When the godless are more godly?

When Christians could have made a real difference in my friends’ life, they failed him miserably.

One of my close friends who I have known for a couple decades faced the challenge of prostate cancer a while back. I was out-of-state and didn’t have the opportunity to be there directly for him.

What was difficult about the situation is that he is no longer walking with God. He used to. He had raised his children as a Christian father should, even insisted in having them in Christian school. He had risen to being a Deacon in the church, and was very active in serving others. For a while, he thought he might be called to ministry, and took some classes at a Bible college. He was active in helping me plant a church, and was a thoroughly reliable friend.

Since then, he has gone through a divorce and now is living with a woman, and has changed in other ways. He likes to think that although God may not be happy with him, he’s still “safe.”

Then came the scare with cancer.

As he battled through his treatment, not a single Christian friend showed up to support him through his struggle. He got a few calls and cards, but not one Christian friend found their way to his home or the hospital to help him through a very difficult time.

But many of his new non-Christian friends did. They showed up in droves and supported him through his entire treatment. His non-Christian friends did everything his Christian friends should have but didn’t. So why should he change his ways and return to those who really did not care?

As I talked to my friend about this, it seemed obvious the one thing he had longed for was his Christian friends to be there for him. Although he knows he isn’t living right, he still knows what is and isn’t right, and I think he was hoping his Christian friends would love him through his struggle regardless of the poor choices he was making. I believe he may have been influenced to repent had his Christian friends demonstrated true Christlikeness.

But they didn’t.

Sadly, this difficult struggle during my friend’s life was a time when it seemed as though the ungodly were more godly than those calling themselves followers of Christ. But to actually be a follower of Christ, you must actually follow Christ! You have to walk in His steps and do what Christ would do.

First Peter 2:21 says, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

To be a genuine follower of Christ is to live out the example He provided for us. Just as He suffered for us, we may have to suffer for Him and for others. It will cost you to get out of your home, travel to the hospital and spend time at the bedside of a sick friend. It will cost you to bring meals to a sick friend’s home. It will cost you to actually, truly care and love and serve and help.

But it will make an immeasurable impact in the lives of others, and will fulfill you more than anything this world could ever offer.

Are you following Christ’s example? Are you walking in His steps? What changes will you make today to put you into His footsteps to be an authentic follower?

Scotty