People want the spectacular – God knows that – yet He placed the spectacular in plain, ordinary clay pots – you and me. We spend most of our lives letting people see the clay pot – but rarely living out the spectacular inner workings of God going on inside us.

God’s Truth must be evident in our lives! Full fledged devotion to Christ, and commitment to the truth of the Gospel, yields a life others seek to emulate.

Get your Bible and turn to 1 Kings 18:18-39. I want to dig deep into something of vital importance to all followers of Christ, and it’s found here in this story about the Prophet Elijah: when Truth is evident in our lives – people want to live the same way.

Of all the Old Testament prophets, no one is so frequently referred to in the New Testament as Elijah. Paul refers to an incident in Elijah’s life to illustrate his argument that God had not cast away His people (Romans 11:2). James finds in Elijah an illustration of the power of prayer (James 5:17). (See also Luke 4:25; Luke 9:54.)

Elijah the prophet made such a deep impression on the collective mind of the nation of Israel that they held firm the belief that Elijah would return again for the relief and restoration of the nation (Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6). John the Baptist was like Elijah in the sternness and power of his reprimands (Luke 9:8), and John the Baptist was considered the “successor” of Elijah - the Elijah that Jesus said “who was to come” as the forerunner of the Messiah (Matthew 11:11, 14).

Elijah’s appearance in glory on the mount of transfiguration does not seem to have surprised the disciples much; they may have been terrified, but they weren’t surprised by Elijah’s presence. They knew that of all the patriarchs of the nation of Israel, Elijah would certainly be among those who would join the Lord (Mark 9:6, Matthew 17:6).

Why? Elijah’s reputation. He was widely respected and honored for his faith and his ministry. 1 Kings 18:18-39 shows us just one example of why Elijah had such a reputation. Take time to read this incredible story. . .

The people of Israel had begun to worship the Baals and the fertility goddess, Asherah. So Elijah created a make-or-break competition to grab the attention of the wayward Israelites. When it came time for Elijah to invite God to accept his water-logged sacrifice, he simply stepped forward and prayed this simple prayer: “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

One prayer – and God sent fire that burned the bull and the wood. But it also burned the stones and the soil beneath it and vaporized all of the water poured on the altar! God showed up and showed Himself – and the people knew God was God alone!

Elijah the prophet stands out even today as a hero of the faith. His reputation is one of a man sold-out to God – loyal to a fault. And this reputation and his commitment to God made people around him want to be like him.

Elisha is evidence of that. Elisha was Elijah’s successor. When Elijah was getting ready to hand over the ministry to Elisha, Elijah asked Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

Do you know what Elisha’s one wish was? “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. (2 Kings 2:9) I want to be just like you!

A few weeks ago – I wrote about being “living proof” because, while people can truly see Jesus, they can only see Jesus in you and me. I talked about living a life that encouraged people to seek out Christ. Today’s blog is similar – but with a major difference that we will dig into: being loyal to Jesus Christ and being committed to His Truth is how to live a life that others will seek to emulate.

Let’s talk first about “loyalty” to Christ. Loyalty to Christ is not so much about our allegiance as much as it is about our faithful and steadfast dedication and devotion. It’s about putting Him first in our lives in such a way that it makes a difference on the inside and it shows on the outside for everyone to see.

The Apostle Paul gives us this instruction about our undivided, constant devotion and loyalty to Christ: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His Kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. Up ‘til now, this has been about OUR devotion and loyalty – but now Paul addresses a problem we have all seen and will continue to see getting worse as the years go by: For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” (2 Timothy 3:14-4:5)

Jesus talks about loyal devotion to Him as well – but He puts it in much more dramatic terms: “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38)

He wants us devoted and loyal – and He wants it to be evident in our lives.

Let’s talk about commitment to His Truth.

Paul also addressed the Truth aspect in that last passage from 2 Timothy, where he said that people will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:4) Being committed to His Truth is a critical life-ingredient for us. What is this Truth – with a capital “T”?

It’s the Truth of the Gospel. It’s the thing that sets Christianity apart from spirituality or false teachings. Jesus taught us this: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 (NIV) No one goes to the Father in Heaven – except through the sacrifice of Jesus and our wholehearted acknowledgement of that fact. Jesus died in our place; He rose from the dead three days later; He’s alive today. That’s Truth with a capital “T.”

