INDIA WON TO CHRIST IN JUST ONE DAYSounds impossible? The nation of India has over one billion citizens. Probably a majority of them, have never heard the name “Yeshua”, or Jesus. Their religious practice holds belief in over 350 million gods. How is it that any fool could even think such a thing as assert that this nation could be won to Christ in just “ONE DAY”? Do you remember the great Mahatma Ghandi, famed leader in India? There was a movie about his life some years ago. Would you think Ghandi was a fool? I surely would not. He was famous for his knowledge and his wisdom.Ghandi was given a bible to read, and he read it. At the conclusion, he remarked, “if only Christians would live like the bible says, India could be won to Christ in just one day”. That is an astounding statement beloved. Was Ghandi a fool, or did he realize much more than we, that how we live impacts the lives of others much more than our preaching and writing?It seems to me that the modern church in America today has been rendered into two expressions of Christian living. One is preaching and writing. Lets lump music in there too, shall we? We go to church two times a week, (used to be 3, but that has become unpopular of late), We hear the sermons and study teachings. We may even comment a bit here and there. We love our books by all the various authors and some thrill our hearts and set our conciousnces at ease, telling us all is well, or in a flash we’ll be gone.The other religious expression is attempting to avoid wrong doing, or at least the appearance of wrong doing before all, especially church brethren. We have our little glass of wine in secret, and that’s ok. But we wouldn’t dream of having a glass of wine in a local restaurant, for fear that someone from church might see us and condemn us. Now that just would not do, would it? We do not want our liberty to be a stumbling blocks for others. Or we watch our TV programs, but jump to turn the thing off if sister or brother Jones is seen coming up the sidewalk. Come on now, stay with me here.What about our pursuits? What is the real motivator behind what we do, you know, between church events? Yes we want to provide well for our families, so we work hard and long to do so. In fact, in most families today, both parents work. They claim they have too, to maintain the demands of all the payments and bills that must be paid so that they can live in the luxury that they have accustomed themselves too. When work is done, it’s time to relax, kick back, and enjoy yourself, watch some tv, and so on. No time for the children, other than just a casual remark or two at the microwave while we hurriedly prepare a dish for everyone and then everyone heads in their own direction to isolate themselves from each other in some form of electronic media. Am I just speaking to the web masters here? Does this sound familiar?Now we all hold in common a respect for the Bible, commonly called the Word of God. We are all satisfied with it’s authority as a guide for salvation and Godly living. This same Bible is what Ghandi was referring too when he made his outlandish statement about the conversion of India. Do you think perhaps that Ghandi may have noticed something that has almost completely been overlooked by the preachers and writers of this day? Well, let me ask you this question. Don’t be honest with me. Be honest with yourself. Are you completely satisfied with your life, the way you live it and maintain a peace and contentment within that exceeds understanding? If the answer is yes, you are doing well. If it is no, perhaps you should read on.I want to share with you a portion of Paul’s letter to Titus. Paul is reminding Titus, his faithful fellow servant of some things to keep in mind as he went about his daily life as a Christian, and a church leader. Let’s take a look in Chapter two, beginning at verse 7… 7 And show your own self in all respects to be a pattern and a model of good deeds and works, teaching what is unadulterated, showing gravity [having the strictest regard for truth and purity of motive], with dignity and seriousness.Notice that works come before instruction. Now the second half of this verse is worthy of a message all it’s own, but lets stay with the first part, shall we. The life of a Christian, and especially that of a leader should be as pure and clean in everything it does, as much as the Word he teaches and instructs. The example and demonstration of Godly Christlike living comes before the teaching. In other words, if we are not living it, we have nothing to teach. If we attempt to teach without living it, we cannot maintain the truth and purity of motive in our teaching because our life don’t back up what we speak or write. Now who is thought of as the “fool”? 