Radiation: Emitting Light
Matthew 7:15-20
Sermon by Keith J. Andrews
All scriptures marked NKJV are: The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
In the TV series 24, the United States is always on the brink of disaster, and Jack Bauer is the only one that can save the country. When CTU (the Counter Terrorist Unit) discovers that a nuclear weapon, or several nuclear weapons, will be detonated, they begin to do damage assessments. Most of the time, they show the big cities of America with big circles around them. These circles represent ho much impact will occur from the detonations.
Tonight we are going to begin a series of messages called “Radiation”. I want you to begin to think how much impact you have on those around you. Then I want you to think about how much of this impact is related to spiritual things. How many people around you know that you are a Christian? How many people see it backed up in the actions you take and the words you say? How big is your radiation circle?
So these next several messages are about improving what the world thinks about you and ultimately what they think of Christ and his saving grace.
The first quote that came to me while considering this topic was from Matthew 7: “by their fruits you shall know them”. Matthew 7 is found on page 854 in the Red Bibles under your chairs. And by reading this passage, I noticed that this passage is speaking about false prophets, primarily.
However, I was reminded of several items from Murphy’s Law of Combat:
5. Friendly fire - isn’t.
4. Incoming fire has the right of way.
3. If the enemy is within range, so are you.
2. When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not your friend.
And this is the one that really got my attention.
1. Tracers work both ways.
So as we look at this passage, I don’t want to make the mistake of point our fingers at the other guys, and forget that we too are representing to the world our authenticity.
Look with me at Matthew 7: 15-20;
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Mt. 7:15-20, NKJV)
The first thing we see here is to “Beware of false prophets”. False prophets are real. We don’t like to talk about them too much because first, I believe, that we are not sure about our own beliefs, and second, in a pluralistic society—where the culture—not the Bible—teaches us that all roads lead to God—when clearly the Bible says different. We want to think that if people just believe in God they’re good. Well, James 2:9 says that the demons believe in God too—simply believing in God is not enough.
Jesus here is making it clear to us that there are false prophets that we need to watch out for. And he knows our reservations about claiming that we know more that the next guy, he know that we are easily led astray—he calls us sheep! So he makes it very simple on us. He says; “Watch what they do. See how they act. Are the producing good fruit?”
Verse 16 says; “You will know them by their fruits.”
Back in South Carolina, my family had a beautiful home and even more beautiful lawn. My Daddy has spent the last 30 years developing a nice garden and lawn. Visiting there is like a retreat for me.
One thing Daddy has never been able to get rid of are the tall sweet gum trees. On the property there are mainly two types of trees—sweet gum and oak. It was always hard for me to tell them apart, except by their fruit. The sweet gum balls are entirely different from acorns. Sweet gum balls have spines all over them, and they all painful to touch. They are even more painful when they wind up in your bed or down your shirt or in you shoes. Sweet Gum balls are bad fruit.
But, you can spot the sweet gum from a mile away. You can identify the spines, you can identify the shape.
In the same way, you may not know everything there is to know about theology. You may not know everything there is to know about religion…but you know a lot about fruit. You know when things don’t look quite right. Everybody sins, and slips from time to time. But is there a consistency of bad fruit? Jesus says “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” He teaches us to look for the fruit.
But tracers work both ways.
What is the world seeing when they see you? You may not be producing bad fruit, but are you producing any fruit at all? Is the world around you impacted by your love for God and your commitment to share the gospel? Do they see you as someone who can offer hope to others? What kind of fruit are you producing?
That leads us to the bearing good fruit.
When I was home on mid-tour our little girls had their first birthday. With the birthday comes the party. With the party comes a big mess, I never knew that on the first birthday, you give the children their own cake to dig there hands into. With the party also come the gifts.
I was able to give my little girls their first Fisher Price “Little People” set. I remember growing up playing with these little toys, and my girls should have some too. I was happy to give them. But why buy Fisher Price? There are other brands. There are also much cheaper brands.
I bought Fisher Price because I trust their products. I grew up with Fisher Price and remember that their products were fun. Fisher Price has a reputation for quality and safety. These qualities have taught me to trust them.
