Window Dressing

Remember the old game of Red Light Green Light?
Someone was “it” and turned their back on the rest of the players.
The players moved slowly towards the person who was “it”.
Red Light…the person would call.
The players would have to freeze in position.

If you were caught moving…or could not freeze in position, you had to go back to start.
The player who reached the person who was “it” won the game.

It was great fun…but often caused disagreements.
You moved….I saw you…You have to go back and start again.

No matter how you pleaded your case, the person who was “it” had the last word.

When my boys were young, they would have to go shopping with me.
They would always find unique things to do to pass the time.
Pick up the plastic circles that fell off the hangers.
Get the next item on my list for me.
Pretend they were mannequins.

One clothing store had a walk-in window display.
Only the clerks walked in to change whatever they were advertising.
That window was right near the registers.
Often, my boys would sit on the little ledge and wait for me.

One day, as I was finishing my purchase, I looked up to find they were not on the ledge.
There was no where they could have gone without passing me first.
I looked up at people walking by.
They were all smiling and pointing.

My sons…became live mannequins in the window.
Freezing into position.
After the people passed, they would move and freeze again.

The people in the store were very sweet and didn’t seem to mind.
I smiled…and remembered Red Light Green Light.
We left the store and talked about what is appropriate and what is not appropriate.
It was one of those Mom moments when it is terribly hard not to laugh.

Through the years, we would see other children doing the same thing.
We would look at each other and smile…remembering.
My boys are 21 and almost 24 now.
At 6’2″ tall, it is hard to believe that they were ever live mannequins in a window display.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror, then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:11,12)

We can’t freeze in position.
We are not window dressing.

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
(2 Corinthians 5:20,21)

We do NOT have a product to sell.
We have a Gospel to share.
The Gospel will go forth no matter what the messenger looks like.
It is the content of the message, not the appearance of the messenger, that matters.

If the Holy Spirit does not empower the messenger, they might as well be mannequins.
Caring more about the messenger than the message is a dangerous thing.
Trying new poses to impact the people passing by.
The people may point and smile and be entertained…but will there be real, lasting change?

God can use any messenger He chooses.
He used a donkey with Balaam after all. (Numbers 22)

In the power of His Spirit, the messenger will fade away…but the Message will last.
It must be that way!
Not window dressing…changing with every passing fancy.
Real revival…a permanent heart transformation.

Without the Holy Spirit, we are lifeless.
With the Holy Spirit, we are alive…in Christ…with much to say!
We have a Gospel to share.

The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. (Philippians 1:18)