The crowd chants your name, and the hum of their applause is in time with the adrenaline coursing through your veins. You have performed brilliantly. Within the next few minutes the stage lights turn off and the once pack auditorium is empty. You stand on the stage, floating on a cloud of their praise.
“Yes”, you think to yourself. “I am pretty amazing huh?” As you mentally savor the praise something in the far left corner catches your eye. An elderly woman on a wheelchair is struggling to make her way up the steep ramp to the exit door.You weigh up the situation, you could help her out… but you’re all the way across the room, and eventually she’ll make it to the door and lastly she doesn’t even know you’re there. So you shrug your shoulders and walk off stage. After all, the show is over is it?
Everyday we are faced with countless opportunities to do good and honor God. Every once in a while you have the chance to honor God in secret. A situation where you won’t be condemned if you don’t do but if you do? Your little act of love will go unnoticed or unappreciated. So let me ask you a question, when you have no audience… what kind of person are you?
Most of us here, have a stage mentality where we perform in front of men to get the praise of men. If you’re your Christian walk is limited to the stage you will find that you are in danger of your faith being just an act.
The truth is? The camera is always rolling. Even after the lights are turned off, the seats are empty and everyone has left. There will always be one person left in the audience. In fact this person sits in the VIP box, He’s in charge of your finances, promotions, he determines your future and frees you from your past. He’s been there through the thick and thin and best of all? And best yet, He’s your biggest fan.
He holds real authority and power and is your saviour, friend, comforter heavenly Father. So it would only be logical to seek His approval right? In Galations 1:10 it says, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” True character is revealed when no one seems to be watching you or when the people watching aren’t that important according to the worlds’ standards.
In the times you choose to tidy a mess you in church didn’t make, take lost kid to the counter of the or even when you help out the elderly who are too frail to even open a door… you’re saying to God “Father its your approval I want” and that makes God smile.
Church, there’s nothing wrong in wanting approval. But the quality of your life is determined by who’s approval you seek. So take a deep breath and break a leg and make your dad proud!
By Joy Kavya Ravela – Email