When I was in high school I got my first pair of glasses. I am near-sighted so I didn’t need glasses until I started driving sophomore year and I still didn’t really think I needed them until I put them on.
As soon as I walked outside wearing my new glasses I realized what I had been missing…
leaves.
Trees at a distance had been wildly waving strong outstretched arms covered in gorgeous green shimmery leaves and I never noticed. I had always recognized them as a blur of movement until I put on my glasses and realized their individual leaves could be seen from miles away… and it was beautiful.
Isn’t that how we should act as Christians? Wildly waving our arms, living in a way that people see Christ in us, being that unavoidable tree off in the distance…
but so many people call themselves Christians and we can’t even tell!
“You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” Matthew 7:16
“Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.” Proverbs 20:11
A friend of mine just lost her job; a job held for over 16 years, a job desperately needed and lost over a false accusation…
She plead her case, explained her innocence and waited for a response.
The moment came when she realized any additional arguing was futile and she needed to face this unknown, fear-filled path. She graciously accepted the news by saying…
I am a Christian and I know that this is obviously God’s will for my life, so I will accept it and trust Him.
In that moment of great heartbreak and uncertainty, my friend chose to exude Christ. She wildly waved lush emerald growth for all to see and I can only imagine the look on her manager’s face.
“The word Christian is not one that the early believers chose to call themselves. It was a title they were given by people who observed their lifestyle. They were recognized as those who followed the teachings of Christ.” ~ Gary Chapman
How do you respond when you are faced with hardship?
Do people see Christ when they look at you?
Would you be labeled a Christian?
I Spy God 
Your post made me think back to when my daughter got her first pair of glasses. She had the same response as you…she was in 2nd grade and when we left the Doctor’s office she looked up at the tree and was like, “Wow!” She then told me she didn’t know the tree had leaves like that for she had never seen them before.
It’s amazing what we don’t know we’re missing until our eyes are opened, isn’t it?!! Praise God for opening eyes!! 🙂 Thanks for stopping Dawn…and don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about Job (or Elihu) I’ve just been busy!!!