Christian Living

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Over the past year I have been involved with the job of getting a new church sign for our church. This need arose when the state decided to widen the road that passes by our church. The state bought some of our land and removed our old church sign. Since then we have been working on getting a new sign. Through several meetings and discussions, we decided to get a double-sided, lighted sign with a space to place a changeable message. We are excited in the anticipation of getting this sign installed. In fact, we should have this sign up during this month.

Being the writer that I am, I will often envision messages that we can put on the sign. Of course, we will be limited in size and space on the sign but it has been fun thinking of different, witty things to say. One thing we want to do is display a message to the motorists who will pass our church that will tell them what we are about. We want them to see a message that speaks to them and ultimately lead to them visiting us.

You and I are signs to the world in which we live. The Bible says to let our light so shine before me that they may see Christ. (Matthew 5:16) This isn’t talking about an illuminated church sign in front of the church building but it is talking about us as individuals as we go out into the world to our jobs and our community. Do people have a clue that we are Christians or do they only know what church we attend? There’s a big difference in the two. They need to know more than the fact we go to the church with the new sign. They need to see that Christ illuminates our lives. Now, I’m not saying that we will all be the perfection of Jesus walking around on water and healing people but we can each share the testimony as the blind man did in John 9:25. It’s that simple. The blind man said, “I once was blind but now I see.” We think that this job just belongs to the pastor but that is a mistake which we often make. We are all commanded to go out into the world and compel them to come in. (Luke 14:23) Not just get them in the church building but show them that there’s more to us than being labeled a “Christian”. There’s a lot more to it than that.

Signs are also constructed to provide directions to people who are searching for something. Without signs, we wouldn’t be able to find our way on the highways to get to our destination. We need signs to help guide us. As signs for Christ, we must point people to Him and not to us. I think sometimes we get caught up in the marketing thinking of the world and think that we can develop programs and ods to draw people into serving the Lord. People will come to the programs and events we might plan but it takes the Spirit of the Lord to draw them. We certainly play a role as being the light but we are only reflecting the light of God shining through us. It isn’t about us. People need to be directed to Him, not our nice church building or activities. Our works alone can’t keep people.

One thing about this church sign project I have been working on is that it has been a little more involved than I had imagined. I thought putting up a new church sign would be pretty easy but with permits and ordinances on signs, it has been quite the challenge. In the same way, we must not complicate the plan of salvation. Unfortunately, many religious folks like to put all kinds of permits and ordinances upon what Christ has done. It isn’t complicated. It isn’t about our way but it’s about God’s way to eternal life and He has provided that way through His Son, Jesus Christ.

So what’s on your sign? Are you sharing a message that leads to Christ? People need direction, they need hope and we all need a Savior. Let’s focus on Him and allow our lives to shine for Him.

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