Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight; not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.  Romans 13:11-14 HCSB

Yesterday I passed a prison work crew on the highway.  They were out picking up trash on the side of the road.  They were easily identifiable as prisoners because they were all wearing orange scrubs with DPSC (Department of Public Safety and Corrections) stamped on the back of their shirts.  We can easily identify law enforcement personnel when they wear uniforms, just as we can firemen and EMTs.  Those that work for companies like AT&T, the local cable companies, local electrical and other service companies and city and parish workers all wear uniforms.  Should you call them out for a service call, you can easily identify them by their uniforms.

Some wear different types of labels.  Many have a fondness for designer clothes with expensive labels.   But whether we wear the cheapest Wal Mart apparel or the most expensive designer label, we wear something else.  We can be easily identified by how we present ourselves in public.  We can be identified by the types of things we discuss, what we say and how we say it.  And know this, those that are not saved are watching.  If you profess to be a Christian they are watching and waiting to see if you are a fake or if you are the real deal.  Yesterday, we talked about being truly saved.  Well, often times I believe that we are the last to know that we are not truly saved.  You can bet that those that are around you, know for sure whether or not you are truly saved. We all wear a label that tells those around us whether we are truly saved, faking it, or nowhere near salvation and still walking in the dark.

Our scripture passage this morning tells us that we are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.  Yesterday we talked about how when we are truly saved that we don’t want to sin.  This means that we don’t want to dress in a way that would provoke lust from a member of the opposite sex.  This means that we don’t want to hear the dirty jokes that are being told on the job or see the dirty pictures sent to us via text or social media.  This means that we want no part of the old dark, sinful life that we once led.

Think about it this way, you wouldn’t see a prisoner wearing Michael Kors shoes with their prison uniform.  You wouldn’t see that even with a police, fire or EMT uniform.  Have you ever seen a female nurse wearing stiletto heels with her scrubs?  No, because these things don’t go together. They are also a deterrent to them being able to properly perform the job that they are doing. You can’t put on the Lord Jesus Christ and still desire to satisfy the flesh.  They just don’t go together. You can’t satisfy God and your flesh, it’s impossible to do both.  You have to choose.

We all have a choice about what type of label is put on us.  Even those in prison ultimately made the choice to be there.  In Louisiana, these days, you have to work hard to find yourself serving time in a state prison.  So what label will you choose to wear?  Will you let the devil stamp his seal across your back?  Will you put on the Lord Jesus Christ?  The choice is yours. But, please understand this one very important factor, when you choose to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, you are going to stand out.  You are going to be the one that doesn’t stand around and listen to the dirty jokes.  You are going to be the one that asks those that send dirty jokes to you to stop. You are going to be the one that doesn’t cuss or take the Lord’s name in vain even in fits of anger.  You are going to be the one that doesn’t dress provocatively even if it’s “in style”.  You are going to be the one that people come to when their world is falling apart because they see something different in you.  They see a label that identifies you as a blood bought child of God. They see a label that identifies you as having been freed from the bondage of sin and shame. They see that when the world seems to be falling apart, that you have the peace and comfort of knowing that God is just putting everything in place.

So, today as you step out into the public what label will you wear?  I pray that you choose wisely.

Have a great day!