Christians should not be like actors.

I'm a huge theatre nerd. I enjoy everything about it. From knowing what's happening onstage to knowing what is going on behind the curtain. It all interests me. So after I see a production, I love to go to the stage door and meet the cast and see what they are like and maybe even get an autograph and picture.
I talked my group into doing this after we saw Wicked and Les Mis.
We had just seen Wicked and were in awe of the talent and just sheer awesomeness of the people on that stage. We were extremely pumped to meet them, so we rushed to the stage door. Now if we were seeing this on Broadway, there would be a huge crowd fighting to get an autograph of the stars. However, we noticed we were pretty much the only ones hanging around outside the door of Wicked.
All of a sudden, the stage door opened and the performers started coming out.  Most of them walked by so fast we could not even tell who they were...they weren't being rude, they just did not expect that we wanted their autograph. Just minutes ago, they were onstage in lots of make-up receiving thunderous applause, but as soon as they walked out of the theater, they were like every one else. We could have been on the tube with a huge West End star and have never known it.
Obviously, these performers are something special. They have been given talents and gifts reap the benefits of those when in the theater. However, as soon as the curtain falls, they blend in with the world.
How many Christians do you know who are like that?  I know I am guilty of it.
Christians have been set-apart and have been given a special gift. Sure, we cherish that and display that gift while we are in church or in a Christian environment like Mississippi College.  But what about when we get into the world?  What about when we go to Wal-Mart? Or to our jobs? Or when with people who isn't exactly our favorite company?

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." 

Romans 12:2-3

Do we still allow that gift to shine, or do we hide it and blend into the world?  In your walk with Christ, can the people you encounter tell that you have something special or do you seem like any other grumpy person just ready to get the day over with?

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

We live in the world and we should embrace that.  If we lived in a safe, Christian bubble, we could not achieve our purpose of showing God's glory and reaching people who do not know Jesus. But, we should not act like the people who love the world. We have the greatest gift of all. That gift, our salvation, should be evident in every part of our life at all times so that others see it and will see God's glory!