Praise the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He put breath in your nostrils and made it possible for you to open your eyes to an abundant, joyful life free from bondage today. For some of you, He�s given you another opportunity to bow before Him in true repentance, to miss an eternity in hell and become joint heirs to Heaven. He�s given you the chance to enjoy a portion of Heaven while here on earth. For the Christian, He�s given us another day to fulfill the will of the Father. Praise Him, give thanks, and glorify His name - yes, praise the Lord!
We are put here on earth to glorify God, by worship and also by spreading His Word to the lost. Often the only WORD people will hear is what they see in us today. Jesus was the Word made flesh. In that Word was all the characteristics of the Father. When you look upon Jesus, you see God! �In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.� (John 1:1,2,14) Now, if Jesus was the Word of God made flesh and He did everything like God, and YOU wear the name of Jesus (Christian), then what is your character like? Who Do You Look Like?
Before I proceed I would ask that you pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the meaning of this message and that He reveal anything not Christ-like in you as you examine yourself. I must confess that the Holy Spirit stomped my toes really hard recently and gave me this message. He spoke through the better half that He joined me together with. I praise the Lord for an obedient and submissive wife, not just to me but to the Holy Spirit first! He spoke loud and clear through her. Anyone that thinks God can�t speak through a woman had better get on their knees and tell Him that! That�s right, I don�t think anyone has totally explained religious tradition and denominational doctrine to Him yet... To continue, someone had done me wrong and I represented Christ poorly by barking a bit loud at him. I shouldn�t have been ill with them or looked mean because Jesus was humble, meek, loving, merciful and peaceful in all that He did. I had to ask myself, �Who did I look like?� Needless to say I had repenting to do! Although I didn�t curse, I brought shame to Christ.
It seems that many �Christians� today don�t know what it means to be Christ-like, to have the character (one�s complete personality) of Jesus Christ. The character of that same Jesus from John 1. You can ask most anyone today, �Do you know Jesus as your Saviour?� and they�ll say, �Well, I�ve been a Christian since I was 8 or 9 years old...� I�ve witnessed this and at the same time every curse word I ever heard, and some I didn�t know, would come out of their mouth. It doesn�t take but a few minutes to be around someone and their conversation - the words they speak will reveal the content of their heart. From the heart the mouth speaketh. In James 3:9-13, �Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.� You don�t have to use four letter words either - these scriptures mean saying �God bless you� to one and speaking ill to another. I�m not saying that you won�t get mad or aggravated at someone and maybe snap at them; but I am saying Jesus wouldn�t do it and that it�s a poor witness and has to go! I�ve found that if I can�t picture Jesus acting the same and speaking in the same manner, then I�d better put it on the altar and leave it there. In Isaiah 53:2-9 we can read an accurate prophesy of how Jesus would look, what He would go through and how He would act when it happened. He was beat, spit on, falsely accused and nailed to a cross. He didn�t even own a burial place, yet He spoke not a word. He didn�t try to lie or fight His way out. He remained meek, allowing it all to happen, eventhough He was innocent! Who would you look like in that situation? In your situation? �Who do you look like� when someone cuts you off for a parking spot?
Some of you men just step back a minute and take a look at yourself through your wife�s eyes! Are you loving and thoughtful to her? Do your actions tell her that she�s the apple of your eye, that you would die for her? If she dents the fender on the car, does she see understanding, compassion and unconditional love in your eyes and on your face? Even if she made a mistake? Do you look like Christ to her in following Ephesians 5:25 and 1 Peter 3:7? �Who Do You Look Like?�
How about you sisters? You�ve got to look like Jesus too! When your husband comes home late without calling, who do you look like? When he drags in and forgets your anniversary are you forgiving, quiet, understanding - have you got that unconditional love? When he tells you to tighten the budget, are you soft-spoken and submissive to his will? You know Jesus was always submissive to the will of God. Jesus is the head of your husband and your husband is the head of you. I do commend many of my sisters: because of sin ruling many men, the woman has too often had to be the spiritual leader and take the children to church along with many other jobs. Always consider who you look like - you just might be the one that leads your alcoholic husband to Christ. Let the love of Jesus shine through you! Who do you look like?
How about you parents - who do you look like when you are together? Can those children see Jesus in you when you have a disagreement? Do they see the love, peace, joy and understanding that Jesus daily exhibited to those that disagreed with Him? I hope so because those children will grow up to look just like you. WHO DO YOU LOOK LIKE?
Did you Pastors and Preachers think you were going to get away without getting your toes stomped? This message is to everybody. Our Lord constantly compared Himself to the Good Shepherd that would lay down his life for his sheep. Oh brother preacher, have you laid down your life for that flock? Do you spend time on your knees calling out their names before the Lord, even when they haven�t tithed right or didn�t pat your back after the message? Do you visit them when they�re sick or have missed a few services? Do you go after that one little sheep and carry it back? Do you visit the prisons and hospitals? From the time Jesus was a young man until He was ascended up into Heaven, He was about His Father�s business. All the character of God wrapped up in a piece of flesh. He faced every temptation that any of us have faced and He continued in God�s will, healing the sick, feeding the spiritually and naturally hungry, raising the dead, casting out devils, setting the captive free... He traveled without any luxuries, no thought of money, or food, or clothing - only meeting the needs of the people - all in God�s will. Jesus wasn�t worried about flashy clothes, gold and diamonds, hair style. He wasn�t no pretty boy slick talker bringing some scholar�s message. Isaiah 53:2 says, �He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.� He spoke with all the authority of God and THAT drew people to Him. He was often accused, but always falsely. He gave no occasion to sin and conducted Himself decently and in order, never uplifting Himself. Brother Pastor, who do you look like?
Now everyone examine yourselves and your motives. Are you zealous for Jesus, or for a church name over the door? Are you broken and submitted to God? Are you hungry for the meat of His Word? Are you willing to serve? How about your money - is a grudging 10% God�s or all of it? If you are playing around with God - if you�ve got sin in your life - it will be exposed. You can read it in Luke 12:2, �For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.� Also Numbers 32:23, Job 20:27, Proverbs 26:26, Ecclesiastes 12:14, and 1 Corinthians 4:5. If your reasons for coming to Christ are for self gain or pride, anything but sincere (Matthew 23:2-7), then it will be revealed. God isn�t interested in what you have on - long sleeves, short sleeves, or whether or not you have a beard. He�s only interested in the condition of your heart, and if your will is broken so He can put you in His will. He wants you to walk, talk, and be like the Word made flesh, so His authority will draw men to Him through you. He wants sinners to desire what you have. Now, �Who Do You Look Like?�
Two men that I knew died at a young age in the past few weeks, both from my hometown. Then NASCAR driver Dale Earnhart got killed. Three men stepped into eternity and ALL that counted was how they ran God�s race - how they spent their time for God! I can�t say - I don�t know their hearts. I can�t tell you where you are at with God. Your actions will tell me; but only you know if you are ready to meet God. Jesus held His arms open wide and gave His hands for the nails to be drove in. When me and my cousins were small my Pa would ask us, �How much do you love Pa?� We�d spread our little arms as wide as we could! Friend, that�s how much Jesus loves you and more - He spread His arms wide! He could have come down off that cross at anytime and called Heaven�s angels. The nails didn�t hold Him there, His love for YOU did! He bought eternal life for YOU! James 4:14 says, �Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.� I remember walking through a grave yard in Adair County, KY, down in the Sano area. One marker caught my mind and never have I forgotten it: �Remember friend as you walk by, as you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you must be. Remember, friend, eternity.� I�ll leave you with this: who do you look like and where do you stand if you were to die in the next heartbeat? No matter if you are lost or saved, or backslidden, or lukewarm, my friend, �YOU ARE EXACTLY WHERE YOU WANT TO BE WITH GOD!� Is that a good place? Are you ready?
In Christ, Bro. Don George
