It was lunchtime as the UPS (United Parcel Service) delivery truck pulled into the parking lot of a local sports bar. The driver, though hungry, had another reason for stopping. His favorite college basketball team was competing in the NCAA post-season basketball tournament and the game was being televised there.
Entering the bar, Joe (not his real name) spent his lunch break watching the game, though he didn’t consume any alcoholic beverage. When his break was over, Joe returned to his truck.
There he was met by his immediate supervisor.
“Joe, I’m suspending you from work for five days.”
“But why?” Joe protested. “I just finished my lunch break. I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”
“We received a call from someone who said they observed a UPS delivery man entering a bar.”
“Hey, I didn’t order or drink any alcohol; I just watched the game. I follow the company rules.”
“I believe you, Joe. But when you wear a UPS uniform and drive a UPS truck, you represent UPS. The public’s opinion of UPS is based on the actions of its employees. Stopping in a bar, even to watch a game, isn’t consistent with the image of dependability UPS wants to project to our customers.”
Who and What Do Christians Represent?
For Christians, this true story strikingly illustrates the importance of obeying 1 Thessalonians 5:2222Abstain from all appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22) (quoted above).
Too often, those who profess to be Christians assume they represent a particular denomination with certain ecclesiastical rules. But such thinking sets aside the real meaning of Christian—one who follows Christ and, we may add, one who represents Christ and His interests in this world. “Ye are our epistle . . . known and read of all men” (2 Cor. 3:22Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: (2 Corinthians 3:2)).
Saints are not called to defend man-made theologies and doctrines. But as members of the one body of Christ, the assembly, which is “the pillar and the base of the truth” (JND), we are to hold fast the “form of sound words” (2 Tim. 1:1313Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:13)).
Actions
The world says, “Actions speak louder than words.” Scripture gives us the moral truth: “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:16, 2016Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (Matthew 7:16)
20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:20)). How important that we who have trusted the Lord Jesus be careful that our actions and ways would reflect His meekness, holiness, love and grace!
The Lord Jesus said to those Pharisees who tried to find fault with Him, “The works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me” (John 5:36; 10:2536But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. (John 5:36)
25Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. (John 10:25)). Later, the blessed Saviour challenged their wicked heart of unbelief, saying, “Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works’ sake” (John 14:1111Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. (John 14:11)). How perfectly and powerfully His works testified to His divine Person!
In an earlier day Joseph’s works, whether in Potiphar’s house or in Pharaoh’s prison, were prosperous (see Gen. 394And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. 5And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. (Genesis 39:4‑5)). In a later day, Solomon’s servants bear powerful testimony to the Queen of Sheba by their works (see 1 Kings 10:4-5; 24And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, 5And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her. (1 Kings 10:4‑5)
4That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. 5Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. (1 Kings 2:4‑5) Chron. 9:3-4). Later yet, Daniel rebuked King Darius from the lion’s den concerning his actions: “My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt” (Dan. 6:2222My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. (Daniel 6:22)).
May our actions as believers not only speak louder than words, but may they support our words and glorify our blessed Lord.
Talk
What we say as believers is also vitally important.
The words spoken by Paul and Barnabas not only carried moral power, but were spoken in a way which brought many souls to salvation. We learn from Exodus 28 that the holy garments of glory and beauty Aaron was to wear included a robe whose hem had alternating golden bells and pomegranates (Ex. 28:3434A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about. (Exodus 28:34)). Aaron’s priestly work (pomegranates) was to be equally balanced with his words (golden bells).
Words and Works
As holy priests, believers worship (words) offering up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. As royal priests we serve (work), showing “forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:99But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)).
The blessed Lord Jesus Christ is our perfect example. When asked by the unbelieving Jews, “Who art Thou,” His answer shines with moral beauty and perfection. “Altogether that which I also say to you” (John 8:2525Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. (John 8:25) JND). His words and His works were always perfectly balanced—divinely consistent.
May it be so with us who wear a uniform—one of infinitely more responsibility and privilege than the UPS delivery man—the uniform of Christ.
Let us as children of God be found faithfully shinning as lights in the world, while earnestly holding forth the word of life to the lost and perishing (Phil. 2:1516 JND).
Ed.