"If You Meant it, you'll Mention It!"

"If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven. But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven."              Matthew 10:32-33 (ncv)

In the book "GASP" by Tony Nolan, he says he is asked often what that verse means... in short his reply, "If you meant it, you'll mention it! ... This is not something that you tuck - away in your heart, treating it like some sort of private thing between you and God. It was a personal thing, but God never intended for it to be private."

I remembered as I read this the day that Andy, my son, prayed asking Jesus to be his Savior. It was at VBS and as soon as the prayer was finished he looked up at me, told me what he had done and immediately wanted to go call his daddy and everyone else he knew!  The excitement of that moment and his decision was real and motivating. He wanted to tell the world! As Andy has grown up physically, he has also grown up spiritually and he still gets excited about “telling the world” that he is a Christian! (Andy, I hope you don't mind me sharing this!)

When I was younger I remember singing a song…

“I’ll tell the world, that I’m a Christian,
I’m not ashamed, His name to bear;
I’ll tell the world, that I’m a Christian,
I’ll take Him with me anywhere.”

Telling the world that I’m a Christian is my ultimate calling in life. Why, because I’ve been called into vocational ministry? No, not at all – it’s because I’m a follower of Jesus. When I was baptized I took seriously the symbolic display of my old life “passing away” and being born a new creation in Christ Jesus.  As I publicly showed my church family that I had given control of my life to Jesus – I was also saying that I’d be taking Him with me anywhere and everywhere I would go. I’m proud to say I’m a Christian and I want to share my passion for Christ with others so maybe they will experience it too.

Yet, there is more to that verse… “But if anyone denies Me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven." 

What does it mean to deny Christ?  Webster says to deny means to declare not to be true.  Peter did it and Jesus even told him before it ever happened that he would.  Peter loved Jesus and said that he would never do that! Yet, he did – three times. 

·         When the conversation got uncomfortable he denied.

·         When it looked like people were going to judge Him, he denied.

·         When He feared he would physically be harmed, he denied.

Can you relate?

I believe we’re called to BOLDLY acknowledge Christ!  Bro. Randy, my pastor, recently said in a sermon – “I’d rather look like a nut to the world than be disobedient to my Savior.”  When we live boldly, acknowledging Christ in our life – we will look, talk, and behave differently. To live boldly for Christ means that we will make decisions that will cause others to shake their heads and ask questions. To live boldly means letting go of “things that weigh us down"; sometimes that might be a person, or music we listen to or TV shows we watch or movies we go to.  If our lifestyle so closely resembles the world that the world can’t see Jesus in us… wouldn’t that be denying Christ? 

I’ll tell the world, how Jesus saved me,
and how He gave me a life brand new;
And I know that if you trust Him,
that all He gave me, He’ll give to you.

Romans 10:9-10 says, “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.”

You too can be “born again” and have a life that is everlasting!  God created everything and He found it all to be “very good”. That includes us – people.  God doesn’t demand our love or attention, our commitment or dedication; but He does long for it. He wants us to come to Him out of love and our need for Him to protect us & to save us.  This is a hard, mean, hateful world and trying to walk through it alone must be the hardest thing a person has to do… but it doesn’t have to be.  God never promises when we come to Him the troubles will disappear, but He does promise that we won’t be alone. He picks us up when we fall and He carries us.

I wish I could express this overwhelming feeling I have!  I’m not an eloquent writer; I’m not really  that great as a speaker either – so I’m not really sure how to express my love for Jesus, other than to live my life to glorify God and cause others to wonder and ask me why I do the things I do, why I act the way I act, and why I say the things I say. 

The life I live, the free gift I’ve been given – it’s yours for the asking!

“Oh, tell the world, that you’re a Christian,
Be not ashamed, His name to bear;
Oh tell the world, that you’re a Christian,
And take Him with you anywhere.”