An incident that has come to our notice illustrates two important points in Christian conduct.
C— and Frank had often worked together so that Frank had a good opportunity to observe the conduct and behavior of his partner. One night while they were busy at their assigned duties, Frank looked up from his work and said:
“C—, why is it that you don’t drink, smoke, or swear? There must be a difference between us. Then, too, when things go wrong here, and the work piles up, we act so differently. You are not affected, but go quietly ahead with your work, while I blow up and swear. What is the difference?” This was a lovely testimony to the quiet and consistent life of our young brother in Christ.
The unsaved about us should be able to see that there is a difference. They seldom, if ever, read the Bible, but they should be able to read Christ in the lives of His saints. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Corinth,
We, Christians, should be epistles in which the people of the world can read Christ. All that they know of Him is what they see in the lives of His people; therefore, we should be open letters written in large, clear, legible writing. We should so manifest the spirit of Christ in our ordinary every-day life, that our associates in the service, the school, the office, the shop, or the neighborhood will take knowledge of us that we are “different.” They should be able to recognize a spirit in us that is not in themselves. We should not have one manner of conduct for attending the meetings and associating with other Christians, and another for our every-day life in the world. The Lord Jesus is not in this world now, but He has left us here to witness for Him.
Frank’s interrogation gave C— a wonderful opportunity to witness by word of mouth for his Lord. His life had already spoken to this unbeliever; now, his words were to give a testimony. Here are some of the things that this follower of Christ said in reply:
“You are mistaken in thinking that I am not affected by things that go wrong, for some of them do try me a great deal; but I seek to please the Lord Jesus. You see, He died for me on Calvary’s cross, and I want to please Him. I often hear His blessed name taken in vain around here and it continually reminds me that the One who suffered so much and died for sinners, is despised and rejected.”
This was too much for Frank so he closed the conversation by pleading the inconsistencies of Christians as an excuse for not being one.
“If ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.”
In addition to our being a living testimony for Christ, there should be that readiness to give an answer to every man who asks us of the hope that is in us. Christians sometimes plead that they have no gift for speaking the gospel, but here in these verses it is simply a matter of stating the ground of our own hope. C— did that very nicely when he told what the Lord Jesus was to him. It does not require a great gift to tell some one what we possess in Christ. One trouble with us is that often our mouths are closed because our lives have been inconsistent with being followers of Christ. Fellow-Christians, may it not be so; but rather may we so live Christ that it will be easy to tell others what He is to us. Then the day will come when the unsaved will have to glorify God, and admit that the testimony of our lives was a voice to their consciences. (Read 1 Peter 2:1212Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)).