, high above the South Island (Te Waipounamu*) of New Zealand, and more specifically above Christchurch, my hometown. As I was going about my business, the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery were undertaking a partial rewiring of the International Space Station.

I was completely unaware, as no doubt most of my fellow citizens were as well, that we were being observed.

How often in life have you been watched, completely oblivious that your actions are being noted, commented upon, and maybe even copied?

Unsaved people are watching us, looking for an excuse to reject the message of Christ and those of us who proclaim to live by faith.  Most non-believers that we all mingle with have never read the Bible, but they can read you, and more importantly, your actions! 

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, so that you might speak of the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  you who then were not a people, but now the people of God, those not pitied then, but now pitied. Dearly beloved, I exhort you as temporary residents and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honest among the nations, in that which they speak against you as evildoers, they may glorify God in a day of His visitation, seeing your good works. 1 Peter 2:9-12 MKJV

Whether we like it or not, the moment we embrace the faith of Christ, we pin a target to our back! People are watching us to find out what a child of God is like. How do we react under pressure? What do we do when the going gets rough? What do we do when there seems to be no way out?

At work, at school, at play, around our neighborhoods  people are watching us.

Why are they are watching us?

Because they have problems and they want answers to their problems. Christianity promises an answer. You're a Christian, so they want to see if the answer works. It was John Wesley who said “Catch on fire and others will love to come watch you burn.”

Most of us will never stand in the pulpit and preach; the life we live is a far more effective sermon. "You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own." Leviticus 20:26 NLT  

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 NLT


The world isn't looking for sorrow. Everywhere we look there is sorrow. The world has more than enough trouble. Most people don't want just sympathy, most are looking for joy, peace, and
confidence, a reason to carry on.

As a believer in Jesus Christ and trusting in my Lord, I have great confidence that the Lord will work out every situation. I have joy. I'm a child of God. I have peace. Be thou an example of a spirit infused believer, for people are watching, desperate to know that God that you believe in.

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 MKJV


Now to Him being able to keep you without stumbling, and to set you before His glory without blemish, with unspeakable joy; Jude 1:24 MKJV

 

* Te Waipounamu is the Maori (indigenous peoples of New Zealand) name for the South Island.
Te - the
Wai - water
pounamu - greenstone.( jade)