God's Image and Heir Jordan

Fox News published an interesting article on Michael Jordan's son Jeffrey yesterday. Some of it made me think about how the world watches Christians. See if you know what I mean from this sample of the article:

Jordan is under scrutiny. As Michael Jordan's son,
expectations are higher than normal, reporters are already asking about his vertical jump, and it's virtually impossible to
hide even when he's playing with 120 other top junior players.

"That's the greatest basketball player's son," said Jai Lucas,
Jordan's roommate this week.

Just two days into the weeklong camp,
Jordan has already become the camp's darling.

Everywhere he goes, fans and reporters follow, hoping to get a sneak peek at the younger Jordan and gleam any clue they can about whether he can someday approach his father's
greatness.


The world often watches, wondering if we are the real deal, if there is anything to our “talk” or to our religious church attendance. It makes sense that Jesus said, “Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light so shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:15-16 Many unbelievers watch Christians like reporters (sometimes vultures) waiting to “report” to the world when we drop the ball or step out of bounds. Sometimes though they are watching like a team scout who’s really interested. They may be very close to believing in Christ, and our love for other believers, joy in our sufferings, or good works shine in such a way that they do indeed believe and give glory to God. Either way, many are watching. The article goes on:

Jordan has no choice although there certainly are times he
would rather just be one of the guys...But wherever Jordan goes, he still
has the target on his back...Jordan even acknowledges there have been times he's
felt opponents have wanted to "take him out" so they could brag about it to
their friends.

Maybe you've felt like as a Christian, you have had a target on your back. Being dialed into the reality that others are watching is sobering and healthy, yet should not be our motivation for holy living as Jesus warns in the Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18.

I love the way the article ends:

But wherever Jeffrey Jordan ends up, he knows this: He will
never escape his father's image. "I'm as competitive as he is, I'm just quieter
about it," he said. "But that's my dad and it's pretty easy talking about
him."

Think about what they said of Jeffrey Jordan. "He will never escape his father's image." The same is true for us. Genesis 1:27 informs we are the image of God. Though our sin has terribly marred us as His image, God is commited to molding us into the image of Christ, and He will not quit until He is done. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Phillipians 1:6 Reflect God today where you are. Grow in his image. Just as Jeffrey Jordan works long strenous hours in the gym to reflect his dad, the greatest basketball player ever -- Let us labor and strive with all God's power to grow in the image of Christ reflecting Him to the reporters, vultures, and interested scouts. Maybe it will be as easy to talk about our heavenly Father as it is for Jeffrey to talk about his dad.