Turning Heads

I have been reading through John Piper's book Don't Waste Your Life lately and find myself underlining a lot of the text. Reading this work is a painful pleasure. The truth he proclaims convicts me and reveals my shortcomings. Nevertheless, I can't stop reading it. I have some general differences theologically with Piper, but this book nails me to the wall because it deals with the practical nature of my faith. It moves from theology to biography.

The latest chapter has to do with living in a way that conveys our commitment to the centrality of Christ. Everyone is hypocritical to a degree. But most of us have a glaring disparity between what we say we believe and how we actually live. We might claim to have given our lives (lock, stock and barrel) to God, but we seek the path of comfort and least resistance more often than not. Our actual credo is unearthed as we live 24/7/365.

Piper writes, "if we look like our lives are devoted to getting and maintaining things, we will look like the world, and that will not make Christ look great."

A couple paragraphs later he discusses the explosive truth hidden in 1st Peter 3:15:

"Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you."

I have often wondered why that opportunity didn't come around more often. Piper explains:

"Why don't people ask us about our hope? The answer is probably that we look as if we hope in the same things they do."

OUCH! Now you are getting personal, John! But thanks, John, I needed that. Giving glory to God means that I display the character of Christ so radiantly that people notice and inquire. Glorifying is shining. It is turning heads. Not toward self, but the Creator.