We parked our car in the downtown parking lot. It only took a few minutes for the parking attendant to head our way. He didn’t like the way we parked and was trying to be sure he got his money. Settling up with him and unloading from the car, we started our brief trek across the parking lot to where he was now standing. Stopping briefly, he began to ask questions.
“are you guys going to that Christian event?”
“yes, we are.”
“so you guys are Christians?”
“yes, we are.”
“Well, I guess that has value, but…”
“It has a ton of value…eternal value.”
“yeah, but there is a difference between just being part of a religious event.”
There it was….the opening in the conversation I was waiting on. It was apparent he had parked cars of many going to the same place I was going. Who knows how many conversations he had with them, but this one was not going to be about an event or about “church”. He was right. There is a difference in just being a part of a religious event.

“you are right, there is a difference between having a religion and having an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.”

We waited, not knowing how the words might fall. With his hands in his pockets, a smile crossed his face. He looked at us and said…”now that’s what I’m talking about. You and I, we are on the same page.”
Right on…the guy was just looking for some real authentic conversation about the event that was going to happen. Not saying others weren’t or aren’t authentic, but I am saying that it was obvious this guy was looking to see if we were just nominal Christians coming to an event or the real deal.

People are watching. They are looking to see if we are the real deal or just doing the deal. They are looking to see if we are passionately in love with Him or just talk about loving Him. They are watching to see if we just go to church or are the church. They are looking for something real and authentic, not just people who go on Sunday morning, but people who will have conversation with the parking attendant about a relationship with Christ-not an event or a religion, but about Jesus.
Not saying that I am all that. Believe me, I fall short…and there is no shortage of people to point that out in my world. However, people are watching. And if they had to judge your walk based on your talk, we all might do pretty good. But it isn’t. It is based on the authenticity of your pursuit of Him. It is based on whether you Love Him with all. What if the only Jesus people ever saw….was YOU. Would they see HIM? Or could they not get to Him because of what they see in you?

2 Cor 5:20-21 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin {to be} sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

ALL FOR YOU