Living for the world to see should pose the question, to see what? We all are living for the world to see something. You may be making a conscious effort to convey a certain image, or you may be living not thinking of what your life is saying. In either case, you are writing the story of your life. Each day your actions, attitudes, and appearance fill the book others will see.
The way we look tells a story. Do we appear happy, frustrated, in pain, haughty, mad, or totally indifferent to those around us? What about the way we dress, what does that say? Does it say I’m too lazy to take care of my clothes, or very concerned about being in style? Does it convey that I want to look sexy by revealing areas of my body to others that would or could cause them to lust? Does it say classy, cheap, rich, or poor? What about our hairstyle, or the lack thereof? Everything about us tells a story of who we are and where we place importance. In a few short minutes, people sum you up by how you look. This includes what you wear, or if you are neat and clean. It includes your facial expressions, your body language, and most importantly the words you speak, and how you say them. Every day we are painting a picture for the world to see that expresses who we are and who’s we are. For me, I want to convey Christ in every area of my life.
II Corinthians 5:14 “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:”
Believe it or not, the lost world has an idea of what a Christian should look like and how they should act. While we have the liberty to do certain things that are not sinful or look certain ways that are not sinful, we should be constrained by our love for Christ and think about how we will be perceived. Every culture has its own set of standards of appearance for a Christian. In Romania, once you accept Christ the women dress very modestly and cover their heads in the church as an act of submission. Every culture has its own style and if it is within the biblical guidelines it is not sinful. Paul points out in I Timothy 2:9-10 that we are to be modest in our apparel. To dress modestly is to not draw attention to ourselves. When others look at us their attention should be drawn to our face, our countenance should be where their eyes stop. This isn’t just covering up our bodies, but it would also apply to dressing lavishly, especially in a culture where people are poor.
I Timothy 2:9-10 “likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.”
What about the way I speak? The words I use will reveal much about what is in my heart. Do I use words that I wouldn’t use if Jesus were sitting next to me? I remember witnessing to a man and his response to me was that he was no different than the Christians he knew. His point on speech was that Christians have their own curse words. He politely told me the words he heard Christians use were words that meant the same thing as the words nonbelievers used. Upon further research, I found what he said was true. Our slang words were derivatives from curse words of the world. His standard for speech was higher than the average Christian. Was he justified in God’s eyes to enter heaven? No, but the behavior of Christians had convinced him he was ok. I tried to explain that he needed God’s grace and mercy, he needed to repent and place his faith in Jesus, he needed the blood of Jesus to wash away his sins, but the stumbling block of other Christians had already convinced him he was ok.
As a Christian, I am to live as close to Jesus as I can. My actions, my appearance, and my attitudes are to emulate Him. Is it possible to be perfect, as He is perfect? No, not in this life, but we are to be in the process of becoming like Him. He is our standard. We are not ok just because we don’t do some of the things the world does. We are not ok because we do more for the church than other Christians. We are not ok because others think we are a great Christian. We are acceptable to God because Jesus took our place and paid the penalty for our sins. He is righteous, and we receive His righteousness when we repent and place our faith in Him as our Lord and Savior. He has left me here on this earth to be a witness for Him so that others may know Him. I am to live my life so that others see Jesus. I love the chorus to the song “Nobody” by Casting Crowns.
“I’m just a nobody
Trying to tell everybody
All about Somebody who saved my soul
Ever since You rescued me
You gave my heart a song to sing
I’m living for the world to see
Nobody but Jesus
I’m living for the world to see
Nobody but Jesus”
I Corinthians 6:19-20 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
