By: The Very Rev. Robert S. Munday
I heard of a business owner one time who had employed dozens of Christians in his company. He was interested in Christianity but afraid to admit it.
He said, “You know, I was drawn toward God by observing Christian workers who were conscientious and kind and thorough and honest on the job.”
“But I’ll tell you what really impressed me. One day a guy who I knew to be a new convert asked if he could see me after work. “I was surprised when he came in my office with his head hanging low and said to me, ‘I’ll only take a few minutes, but I’m here to ask your forgiveness. Over the years I’ve worked for you I’ve done what a lot of other employees do, like borrowing a few company products here and there. I’ve taken some extra supplies; I’ve abused telephone privileges; and I’ve cheated the time clock now and then.”
“‘But I became a Christian a few months ago, and it has changed my life. Because of what Christ has done for me and in obedience to Him, I know I need to make amends to you and the company for the things I have done that are wrong. So could we figure out a way to do that? If you have to fire me for what I’ve done, I’ll understand. I deserve it. Or, if you want to dock my pay, dock it whatever figure you think is appropriate. If you want to give me some extra work to do on my own time, that would be okay, too. I just want to make things right with God and between us.’”
Well they worked things out. And the business owner, who soon became a Christian himself, said that this conversation made a deeper spiritual impact on him than anything else ever had. It was the single most impressive demonstration of true Christianity he had ever witnessed. What was it that made this new believer so contagious? Was it a clever new gospel presentation? Was it a well-rehearsed testimony? No. It was merely a genuine and humble admission of wrongdoing along with a willingness to make it right. It was consistent Christianity. Perhaps there’s something you should confess at work, or in your home, or in your neighborhood. Or there could be an area of your life that you know isn’t right, but you’re still trying to cover it up in the hope that nobody will find out. Maybe now God’s Spirit is prompting you to go to somebody and say, “Because I am serious about my relationship with God, I want to be right before Him and with you; I need to apologize.” People who are investigating Christianity don’t expect perfection from Christians. They know nobody’s perfect. What they hope to find is someone with the courage to confess their blunders and make things right. They want to see humility and repentance, and a way of dealing with life’s problems that is genuine and that is better than the life they have known.
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?” By coming to Jesus, and asking Him to restore you, to flavor you again with the saltiness He desires to be in you. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is what He exists to do in the life of a believer. You and I cannot do it on our own. We need to ask God to send the Holy Spirit to do it in us. We need to ask God to make us “contagious Christians,” for Jesus sake.
“You are the light of the world…. Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:13-14, 16)