8And let your instruction be sound and fit and wise and wholesome, vigorous and [b]irrefutable and above censure, so that the opponent may be put to shame, finding nothing discrediting or evil to say about us.The true Christian today is hated for Christ’s sake. He is hated because the truth of the Gospel, ie, Jesus Christ and Him crucified and the rest from works for salvation that our faith enjoys, the truth cannot be put to shame. No matter how hard they try, Jesus Christ will not go away. The unsaved attempt to strip themselves and society of every reminder possible that Jesus is Who He claimed to be. If Jesus was not Whom He claimed to be, why are reminders so bothersome? Because each one requires a decision. You will either be drawn to Christ by the reminder, or repelled. But you cannot stay where you are. If this is so, of displays of a cross or the 10 Commandments, How much more of the Christian who lives his/her faith like the bible teaches. Ghandi said that the impact of living like the bible says could make an earth shaking impact on church growth. I hear all this talk from so called “prophets” about end time revival. Would you think it a revival if over one billion people were saved in one day????? I sure would. What does Mr. Ghandi attribute this up surge of such staggering proportions? Living the Christian life, like the bible teaches….like Paul is reminding Titus, and you and I to do. Let’s read on…. 9[Tell] bond servants to be submissive to their masters, to be pleasing and give satisfaction in every way. [Warn them] not to talk back or contradict,My Lord, have you noticed that the work ethic in this country has been lost? Greed instead of integrity has so polluted all we do, that the quality of goods and services in this country has backslidden beyond comprehension. You older folks know what I’m talking about. Finding good and faithful employees is next to impossible, so we have to settle for what we can get and then supervise them vigorously just to try and make sure that most of the work is done correctly. Makes you want to jump on an airplane and take a trip, doesn’t it. Don’t think for a second that the airline industry is impervious to this erosion of ethic and value. Let’s continue on….10 Nor to steal by taking things of small value, but to prove themselves truly loyal and entirely reliable and faithful throughout, so that in everything they may be an ornament and do credit to the teaching [which is] from and about God our Savior.What is an ornament? It is something that is on display, the exterior designed to attract attention in a favorable manner, so as to make it or it’s owner desirable. Selah! Does the way we live our lives and act in the work place make God look good? 11For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.Again, Paul reminds us that our salvation and deliverence is only through unmerited favor of God, and that because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ and our faith in His salvation for us all. 12It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world, So how do we live such a Christlike life? Paul reminds Titus in the verse above, that living the life is through the same source of power that saved us. The unmerited favor before Almighty God through the redemption of the Cross. Paul told the church at Corinth that the cross is foolishness for those who are being lost, but to those who are being saved, it is the power of God. The POWER of God. Power to do what? The power to reject and renounce all ungodliness. I have to ask myself, do I live my life in such a way as to renounce and reject all ungodliness? Or do I compromise far too often as I do, and let certain things slide? I slide far too often. How many know that this “slide” is not forward, but backward? I lose ground. Do you? Do we renounce all worldly desires? You know, living like the bible says? 13 Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One),The second coming of Christ is a universal Christian belief. Just the timing of His coming that causes discussion and division. 14Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly His own, people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds.(A)Who redeemed us? Not our works, His work. From what are we redeemed? All iniquity and He has purified us. We have not purified ourselves. Are we really enthusiastic about living a life that is good and filled with beneficial deeds? Or, are our deeds and manner of living a system of works designed to bring relief to the desires of the flesh with personal ambition and gain? We work for more luxury, more comfort, more down time to enjoy the riches and pleasures of this world, all the while neglecting the Word of God in our own lives and that of our families.Beloved, James said if we are a friend of the world, we are an enemy of God. Sobering, very sobering.So, I guess I’ve said all that to say this. We need to refocus our emphasis on living what is preached, what is written in the Word. Not only we ourselves are sure to be revived spiritually, but maybe, just maybe someone else will see Christ in us, rather than hear of Him from our lips. To God be the Glory, now and forever amen!
