"If His God Were So great, He Should Have Lived a Better Life" (Matthew 5:16)

At a recent dinner gathering, I was listening to a woman lament the deaths of many of her relatives.  As I saw the pain on her face, I prayed to the Holy Spirit to provide an opportunity for me to witness to her. However, she launched into a story that silenced everyone in the room. She recounted the story of her younger brother who attended seminary but never continued on this path and worked as a mailman. He later had an affair and divorced his wife. Shaking her head in disgust, she exclaimed, “If his God were so great, he should have lived a better life!”

Ouch.

God is great and perfect and He chooses to work through flawed and imperfect people. Regardless of whether this woman’s younger brother was a true believer in Jesus Christ, he was a poor witness of His name. And this is the problem. Saved or unsaved, there are many people who state they are Christians but show no change in their lifestyle. Whether they or I admit it or are even aware, others, especially non-believers and seekers, are watching and observing his and my actions and behavior and wondering, “If he is a Christian, does he live a changed life? Is he hiding behind the name of Jesus Christ to distract us from his sins? If his God were so great, shouldn’t he live a better life?”

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

How many times has my witness for God been derailed by the sins of my past and current life? As John Calvin stated, “Faith alone saves but the faith that saves is not alone.” Once we are saved, the Holy Spirit indwells within us and empowers us to live a changed life. This is the true evidence of salvation. And everyone who witnesses your changed life will know that only the supernatural intervention of a living God could do this.

God is great and He does enable us to live a better life, one that is truly pleasing to Him.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your live.