Visit an auto auction.
Nah, not one for cars no one wants. Pick the luxury venues for custom cars built to spec or restored from the ground up.
Which ones get the most money? The ones that are perfect, of course. We look at the sheen of the paint, open the hood to see if the engine numbers match, and even crawl underneath to see if we can find any rust. We want the car to be perfect, if we’re going to pay the highest price.
As Christians, we need to be rust-free (without sin), numbers-matching (completely aligned with Christ), and shiny in the sun (perfect in behavior and appearance).
1 Timothy 4:12 reveals the ultimate Christian that will bring the big bucks before the world:
“Let no man despise your youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, [and] in purity.”
What an awesome witness that would be, but who can live up to that?
We can, one chrome hubcap at a time. Let’s break it down:
In word:
Do we do what we say? When we follow through on our commitments, we’ve validated the Christ in us.
In conversation:
Does our lifestyle reflect Christian values? It’s seen in our clothing, where we party, and the friends we spend time with.
In charity:
Charity is really love, and not the words of our mouth. Are we kind toward others? How we treat the unlovable is the true test of the love of Christ in our life.
In spirit:
Are we generous with those in need? If we hoard our possessions when those around us are destitute, we’ve failed the Christ test.
In faith:
How do we react when life rocks our boat? Our unshakable confidence in God reflects our faith in him.
In purity:
Do we abstain from improper relationships? When we remain chaste except within the bonds of marriage, we leave no room for criticism of our Christian lifestyle.
It takes an investment of effort and money to get the highest price at the best auto auctions. People won’t pay for hastily patched-together wannabes. If we want the world to respect us as Christians, it’s not going to be easy. We have an investment to make if we're to live by Christ’s exacting standards.
When we clean up for Christ, the world will admire what we’ve become.
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