Do people trust you? Are you trust worthy? Have you been there for them for years and years, maybe just months and months, but have you been faithful with your representation of Christ?
The Bible tells us that by “their” fruits you shall know them. But what about your fruits? Don’t you think that the world is looking to you for good fruit?
We need to be people that are showing our faith. James says “Faith without works is dead.” We need to show the world around us that we are faithful. This is simply living out our faith in everyday life and everyday situations.
It means making decisions based on Biblical principles. It means being open about your faith—not to be confused by being overly aggressive. It means being trust worthy and loving, so that others around you will trust you to bring them hope.
I have a friend that was telling me the other day how a friend from his unit encourages him to come to chapel on Sunday Nights. It is very easy to forget what day of the week it is. It is very easy to stay in the CHU on Sunday night, but these two friends help each other to get to chapel—because they want to be here and more importantly, worship.
There are people all around you that need your encouragement. I see it all the time, people don’t want to go to chapel alone…they need somebody to bring them. Someone like you, whom they trust.
Good trees produce good fruit and even the lost world recognizes good fruit.
The world around us is looking for people who will stand up and be godly. The world is looking for people who will do the right thing. The world is looking for people in whom they can trust.
Some of you have probably heard of the “America’s Army” online video game. It was developed in 2002 as a recruiting tool for the Army. The player play as real soldiers in simulated missions. The Army is also now releasing a line of action figures to match. The soldiers represented were chosen from the top soldiers in the Army. The idea is that these soldiers will make good role models for the next generation. They represent what the Army considers as worthy, to stake their whole representation on.
SFC Jerry Wolford was one of the ones chosen. In speaking about his heroic acts in Iraq, where he “put himself in harm’s way to help the wounded, redistributing weapons and equipment, and coordinating fire for machine guns,” he says;
“I didn’t think my actions stood out above anyone else.” (Stars and Stripes, Dec. 2005)
The world is looking for people to represent Christ. What if someone was going to do action figures on Christianity…would someone nominate you? You don’t have to try to stand out above others. You just have to do what God called you to do…to represent Christ. If it means being in harms way to help others—then that’s what it means.
It isn’t heroic stuff for the movies. It is consistently living out our lives in a way that draws others to Christ.
My life changed when I pinned this cross on my chest. I was once a Field Artillery Officer. I didn’t have to worry about my actions to much. I wasn’t nearly as bad as other Field Artillery Captain’s or Lieutenants I knew. Yes, I was in Seminary—I tried to do my best…but if I messed up somewhere…no one would see right? Wrong.
I had people looking at me all of the time. When I did well…when I did poorly. When I represented Christ…When I didn’t.
But when I pinned this cross on my chest...there was no running away. Everything I do represents Christ. The cross identifies me as a minister of the gospel. I am much more conscious about it now than I was before. The only difference, I have found however, is that I’m only more aware of it. The people around me are always looking to see if I am truly what I said I am—a Christian.
The same people are looking at you wondering if you are trust worthy. That if it came to a time that they may need religion—you would be the one they could trust to lead them to faith in Christ.
So how wide is your radiation circle? Does it extend only to a couple of friends? Maybe just your family?
Yes, your platoon knows that you asked to come to chapel. Yes, your coworkers know that you have Sunday’s marked on your calendar as the one night you are not in your CHU.
But do they know that you have a message that can bring them hope? Do they know that you can lead them to fill a void in their life that has been there since birth? Do they see your good fruit?
The Bible says;
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.(Mt 5:14-16, NKJV)
Radiation. It is an effort to show the world light in darkness.
Tonight, you maybe asking yourself how could you get some of this light…because it sure seems dark to you. Maybe you were brought here by a friend, who has been trying for weeks and weeks to show light to you.
You can find light through Jesus Christ.
Sin blocks out that light and all of us are sinners. Sin is simply anything you think, say, or do that makes God unhappy. And the punishment of sin is death and separation from God—which is eternal darkness. But God sent his son, Jesus, to die on a cross in your place…so that you may have eternal life. All you must do is accept his payment for your sin.
You can make that decision right where you are. You can just accept him into your heart. After the service, I will be down at the front—and would love to talk with you about your decision to ask Christ.
Let us pray.
