Driving Like a Madman

And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.

II Kings 9:20

The watchman on the walls of Jezreel could tell who was coming towards them from the way the chariot was being driven. As the King James says, “furiously.” The NIV reads, “The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi--he drives like a madman." It's easy to imagine the scene as Jehu approaches. We are given idea of the speed and apparent recklessness of Jehu's chariot. And apparently, he was well known for this. It made him conspicuous and visible.

As Christians, we should be just as visible. Not for driving like a madman, hopefully. But for doing as the Lord wills. We should be obviously Christians.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

I'm sure you have driven at night before and seen lights in the distance. Have you ever noticed how far away the light is visible? From many miles away, it is possible to see even a relatively dim light when all else is darkness. How bright of a light are you? Are you the dim light? Or are you a blazing reflection of Christ's light?

If we, as Christ's servants are not obviously Christians, then what are we recognized as? Truthfully, the only other alternative is to be recognized as worldly.
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

John 15:18-20

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

I John 3:1

Are you known by and as the world? Or as a follower of Christ? Those are the only two choices available to us. We will be recognized by those around us as one or the other. More importantly, we will be recognized by God as one or the other. If you've been living a worldly life, there's a solution:
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

I Peter 4:1-4

The solution is to simply stop doing the things of the world. We have all spent more than enough time doing the things of the world. Let us each strive to be obviously Christians. Let us make sure that our lives leave no doubt as to whether or not we follow the Lord.