I’m a fairly big NFL football fan. I love the Detroit Lions, even though they rarely make it to the playoffs. And even if they do, they are usually eliminated right away. But as much as I like the Lions, there are tons of fans who like them even more. They will buy season tickets, go to the game wearing blue and silver face paint, and will proudly display Detroit Lions gear on flags, furniture, clothing and bumper stickers. If you encounter fans like these, you will have no doubt as to where their allegiance lies. There is no question which team they love. Why do I bring this up? Because although believers don’t have to wear clothes emblazoned with the name of Jesus, or display Christian bumper stickers covering the back of their car, the world should clearly be able to see where our allegiance lies when it comes to ours faith in Christ. Proverbs, chapter 14, verse 2 puts it this way:
“He whose walk is upright fears the Lord, but he whose ways are devious despises him.”
Our fear, or reverence, for the Lord inevitably comes out in the way we live, or as Proverbs puts it, the way we walk. So if you reverence God, it should be just as evident as if you don’t. Do you know of anyone who would vehemently argue that they are a Christian, but their actions, words and lifestyle reflect something different? I’ve watched movies where drug lords who secretly kill, run sex trafficking rings, and bribe officials would in public, give money to the poor and support charitable foundations. Inevitably they are exposed, but I have to believe that their heart has already done that work among those who really know them. Likewise, our allegiance is clear to those who know us, whether we want to hide it or convince them otherwise. By our lives, or our walk, people will know where our allegiance lies, but more importantly God will know as well. So my question to you is, how is your walk? Do you fear and reverence the Lord? Because if you do, the proof goes far beyond your words.
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“He whose walk is upright fears the Lord, but he whose ways are devious despises him.” Do you fear the Lord or do you despise him? Your walk, or your heart, will reveal the truth. If your allegiance is strong, your countenance should be as obvious as if you were wearing a neon sign. But even if you aren’t outwardly expressive with our walk, the Lord will know because he knows your heart. He knows if you fear him, or if you despise him. He knows if your walk is upright or if your ways are devious. It may take time for your reverence for the Lord, or lack thereof, to be revealed to man, but it is as clear as crystal with God. So I would encourage you to take the faith you claim to have seriously. I encourage you to pursue an upright walk with the Lord.
