"FIRST IMPRESSIONS and GLOW WORMS"

One day as I walked into a radio station in Columbus, Ohio I noticed a prominent sign sitting on the reception counter, it said, "Director Of First Impressions." The receptionist behind that counter had a very important job. Her actions and the manner in which she conducted herself meant that she was responsible for the first and immediate effect of precisely how people would perceive the radio station itself. In representing the station her attitude and conduct would weigh heavily in the opinions, good or bad, that others would form. Would she draw them to want to know more about the radio station, or would she drive them away. Her actions, specifically, would be for many their first exposure to the station and would leave a lasting impression on their minds either positive, or negative. Hers was a very serious responsibility. Her words, her attitude, her actions all served as the personal "banner" that she carried and displayed for her company. As Christians you and I, too, are a "Director Of First Impressions" for Christ. What kind of banner is it that you are carrying for Jesus? Whether or not you choose to accept it your actions have an influence either for, or against the Name of Christ. You hold a very important position for which one day you will have to give an account. Are others drawn to Jesus Christ when they watch you? The manner in which you conduct yourself as a Christian is a "sermon" to others and much of the world judges Christianity by the sermons that it "sees" rather than those that it "hears.

We must realize that our actions are under-girded by that which truly occupies our heart. If our actions are not under-girded by spiritual truths and accompanied by a deep-seated love for Jesus Christ then those actions will reflect (in no uncertain terms) the fact that Christ is either completely absent from our heart or at the very least that we have allowed Him only the lowest of positions in our heart. However, when our relationship with Christ and our longing to know more of Him grow daily in their intensity and those desires are rooted in our heart to the extent that one attains only through full acceptance, by faith, of the atoning blood of Christ, then and only then do our faith and walk become the strongholds for us that Christ meant them to be. Shields against the superficialities and temptations of the world. If Christ is truly ingrained in our heart then He will also be ingrained in our actions. Our Christian life should be such that it is completely impossible for any person to be around us and not become a Christian themselves. Henry M. Stanley, the great explorer that contributed so greatly to the history of exploration in Africa and who uttered the famous phrase, "Dr. Livingstone I presume" once told this story. He said: "I went to Africa as prejudiced as the biggest atheist in London. For months after having met Mr. Livingstone in Africa and being around him every day I found myself wondering at this old man who daily carried out in his life all that was said in the Bible. Little by little his sympathy for others became contagious and my sympathy was aroused. His devotion to Christ, his gentleness, his zeal, his earnestness all affected me. I was converted by Dr. Livingstone even though consciously he had not tried to do so. It was his actions that converted me."

What are the characteristics of the Christian who is a successful "Director Of First Impressions" for Jesus Christ? The answer to that question is simple: Christ should be seen within us, in front of us, above us, at our right hand, at our left hand, on our lips, in our heart, and in our eyes so that every eye that sees us and every ear that hears us will be drawn to Him because of His clear and abiding presence within us. All that we think, all that we hope, all that we live for absolutely must be based solely upon the divinity, love, and compassion of Jesus Christ. And when once we accept it and hold tight to it, the light of Christ within us never dims, it remains burning strong and bright up to the very moment when we draw our final breath. Such was the case with a dear elderly Christian woman some years ago whose advanced age, as it often does, began taking its toll on her memory. At one time she had known a great deal of the Bible by heart. Eventually though, only one small precious bit remained with her - "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12). But soon even parts of that scripture began to escape her mind and she would quietly repeat to herself, "That which I have committed unto Him." Then came the day when she was near death. Her loved ones who had all gathered around her bedside noticed her lips moving. They bent down to see if they could hear what she was saying. She was repeating over and over again to herself the singular word of that scripture verse that had remained with her, "Him, Him, Him." Her mind had lost the entire Bible which she once knew so well, but then again, she had the essence of the whole Bible in that one word, "Him."

Being a successful "Director of First Impressions" for the Lord Jesus requires several important ingredients, the most important of which is "JOY!" One of the greatest problems that I have personally witnessed within the Christian community throughout the years is one of trafficking in un-lived truth. Christians trying to communicate to others something which they themselves do not have in their own life. You can not walk around with a gloomy face and a pessimistic attitude and then tell others (with any degree of effectiveness) what a "joy" it is to live for Christ. Hudson Taylor who was the great missionary to China once said: "If your father and mother, your sister and brother, if the very cat and dog in the house are not happier for your being a Christian, it is a question whether you really are." Scripture tells us that salvation in Christ Jesus is a relationship that is bathed in pure "joy." When we have a true, genuine personal relationship with the Saviour it is not something that is boring and dry. I believe that one of the really desperate needs among Christians today is the need for exuberance and vitality in their loyalty to Christ. Being in a spiritually healthy state means that we daily "Rejoice," and that joy should manifest itself in our words, in our actions, and in every aspect of our life because we have the wonderful assurance that all of our future, whatever it may hold, rests securely within the divine and loving hands of God.

Not only must the life of the Christian be lived as a successful "Director of First Impressions" for Christ but you and I also need to be "glow worms" for Jesus. You see the glow worm glows through "Bioluminescence" which is the production and emission of light. The word literally means "living light" and is a naturally occurring form of luminescence in the form of light emission in the glow worm. Every Christian, without exception, should be a "living light" for Jesus Christ. If we are truly His and if we are truly dedicated to Him then His presence in our heart is a naturally occurring light that shines within and through us. It is impossible for us to be anything but happy when we have this light. I once saw a little sign that said it this way: "I wish I were a glow worm, a glow worm’s never glum, ‘cause how can you be grumpy when the sun shines out your bum?"

Realize that your life will touch dozens of other lives each day and upon each of those lives you will leave either marks of good, or bad. The Christian’s life should help other lives that it touches along the way. And so not only must we always strive to be a successful "Director of First Impressions" for our Lord and Master, but we must also be like the little glow worm, shining God’s love and joy to those around us. These things will ensure that we are effective in drawing others to Christ even when we are not conscious of the fact that we are doing so. Who would have ever imagined that being these two things could have such an incredible impact on drawing others to Christ........Director of First Impressions....and Glow Worms.

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