Have you ever stood on a city street corner on a summer day and look down to see the sidewalk sparkling in the bright sunlight? I first noticed this as a young man in St. Louis and I became curious. It turns out the contractor added ground glass to the cement before it was poured to provide traction on the surface when it hardened. It occurred to me at the time that Christian believers are a lot like that glass. We are in the world, but we are different from the world and that difference is manifested as we reflect the light of the Son (not a typo). Like the glass our purpose for being in the world is to keep others from slipping and falling. Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who spent a lifetime studying death and dying, wrote, “People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” Praise God we not only sparkle with reflected light from above, but we have God’s light from within us displaying His true beauty.
Being different isn’t easy. Our nature desires to be accepted by others and be part of the crowd, but when others ask about the source of our light, we have the opportunity to share the Gospel with them. Some will begin to shine themselves as they start a relationship with God. But there are many, even those we love, who will reject the message of Christ and in so doing perhaps reject us as well.
Rejection hurts. I am convinced from reading the scripture that even more than the physical torture he had to endure the thing that hurt Jesus most was being rejected by his family, the people of his hometown and God’s chosen people. (John 1:11 and Matthew 23:37) One of his closest friends betrayed him to his enemies and then all of the others deserted him. He was well aware that it all had to happen to fulfill scripture, but that didn’t stop it from hurting. Yes, Jesus felt the pain of rejection and he warns us that we will experience it too if we follow him. Jesus tells us to follow him we must take up our cross. (Matthew 10:38) That doesn’t mean we will suffer physical crucifixion as he did, but the burden of our cross will inevitably involve being rejected by the world, sometimes even by those we love. Carrying our cross involves other burdens too but with every burden God provides us with strength and provision. Jesus said, “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.” (Matthew 5:11)
When we are accepted into God’s family it is so much better than the world’s acceptance. Our fellowship with believers gives us that sense of belonging that we crave. As we share our burdens and our blessings with each other, we join in agreement and prayer for loved ones who have rejected Jesus that their hearts will be softened and they will be convicted by the Holy Spirit to accept Christ before it is too late. There is no greater joy than answered prayer for family members and friends who have now become our brothers and sisters in the family of God.