A little Jewish lady was flying out of New York City on her way to Miami. She looked at the businessman seated next to her and asked him, "Excuse me, sir, but are you Jewish?" "No, ma'am," he responded politely, "I'm not Jewish." After a little while the lady asked him again, "You really are Jewish, aren't you?" Again he answered, "No, ma'am, I'm not Jewish." Hardly ten minutes passed before the little Jewish lady once again queried the man, "Are you sure you're not Jewish?" In exasperation and one final effort to hush the woman's questions, the man answered, "Okay. Yes, I'm Jewish." "Funny," the woman replied, "you don't look Jewish."

If someone should approach you or me and ask us, "Are you a Christian?" and we answered "Yes," would they be tempted to say, "Funny, you don't look like a Christian"? But, after all, what does a Christian look like? Well, I assure you it's not what the world's stereotype image of a Christian is. The world envisions a Christian as a sour-looking, holier-than-thou kind of person who is opposed to every form of fun and anything that brings enjoyment to life. But this is a distortion of untold dimensions. The Christian is anything but this dour, negative, pessimistic, unhappy creature the world has pictured him to be. The Christian is the most positive, upbeat, confident, cheerful person you'll ever meet. At least that's true if he truly has the love of God in his heart and the knowledge of God's word in his mind.

No one has more reason to face each day with anticipation and optimism than the child of God. He does not know what the future holds, but he knows the One who holds the future. So why shouldn't he be happy and upbeat? God is working all things to his benefit (Rom. 8:28), so why should he fear whatever may happen? But, you see, my dear readers, though I know what I believe, the question is this: does anyone see that belief translated into action? Can anyone tell by looking? Do you, do I, look like a Christian?

Lonnie Ritchie

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