People are Watching, The Spotlight

 Do not dance in the spotlight

My old boss and good friend, Chief George A. Rowley, would always tell us this nugget of wisdom.

"Always act as if you are in the spotlight. Always act as if someone is watching you. They most likely are watching you. If you do this, you will always do the right thing."

There is a lot of wisdom in this. He told us this in the early nineties before there were cameras in everyone's hand and on every corner and store. He is correct. When you know someone is watching, you act the way you believe you should.

Jesus tells us this.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

Paul gives us this advice in his letter to the Church in Rome.

"Besides this, you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." Romans 13:11-14

We ARE children of God. We should be different than those who are not. We should be living our lives as living examples of God's love, mercy, and grace. We should always stand out a bit. People should see a difference. When they look at your life, do they?

What does it mean to live as the light of the world? What does it mean to live as if you are in the spotlight? Why did I say "Do not dance in the spotlight"? If we are supposed to be the light of the world, then what is wrong with dancing in the spotlight? This is what we are going to talk about today.

First, let's discuss what God actually means when he tells us to be the light of the World. The Word declares this.

"Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”" Ephesians 5:7-14

Have you ever thought of it this way? Until you do, you may actually have a hard time truly understanding your own Salvation. The word tells says this.

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," Philippians 2:12

Work out, or figure out, fully understand what it actually means to be saved. Read that last passage again. "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

Look at Romans 8:9-11

"You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact, the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you."

You were DEAD! As surely as if you were in the ground. You were on your way to hell. You had no hope whatsoever. Now? YOU are ALIVE! You are on your way to heaven. We marvel at the fact Jesus Himself was dead for three days and yet He rose from the grave. We marvel at the fact that Jesus raised a little girl, and Lazarus from the dead. Why do we fail to marvel at the fact Jesus raised you, us, from the dead? We were as dead as that little girl. Without Jesus, we are no more than the "walking dead."

Remember what Jesus said to the new believer that wanted to go and bury his father who just passed on.

"And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Luke 9:60

YOU were dead. DEAD! Jesus came to the grave in which you laid, He said to you, "Come out." He saved you.

"Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." Colossians 3:9-10

Now that you are a new creature, what has changed? Oh, your eternal destination of course. But I mean, what has changed here on earth. You say you are a "Christian." You say you are a child of God. You say you are saved. So when people watch you, and they do, what do they see? Do they see a difference in you and in anyone else? Are you feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, setting captives free? Are you sharing the gospel? Are you LIVING the Gospel? Are you producing fruit? Jesus told us this.

"A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits." Matthew 7:18-19

Are you bearing good fruit? I know some of this may be offensive to some people. But you have to be honest with yourself. Basically, what have YOU done for God lately? Oftentimes people ask "What has the church or God did for me lately?" The question you should ask yourself, and God gives to the answer or at least a way to measure the answer is, "What kind of fruit are you producing?"

God does not tell us that we are in the spotlight. He tells us, we are the spotlight. Do not dance in the spotlight for others to see. BE the spotlight so others may be able to see. See the difference? More on dancing in the spotlight next time. People are watching. So is God.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!