Newsweek religion editor Kenneth L. Woodward wrote:

“Clearly, the cross is what separates the Christ of Christianity from every other Jesus. In Judaism there is no precedent for a Messiah who dies, much less as a criminal as Jesus did. In Islam, the story of Jesus’ death is rejected as an affront to Allah himself. Hindus can accept only a Jesus who passes into peaceful samadhi, a yogi who escapes the degradation of death. The figure of the crucified Christ, says Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh, “is a very painful image to me. It does not contain joy or peace, and this does not do justice to Jesus.” There is, in short, no room in other religions for a Christ who experiences the full burden of our mortal existence – and hence there is no reason to believe in Him as the divine Son whom the Father resurrects from the dead.

“That the image of a benign Jesus has universal appeal should come as no surprise. [All other religions and spiritualist practices want Jesus weak and unimportant and powerless.] That most of the world cannot accept the Jesus of the cross [the willing sacrifice for humanity] should not surprise, either. Thus the idea that Jesus can serve as a bridge uniting the world’s religions is inviting but [is] ultimately impossible.”

Kenneth L. Woodward, "The Other Jesus," Newsweek (March 27, 2000), p. 50

Jesus is the way the truth and the life – but there is a world out there who just can’t buy in to that theology; Christ-followers must be committed to that Truth for the world to finally understand the real Jesus.

Paul wrote to the Galatians about some false teachers who had infiltrated the church to “spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.” They were adding to the Gospel – making it more difficult to find Christ as Savior, adding a few more requirements and expectations than were necessary. Paul and his fellow missionaries remained steadfast. He said: “We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.” (Galatians 2:4-5)

We’re to be loyally devoted to Christ – and to be committed to His Truth – Jesus died and rose again and is the only way of salvation from an eternity of separation from God to an eternity spent with Him in Heaven.

Let’s look at the final piece of the ancient wisdom we get from Scripture: when we are loyal to Christ and are committed to His Truth, it will yield a life that others want to emulate.

“Emulate” means that they want to match our lives – to get in perfect lock-step with us – even to surpass us if possible. It’s not a competition – but a maturing! We want our children to grow up to be better than us, don’t we? We want them to be more stable than us, wiser than us, more prosperous than us. . . we shouldn’t mind if the people in the world grow up to be as or more solid and as or more in tune with Christ as we. The overall goal is to show Christ to people and have them become Christ-like.

The Prophet Isaiah gave these words from God to the people of Israel – and since we are joint-heirs of the Covenant of Abraham – they’re words for us as well:

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and His glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:1-3)

King Solomon, in his wisdom, taught us:

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:3-4)

When people witness Christ’s Truth lived in and through us, they will come to desire the life He’s given us.

I’ve come across some “feel good” psycho-babble out there that says something like:

How will the value of your days be numbered?

What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built;
not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance;
not what you learned, but what you taught;
not your competence, but your character.

At first is sounds like it’s going in the right direction. But then, as it goes on to address how people will remember you – this snort of motivational sunshine up your nose tells you to “Be an island unto yourself!” It basically negates everything that was just said about giving and building and significance. Then it concludes with “Do not rely on anyone else – you are your own salvation.” That is really messed up theology!

Feel-good mumbo-jumbo doesn’t do anything for us or the people around us. It’s a pale counterfeit about making a difference in someone’s life. What matters is that we live in such a way that shows Jesus in us and leads people to want to follow Christ. We want to live so loyally to Jesus – so wholeheartedly devoted – that people can see our total and unconditional commitment to His Truth, to the end that they want to emulate our lives.

Read Paul’s instructions in Philippians 2:14-16: “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life. . .”

Here is the Ancient Understanding we glean from Scripture: Loyalty to Christ – full and unwavering devotion – and commitment to His Truth – that He is the only way of salvation – when this is lived out by you in the world it yields a life that others will want to emulate. When people witness Christ’s Truth lived in and through you, they will come to desire the life He’s given you to live. It’s the best way to witness Jesus to the world

As we end this study on the Three Harmonies of Reverence and Encouragement and Authenticity, I hope that you take away with you the knowledge and desire that you must never stop working to become more and more like Christ. Live a life brimming with Jesus – not a life that suggests you’re embarrassed or ashamed or reluctant – but a life that is shining like a radiant star in the universe. Your reputation and nature will cause nations to come to His light shining in you, and draw all people to the brightness of His dawn seen in you!