Life as a preview

Does that clip get your blood pumping? It does mine. I can't wait for that movie!

We call them movie trailers, or previews, and they are everywhere. Traditionally, they are played before a movie in the theater, usually causing the movie to start about 15 minutes after the announced time. Now, they are on websites. We can watch them on our mobile phones. And yes, sometimes they are embedded in a blog page.

They serve one purpose. They are designed to whet our appetite for an upcoming movie. They give us the best of the movie so that perhaps we will want to buy a ticket to see the whole thing.

This morning our pastor Tim Thompson pointed out that Christ-followers are a lot like movie trailers. We give the world a small preview, a taste of what God is like. That is our role in the world.

How do we know? Well, it was a major theme of Jesus' parables. At one point he said outright, "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

So we need to show the world the best. the best of what God has to offer by living lives that reflect his light. So maybe then they'll want to buy a ticket to the real thing.

But there's the good news! See that guy over there...the one on a cross? He's at the window, buying your ticket right now. So we get in free. Just take the ticket and go in. Go in to experience life with God like we never imagined.

But first, the world needs to know it's worth it. They need to see the preview. So let's roll the projector.