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| Vol. 15 No. 8 August 2013 | Page 13 |
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| Vol. 15 No. 8 August 2013 | Page 13 |
Donald R. Fox
A life lived incognito is inconsistent with living in Christ, our Savoir. I find it very strange that many desire to live a life incognito. The idea is to live a life concealed and very private. Incognito is defined in part as, “having one’s identity concealed, as under an assumed name, especially to avoid notice or formal attentions.” With that said, I have also noticed when one dies, incognito is put aside.
Counter to the desire for concealment from the world, our Lord Jesus Christ wants Christians to glow. “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mathew 5:14-16 KJV).
Christians will follow our Lord’s command and will not dwell in darkness. Jesus promises “to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79). “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23).
“If one’s eye is diseased, all he sees is wrong. So the mind, or conscience, is the light of the soul. If these be darkened, all is darkness; if these see aright, all is light” (B. W. Johnson. The People’s New Testament Commentary. Note on Matthew 6:22-23)
A Christian’s marching orders will not allow concealment. Incognito is concealment from those who are lost in sin and cannot be part of the Christian life in that spiritual condition. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Dean Kelly
There in the distance you begin to hear the sound,
Of thunder that speaks of the lightning’s flash;
Sometimes streaking to some spot down on the ground,
And then you begin to feel the raindrops as they splash.
The sky turns gray as from the clouds the rain pours down,
The thunder roars and the rising wind does swell,
A chorus arises made up of many a sound,
The rain pours down, and, yes, all is well.
The flowers stretch their necks to take a welcome drink,
As the life-sustaining water begins its welcome fall;
Beauty that cannot be fully seen through page and ink,
Is fully displayed to be enjoyed by all.
Oh Wondrous God Who has made it all to be,
Whose voice is heard through the falling rain?
Who has built into this world the wonders that we see,
Who has made nature sing its wonderful refrain?
And sometimes in our lives the rain pours down,
As trials and problems into our lives find a way,
We are made sad; we are caused to frown,
For it seems the rain has ruined our day.
But remember that the rain is followed shortly,
By the bright sunshine, and the sky of blue,
And no matter how hard the rain may be,
God is always there, and always with you.
So when the sky turns gray and the rain pours down,
When the thunder roars and the rising wind does swell,
Listen to the chorus that arises, made up of many a sound,
Yes, the rain pours down, and, still, all is well.
