Steven loves Richard Scarry books. He has several of his own, but he also likes to check others out when we go to the library.
Recently we brought home a Richard Scarry book that didn’t look quite right. It was still cute, but it just didn’t seem to have the depth of the normal Busytown adventures. There was a single storyline without much extra going on in the background.
Out of curiosity, I checked the copyright date and information. Sure enough, it was a book published by the Richard Scarry estate within the past couple of years (the author passed away in 1994). The difference was amazing, and very obvious. Richard Scarry’s famous Busytown books exist in a league of their own and greatly stand out from other children’s books. This book, however, did not. It bore the Richard Scarry name, but otherwise there was absolutely nothing to distinguish it from a plethora of other cutesy children’s books.
Many people wear the name Christian. But, how many live up to the title? When one is truly a dying-to-self follower of Christ, it will be obvious in everything about his life. He will have all of the marks and bear the fruit. When one is just loosely carrying around the name, the evidence will be there as well. Just as I’m sure some of the books published by the Richard Scarry estate are better representations than others, so do some people who bear the name Christian represent it better than others. But, if the Lord Jesus Christ is not truly their Lord and Master, they are just imitations, and at some point their true nature will be obvious.
What about you? You may bear the name Christian. You may attend church every Sunday. You may even read your Bible on a regular basis. But, are you the real thing? Or are you just loosely carrying around the name? Just as being published by Richard Scarry’s estate doesn’t equate the book being written by Richard Scarry, neither, unfortunately, does carrying the name Christian equate being a true follower of Christ.
It’s time to be genuine. If we wear the name, may we be the real thing. And, may it be truly noticeable to all who see us.
Not Quite Ordinary 