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Yesterday I was listening to a pastor friend of mine from Alabama on Facebook live. He was preaching and gave a great example: A farmer was running errands in town and someone asked him, “Are you a Christian”? He replied, “Go ask my neighbor.” Quite the sobering thought when a Christ Follower allows their lifestyle to speak their faith.

The Word says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.” (John 14:12) Do not confuse this as a works mentality for eternally being with Christ. Let us be clear there is only one way to heaven and it is only found through the “work” which Jesus did at Calvary. John 19 reveals Jesus did the work when he gave his life for all of humanity. He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. People are searching and they want to know how to get to heaven; even “Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:5, 6)

One of the most misleading, evil trickeries is to teach the gospel of grace but to add just enough so that the person is taught that they must work at “something” in order to be saved. Beloved that is ungodly censoring. God makes it plain, Jesus Christ died for all. We cannot add to it or take anything away from it. So what do our neighbors, friends, co-workers and family members see in us as Christ Followers?

The Word says, the world will know Jesus by our love one for another. Looking at the Book of Acts we can see where church first began. Those Christ Followers were continuously devoting themselves to one another by teaching and learning the gospel, having fellowship with each other, eating together and praying for one another. Those godly practices enable us to meet the needs of our godly family and reach out to our community, as we share God’s love with each other and reach those searching for the way to heaven – ultimately the way to Jesus Christ.

This week let us ask ourselves, if someone asked our neighbors, our family members, and our community connections would they know that we are Christ Followers? Would our lifestyle clearly speak faith in Jesus Christ?  If the answer is no, let us make the change.

Yvette Perrin is a columnist for The Charlotte Gazette. She can be reached at theword2yvette@gmail.com.