John 1: 47-48 states, “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee”
The Scripture above alludes that Nathanael wondered how Christ came to know him given the fact that he never seen or met him before. But Christ made him to understand, that by His all-seeing eye He had seen him, when he was not seen by him. Many people have been observing and forming opinion about others without their knowledge. They do not bother to know your name, for they have known what you can do or say by your manner of conversation. That shows that what we do, say or our mode of dressing have a lot in determining the perception people have about us. Our disposition also speaks volume of who we are and how people will address us. If that is the case, it is time when we should be concerned with what people say, the impression they have about us and the worth of the respect they have for us. Are you indeed a child of God that you profess to be or hypocrite? Does God know you as one of His? Are you a secret or an open disciple of Christ? Is there anything to prove in your life that you are a child of God?
In the time of Jesus Christ on earth, deceitfulness was the mark of the Jewish people. To find a man living in the midst of the Jews and still walking in uprightness was very rare, but Nathanael distinguished himself otherwise. Our Lord Jesus gave a good testimony about him as a worthy descendant of the patriarch Jacob, who not only professed to believe in true God, but also worshiped Him in sincerity and truth.
Brethren, can you be identified by the Lord you claim you are worshipping. Have you asked yourself why God is silence in your matter? If God calls you home today, where will you be, in heaven or hell, does He really know you? What do people say about you in their closest? Are they holding anything against you or supposing you are a wicked man/woman and therefore a sinner?
As a police man, you may be collecting bribe from whoever that comes across your way. But let it be known to you that you are an extortionist and therefore a sinner. If you are a doctor and assist in doing abortion or killing unborn babies, you are a murderer. You may not like to be called so but in the closest that is what people say you are. If you are a lecturer and favour only those students that purchase your handout, you are a fraudster. Although you may not like to be openly called such name but when students talk about you, they will refer you as a swindler and that is what you are. If you are an armed robber and answering James or Peter, let it be known to you that your real name is Robber and that is what your kindreds and friends called you in their closet. If you are married but living a life of infidelity, let it be known to you that you are an adulterer. You may not like such second name and people may not like to openly call you this second name but that is what you are, an adulterer- a smelling pig and public toilet. If you drink alcohol or work in brewery, you are a disgrace to Christianity whether you believe it or not. If you engage in any of the evil mentioned above and thinking and claiming you are a Christian, I want to let you know that you are not a Christian and people who observe you know this fact.
The Book of Job 1: 1 states, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil”
In the days of Job in the land of Uz, it was hard for a rich man to live a pious life but Job stood out among his generation and was distinguished. The Holy Book describes him as a man who feared God and obeyed all His commandments. Though a Gentile who was not expected to live righteously but his observers recognized the fact that he was perfect and upright. Job’s neighbours and friends attested that he was a man who had the fear of God and awake to righteousness. They knew his friends were not like him and at last Job proved them right.
As you read this message, how will you be described by people who know you in the office, market, school or meet you on the road? What will they say about you? Are you known to them as a prostitute, robber, liar, fornicator, idolater, criminal, drunkard, smoker, etc. What testimony will they bear about you? This message calls for a re-examination of your disposition and comportment and spurring you to align it with what you wish that people will know you for.
Acts 11: 26 states, “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch”
The disciples were called Christians in Antioch not because they had no individual names but they were doing the work of their Master, Jesus Christ, and people identified them and bore testimony that they were of Christ. If you are a Christian you are expected to dress, speak and laugh like a Christian, and it cannot be otherwise. The disciples were seen preaching like Jesus and thus called Christians. If you want to be seen and called a Christian you ought to be preaching the good News of our Saviour’s redemption work to people. Some of you are even ashamed of carrying Bible but very quick to claim a Christian. You cannot be a Christian and engage in gossiping, murmuring, backbiting, conspiracy, lying, stealing, masturbating, adultery, idolatry, killings, abortion and etc. They that do such are abominable people and cannot be called Christian.
Beloved, what identity do people know you of, what do they say of you. Are you a Christian you professed to be? Do you know that you are what you make people know that you are irrespective of the official name you gave yourself? Does our Lord Jesus Christ know you as one of His disciples? Is your name written in His Book of life? Let this identity issue be resolved today while you are alive for God will acknowledge only those that acknowledge Him.