IWJT Throwback: “Visually Changed”

Tomorrow would have been my dad’s 64th birthday. However, in 2015 he went home to be with the Lord. In honor of his would-be birthday, this week’s article will be an “I Was Just Thinking…” Throwback.

Titled “Visually Changed”, this article describes what our lives should be like as Christ-followers. This article originally appeared in “I Was Just Thinking… 2007 edition” – a book of my dad’s original articles from 2007.

Note: I have made formatting and spelling edits as well as added photos. All content and ideas have been preserved exactly as he originally wrote them.

I hope you enjoy.

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“Last week while traveling, Diane and I had the wonderful privilege to visit with some dear friends in South Carolina. Our host wanted to take us to lunch one day and we ended up at my favorite kind of eating place – a hot dog stand where you had to go to the window, order and then retreat to the car to eat your food. It was great!

While sitting in the car eating, I noticed a sign across the street. It was in front of a hair cutting place. The name of the business was “Visible Change”. I watched as the people went in and out of the place.

Most of the ones coming out were smiling and seemed happy. They had been in, had their hair done and exited with a new attitude about how they looked and felt.

Funny how getting the right hair “do”, can change your whole outlook and attitude.

On the other hand, those going into the establishment seemed hurried and frazzled. One lady came almost running up to the door and then stopped to go through her pocketbook.

After a few moments she returned to her car. I wondered what caused her retreat. Maybe she forgot something or maybe she just decided that she was not ready or prepared for any “visible change”.

As the day went on, I could not get my mind off the name of the business. “Visible Change” said so much in just two short words.

Then I had the weird thought that sometimes happens to me. That would be a good name and mission for a church!

Now I know you are thinking how silly that is!

But is that not what church should really be about?

How often are people around us surprised to find out we go to church?

Sometimes our actions speak loudly.

People of all ages are posting pictures, information and comments on internet social networks. Are the things we post showing how much we love the Lord? How he has visually CHANGED our life?

When we go before the Lord, to church or privately, we should come out of that situation with visible change, where the people of the world see a “visible change” in us!

We can’t blame the church, its people or the preacher for not getting it. It is our responsibility to see it personally from God and to live our life with all the joy and grace God has offered to us.

I think about the words the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans chapter 12, verses 1 and 2, “Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Remember that when you claim to belong to God it is important that your life demonstrates that in every way. The things you say about and to others, your actions and the places you go, and yes, the pictures and comments you place on the world wide web, directly reflect on what God means to you.

Anyway, I was just thinking…”

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Rev. Dr. Billy Hutchinson (1956-2015)

Creator of I Was Just Thinking...