More than a character

Over Christmas break I'll be working as a character at Opryland for their Dreamworks Experience package for the holiday season. There will be characters from Shrek, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda. During training we put on the costumes and talk a lot about commitment to the character. As soon as that costume is on, we become that character. There's no breaking character, no removing of costume pieces, no talking like ourselves, and no standing still. 

Same goes for Christianity. When we put on the name of Christ, we become something totally different. We act differently, talk differently, live differently.

• We can't break character because we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. We have a world watching us and waiting for us to break down and become like they are, but we have to resist this temptation.
• We can't be seen in partial costume. Christianity is all or nothing. We are to lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely in order to glorify God. Every weight. We can't just stop lying and assume that makes up for our gossip. We can't just do the convenient things Christ calls us to do. We have to be in Him 100%.
• We can't act like ourselves, but we are to be conformed to his image. It's not about carrying his name on Sundays and carrying ours for the other 6 days of the week. It's about becoming more and more like Christ in every aspect of our lives (we learn how to do this from Scripture).
• We can't stand still. There is nothing about Christianity that is lazy or idle. We are to be busy at the work of the Lord, and there is always something to do. Whether it's worshipping, studying, visiting, evangelizing, serving, or numerous other things, we can never neglect what God has called us to do. While there is a time for rest, there is never a time to stop glorifying God and growing closer to Christ. There are no plateaus in Christianity- only closer to Christ and farther away.
• There's help in distress. When I'm in the costume it's hard to see, hear, feel, and breathe. I have to give up all of my senses and trust that my handler is going to lead me. The handler is outside the costume to guide me and if there is a problem inside the costume I have a special distress signal to alert my handler. The Scripture is our guide. It is a light in darkness that cannot be put out. It promises that we will not stumble if we walk in its light. Not only that, but Christ cares for us. He is able to sympathize with us in every way, even in the persecution he promises we'll endure. He is a constant and reassuring presence in every time of need.

There is one major difference though. We can't take off Christianity at the end of the day. It's a full time gig. But once we put it on and embrace it, we'll never want to take it off. Putting on Christ means gaining access to our omnipotent Creator and Savior who promises us eternal life in the light of his glory if we commit to him for our short lives.

Romans 13:14

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires."