Only let your conduct be worthy
of the gospel of Christ, so that
whether I come and see you or
am absent, I may hear of your
affairs, that you stand fast in
one spirit, with one mind striving
together for the faith of the gospel.
Philippians 1:27
Holidays come and go year after year making a cause for people to give great credence to them when in actuality they are just another day. This is not said to diminish what they stand for such as this holiday, i.e., labor, or Memorial Day; a day to remember our military and our fallen citizens who died and were maimed to protect our freedom, or July 4th, a day of great remembrance for it is this day we celebrate our freedom, a freedom that was establish by those who were fleeing from both religious and governmental persecution. It was they who fought and died to establish a free democratic country. Yes, holidays have meaning, but for many it is just a day, an excuse to "party." No thought is given to why we are having a holiday, for them it is just a way to have a day off from work. It seems that it is more important to "party" than to think serious, at least for more than a minute about why there are days set aside. We make excuses for our desire to "party." One such excuse is "Spring Break" that for many is only a big "party" one in which young people "live it up" as though they really needed it, and for many this is a time of "fun" but a "fun" that turns into tragedy, i.e., jail time, pregnancy, overdose, drunkenness, doing silly and even harmful things, but all in the name of some new right, that they have this right to do these things because they are college students. I ask do Authentic Christians behave in such manner? Do Christian only thing of "partying?" Or is this another day whereby you live for God, to have a conduct that is indicative a a true and Authentic Christian. Yes, it is a time for BBQ's and time with family, etc., but it is not a time to cast off who you are; a Christian, an Authentic Biblical Christian who has Authentic Biblical Faith. Paul reminds us: "What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 18-21).
It is not that Christians are to be stoic, walking around humming some Gregorian chant, holding folded hands, and quietly living life, no! Life is to be lived, but only lived in accordance with the Gospel. It is the Gospel, the Son of God that should be the main thrust of our conversations, our conduct. This does not mean that we cannot talk about other things, show your new car, your new dress, your new gadget, this is good, and fun, and important, but we do not make them the foremost thing of our lives. There is an old song; Until Then, which says in the second verse: "The things of earth will dim and lose their value if we recall they're borrowed for awhile; and things of earth that cause the heart to tremble, remember there will only bring a smile." Authentic Biblical Christians are "real" people, they live "real" lives, and they do "real" things, only they are first and foremost Authentic Christians living Authentic Biblical Faith. Judson W. Van de Venter (1855-1935) and Winifred S. Weeden (1847-1908) wrote a wonderful song, I Surrender All, and wrote these words in verse two: All to Jesus I surrender; Humbly at His feet I bow, worldly pleasures all forsaken; take me Jesus, take me now." Can you say those words? Is this how you feel? Enjoy the holiday, but more so enjoy this, God's children were chosen before the foundation of the world, and we are holy and without blame. This is so humbling, that God would choose me, you, and not due to what I have done but by His good pleasure. Now, in this humbleness we strive to be holy, we grow in grace and Sanctification, and we live our lives in conduct that represents our Father in heaven. Paul assures us of this fact: "Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in live, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which he made us accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:3-6). There is what should make us smile, God chose us, we are adopted by Him, and we are justified, Sanctified, and glorified by Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Therefore let our conduct by seen that this is true of us, that we are Authentic Biblical Christians.
In the fear of the LORD there
is strong confidence, and
His children will have a place
of refuge.
The fear of the LORD is a
fountain of life, to turn
one away from the snares
of death.
Proverbs 14:26-27
Have a Good Holiday
Richard L. Crumb
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