Are you a follower or a hypocrite?

I remember very vividly my teen years in Brazil. It was a time in my life where I never had any true desire to live for Christ. My father was the senior pastor of a growing church so going to church for me was always part of my schedule. Though I did not live for Christ, I never had a problem stating my beliefs to my classmates in high school. Little did I know that underneath that river of hypocrisy was a dying, unregenerate young teen. I will never forget that evening at school when a young lady who had been observing my conversations and behavior approached me as I was talking with my buddies and said to me, " if being a Christian is to be like you, then I never want to be one." I never considered that my claims of being a Christian would cause others to observe my lifestyle; that night I found out I was wrong.

In the Scriptures we find the striking words of our Savior;

Matthew 7:21-23: Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophecied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.

These were those who were enjoying the power that was given to them. They did wonders in the name of Christ. Perhaps they even spoke out courageously for the name of the Messiah, but they were nothing more than hypocrites who outwardly are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones and uncleanness. One day they would discover that their professed Christianity would not get by in God's Judgement ( Romans 14:12).

So now the Savior still has one simple question which echoes through time:" Will you follow me?" Your life of hypocrisy must end! Your life which has been characterized by lies must end now! The Lord expects from us that we live holy lives. All that will happen when one declares with Thomas, "My Lord and my God!" It is a proper understanding of your depravity that will lead you to a proper perspective on His divinity. And when one submits to the Lordship of Christ there will be nothing that can stop him from professing, living, and genuinely following the person of Christ. Then, my dear friend, your profession will become a confession that will become a beautiful display of your CHRIST - ianity.

Written by: Uri Brito