“HONK IF YOU LOVE JESUS.” “I’M NOT PERFECT, JUST FORGIVEN.” “GOD SAID IT, I BELIEVE IT, THAT SETTLES IT.” “DON’T JUDGE ME, GOD ISN’T THROUGH WITH ME MET.” The bumper sticker has gone from making political statement to religious statements. I’m sure many people sincerely try to make a statement to the world by these. But in many cases they trivialize our commitment.
One man reported driving down Central Express behind a car whose bumper sticker said: “Honk if you love Jesus.” On impulse, he honked his automobile horn. The driver of the bumper-sticker car stuck his head out the window and shouted an obscenity! In another case, a gospel preacher now living in Austin, Texas was entering a cafeteria in Dallas. A young lady was selling large lapel pins that said, “Smile if you love Jesus.” She tried to sell the preacher who shook his head. Incredulous, the young lady said, “You mean you don’t love Jesus?” “No! I do love Jesus. But I don’t have to wear a lapel pin to show it.”
The Bible says: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good life his works in meekness and wisdom” (James 3:13) We live in an age that is characterized by the search for the short cut. We want a pill that will that will make us slim, but we would like to avoid discipline of a diet and denial. We want a counselor who can fix our marriage with a magic incarnation. Never mind the work and time we must put into it. And we would like a religion that can be accomplished by a bumper sticker. Or even a few token visits to a worship service a few times a year.
Jesus said: “By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of fig or thorns of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:16-21
The road to heaven has no short cuts. Not a bumper sticker. Not a mere profession of love. If we truly love God and His Son, we show it by a truly dedicated life.
