[239 words]
In his youth, the grandson of John Philip Sousa made large sums of money as a guest bandleader. He knew it wasn’t because of his talent. Since he shared the same name as the great American composer and conductor, he knew that is what impressed the crowds. His invites were about his name not his abilities. He knew these because he could not read a single note of sheet music.
He wasn’t the first of the last person to lean on their heritage rather than their abilities. Just because you carry a name, however, doesn’t mean you are the real thing.
Lots of people call themselves Christian. Lots of people claim a heritage with the Lord. But that claim isn’t what will get us a place in the kingdom, it is what we do.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter” (Matthew 7:21).
The crowds may cheer for us. The funds may come rolling in. But the true name bearers of Jesus Christ aren’t found by those things. They are found in those that do his will. The ones that are keeping his commandments, not just faking their way through it.
Fakes will found out in the end. He will know or not know us not by the name we claim but the life we live.
Barry Haynes
Hope church of Christ
Hope, AR