What has happened to His manifest presence in the earth? What has happened to the world, that the name of Jesus must be spoken in whispers, and Christians are ashamed of their belief?
I imagine cities, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta, London, Berlin, Hong Kong, Jerusalem. . . cities filled with bustling people; busy people. People so wrapped up in their troubles and problems that they can't make room for the God who created them. You get weird looks if you mention the name of Jesus in public. . . the Holy Spirit is constantly quenched, He cannot work in the earth.
I long to live in a world where I can stand in the center of Times Square, and shout "Let's have three cheers for God Almighty!!! Hip hip—" and have everyone within earshot chime in "—HOORAY!!! Hip Hip...HOORAY!!!" People in all parts of the city stop what they are doing at the sound of distant cheering. A whisper runs through the crowd; "Three cheers for God!" "Hip Hip...HOORAY!!!" The city explodes in cheering for our Creator. People with upturned faces and outstretched hands praising our Creator, our Savior, our King. Schedules thrown to the wind. Employers will understand. A few minutes more or less of work makes no difference. It's God, here! The traffic stops; the city engulfed by the presence of God in our praises.
"Hip Hip...HOORAY!!!....
Hip Hip...HOORAY...........Hip Hip...HOORAY"
The sound of cheering fades in my ears, and the vision shatters like reflections in a pool. I stand alone on a busy sidewalk. No sound of cheering now, no sound of voices shouting praise and thanks to our God.
I hear horns, and shouts, the chaotic clatter of a city too busy for God. Hordes of people rush past, and I am left with ringing ears.
If I cried for three cheers for God, I would get some strange looks, some indulgent smiles, maybe even one or two good-natured participants. If I persisted someone would call the police to haul me off as a lunatic and a disturber of the peace. But the city would go on, too busy for God, too inverted for listening to wisdom. Just busy, busy, busy. . .
I know somewhere out there are people who are earnest about God, who would whole-heartedly join in that cheer. But they are few and far between. My heart breaks at the condition of this country. Of the world, in general. Lawlessness is mistaken for freedom. Freedom is used as an excuse for defying God.
Why doesn't the world want a better way? The Body of Christ should be a walking, living testimony to how wonderful our God is. When people look at us, they should want what we have. Why do people ridicule us and defy God? Is it because we are not modeling God like we should? When people look at us, do they see God? Or do they see people, hypocrites; who claim to be holy, but on the inside are not changed.
The world has been biased against God by men who claim to be His people, but are not. Christianity has been stereotyped as a bunch of old hypocrites who go to church on Sunday, and act like the world the rest of the week. But how can we reverse the damage? How can we model God to a world which has closed it's eyes and ears to us? How can we reach a world that does not want to be reached?
If the true people of God, the people within a people, the men and women and children who are truly transformed by God, and long to be like him in every way; if these people would shine for Him, and be light and salt in a world which has no light and no flavor, it can change.
It's the little things.
The way you treat the waitress at the place you ate lunch. Holding doors for people. The smile you give the lady at the checkout counter. Your attitude when you are pulled over and given a speeding ticket. The contentedness in your face if you have to wait in line for something.
It's the little things that show the world God's love. Long suffering, love, gentleness, peace, joy, goodness...these are what the world so desperately needs and doesn't see.
If we show the world a peace and a joy and a love that they don't have, but want, they will come to us. It must be by example, not by persuasion or by force, that people are drawn to the kingdom of God.
If they only saw something they wanted in Christ's people, churches would be filled, and revial would have engulfed the world. But they don't.
The true people of God must begin to act.
The people who are not satisfied with simply being born again, but want are willing to grow as God calls them; they must be that light and salt in the earth.
We may be few, but with God all things are possible. If He has even a few people in the earth to work through, mountains could be removed. Spiritual mountains.
People could be changed forever. Governments could be purified. God could take the helm of our nation once again.
If we could only realize what an impact we have on the world through our actions, our attitude, our speech. We must stand up and be available for God to use.
But how does it begin?
It's the little things.
