“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
Luke 8:16–18, ESV
Nicky Gumbel, from the Alpha Course, tells a story of a man that came to him saying, “I have thought about becoming a Christian, but I don’t want to have to tell anyone.” So, Nicky Gumbel states to the man, “You don’t have to tell anyone. Just go and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior in a private place and let it be done.” The man, very pleased with this answer went home and rushed up to his bathroom and a few minutes later came down to his family and stated, “I have just asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior and I don’t have to tell anyone.” It is funny to hear this, but the reality of our faith is it is not something that is meant to be kept secret and the greater question is, “Once you believe, why wouldn’t you share?” One can understand not telling everyone if you are living in a place where you could be arrested or killed, but for the majority in the Western world that is not the case. Can we lose our faith? The answer is not as simple as just a “Yes” or a “No.” You can, but if the Holy Spirit is truly within you and that it is He who gives you faith then it is not without some effort. In that sense, it is kind of like Pharoah, Pharoah hardens his heart until eventually, God hardens Pharoah’s heart. Oddly enough, I believe that those who face the threat of death for sharing their faith, share it more often than those that are in places where they think others may view them differently. The reality is that, in faith, we are different. We are meant to be different. It is this difference that God desires for us to shine out and let others be led to know Him through our differences. As Christians, we are called to unity and not uniformity. We are not to be the same in person or gifts, but the same in spirit. Most importantly, we are not to be like those who follow the idols of the world, but we are to live and witness Christ in it.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.