(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.”
Someone once asked the question, “If you were arrested and put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? I want to think about that question for a few moments.
If you were arrested and brought to trial for being a Christian and your family was brought into court and interrogated about your life, would they say that your life bears evidence that you are a Christian? Would they say that you love God? That you faithfully obey the Word of God? That you consistently live a godly and holy life? That you are faithful to attend the house of God? That you love others and witness to others? That you are quick to forgive those who offend you? That you are under authority in your life? Would they see the same thing in your life at home as they see when you are at church? Or would they say you are living a hypocritical life?
If you were arrested and brought to trial for being a Christian and your friends were brought into court and interrogated about your life, would they say that your life bears evidence that you are a Christian? Would they say that you live soberly, righteously, and godly in this world? Would they say there are places that you refuse to go and activities that you refuse to participate in because your Christian convictions? Would they say that your language is wholesome and god honoring? Or would they say that you are a lying false professor who does not live according to the Bible?
If you were arrested and brought to trial for being a Christian and your church fellowship was brought into court and interrogated about your life, would they say that your life bears evidence that you are a Christian? Would they say that you are faithful in your attendance at the house of God? Would they say that you faithfully support your pastor and the Word of God that he preaches? Would they say that you love other and help maintain unity in the local body of Christ? Would they say that you faithfully and actively support the ministries of your local church? Or would they say, there is no evidence of you being a real Christian?
If you were arrested and brought to trial for being a Christian and your foes were brought into court and interrogated about your life, would they say that your life bears evidence that you are a Christian? Would they say that in spite of their hateful attitudes and ill treatments of you that you keep forgiving them and doing them good and treating them right? Would they say, no matter how bad they slander you, curse you, and try to destroy you, that you just keep showing the love of Jesus toward them? Or would they say that you are a bitter, angry, self-avenging person that has no evidence of being like Jesus?
If you were arrested and brought to trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? The truth is, there should be. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works…”
It is by our good works and godly living according to the Word of God that we give evidence that we are Christians.
Pastor Allen Jackson