DO WE BLEND WITH OUR WORLD OR STAND OUT FOR CHRIST?
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A chameleon life is a life that blends with its environment. “Chameleon” lizards, or green anole lizards, are experts at camouflage. They are amazingly created by God to blend perfectly with their surroundings. While perched on a plant will become bright green. While sitting on a tree trunk will turn deep brown. While sunning on the sand will change to light tan. Their cryptic coloring is their means of protection.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Romans 12:2
Are we cryptically blending with our environment? Do our lives conform to those in our world? Do we prefer to “fit in” rather than “stand out” for God?
We may lead cryptic lives in differing ways. Perhaps we camouflage our Christian identity so that few recognize that we are Christians. Secret Christians blend in with the world to avoid being excluded for their faith. Seeking to be liked, they’d rather play it safe than face criticism or even condemnation. They prefer to stay within their comfort zone of anonymity.
When we protect ourselves cryptically, keeping our faith secret, we miss opportunities to reach others for Christ. We are not allowing the light of Christ to shine into the lives of the lost. We are not letting the love of Christ touch their hearts. People are placed in our lives for a reason. God desires that we share the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15).
Perhaps we are Christians in name only. Fair weather Christians live their lives cryptically to blend in with other Christians. They put on the appearance of godliness… talking the Christian talk… pursuing Christian activities, while clinging tightly to the world and its ways. When storms come their way and trials beset them, their Christian personas quickly crumble. When it is no longer easy to be a Christian… or no longer advantageous… they turn away from their faith.
When we are blending in with other Christians, yet harboring worldly attitudes and values in our hearts, we are living a superficial faith. We are Christians in name only. Our hearts are not sold out to Christ. We have not truly yielded our lives to our Lord and King. When our hearts are captured by the world, we are of little benefit to God (1 John 2:15).
“The Lord does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the Lord sees the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7
God does not want us to be experts at camouflage. He longs for our faith to be genuine… faith that changes our hearts and our lives. He desires that we stand for Him in the world and impact lives for His kingdom. For we just may be the only Jesus some people will ever meet.
The way we live opens a window into our character. If we are living a chameleon life… secret Christians flying under the radar… keeping our beliefs to ourselves, we fail to shine for Christ in a world so in need of Him. If we are fair weather Christians… controlled by worldly desires rather than God’s desires, our compliance will be only outward while inwardly we choose to ignore or forget God.
God understands our hearts. He sees beyond our words and conduct. Nothing is hidden from our omniscient God. He created us and knows us intimately. He sees our every thought, intent, motive, desire. While we may try to be someone outwardly, inwardly our true character is discerned by Him.
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?” – Matthew 5:13
Where does our true allegiance lie? Are we keeping our faith hidden within us? Are we aligning ourselves with Christ only in “fair weather” or when it benefits us? Or is our loyalty to Christ and His kingdom? Are we sold out to the Lord of our lives?
Christianity is a religion of the heart. The gospel is not only to be believed but lived out as a changed life. Salt seasons food, bringing out its full flavor. Jesus calls us, His people, to be the salt of the earth. We are to season our world with the love of Christ, drawing others to Him. If we lose our saltiness, blending in with everyone else, we are of little value to His kingdom.
“As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.” – Philippians 1:27
The Christian life is not to be a cryptic life, camouflaging our true selves and beliefs. Whether a secret faith or a fair weather faith… both are chameleon lives. We are not to be like other people, even other Christians… we are to be like Christ. We are to stand out as His disciples. Our outward appearance is to match our inward beliefs. Only then can we truly impact our world for the kingdom.
