Always Point to Christ

It is not easy in our society to escape attention. Either we ‘stand out’ because we are successful or because we do not act like the rest of those around us. In fact, most of us enjoy the attention, if even just for ‘our five minutes’ of fame. Like so many worldly realities, we should avoid it.

No one has ever seen God; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” And he answered, “No.” They said to him then, “Who are you? let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know, even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John 1.18-28

John the Baptist had become very popular. He even had disciples that would look to him for guidance. At every turn, though, the Baptist would deflect the attention toward Christ. “I am not the Christ.” Eventually to Christ Himself, he would say he was not worthy to untie His shoes.

The Baptist should be our example every day. He had every opportunity to accept fame from the crowd but continually denied it. In our society today, we would question the ‘false humility’ of anyone who acted in this way. EVERYONE wants fame, or so we think.

Maybe everyone does want fame, but fame has a way of destroying our soul. It was because of fame that King Herod went against his ‘better judgement’ and killed Christ. It seems like the only time we want to be unknown is when we do ‘something’ wrong. Then we like being nobody.

Here’s another New Year Resolution for you. Every time you receive compliments or ‘stand out’ for doing something ‘great’, be like John the Baptist. “Glory to God,” should be our only response to temptations of fame. Always point to Christ when the attention is on you.

Ok, so what do you do when the attention is on you because you’ve done ‘something’ wrong, not so great? Now suddenly people will say about us, “See! He always points to Christ because He is so holy. Let’s see if he points to Christ now.” That’s when love and humility ‘kick’ in.

Instead of pointing to Christ, accept credit for the ‘bad’ things we do. It will accomplish two things. Our guilty conscience will ‘teach us a lesson’ for the next time. It will also insulate Christ from accusations of any wrongdoing. The bad is ‘on’ us. The good is all about Christ.

Being Christian is oftentimes being counterculture. Nothing is more counterculture than accepting blame and rejecting glory. Be prepared for a spiritual battle. John the Baptist was beheaded for his way of life, but then again so were so many other martyr saints.

God honors them with crowns of martyrdom in heaven and He will honor us for pointing to Him. Eventually our way of life becomes acceptable, and people take notice of Christ and change their hearts. It worked in the pagan empires and can work in the American empire as well.