The stainless steel on the commercial grade kitchen counter looked great. However on the bottom shelf a can of something had rusted and left an ugly ring around the base where the can had been placed. Looking at the can more carefully I noticed the contents. It was a can of Zep Stainless Steel Cleaner. Under the title I could read that this product: “cleans, shines and protects”. What an irony! The stainless steel cleaner was surrounded by rust. I decided that I would spray what was on the inside on the rust ring on the outside. The cleaner did the job and with some scrubbing the rust disappeared.
The irony of the stainless steel cleaner surrounded by rust reminds me of a greater irony. We who know Christ as our Savior have the greatest message the world could ever hear within us. We have the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. The good news of salvation from our sins and the joy of eternal life in heaven is ours. This good news can remove the ugly stain of sin from a person’s life. It can change us from the inside so that we shine brightly in this world. It also can protect us from a hopeless eternity. However there is a problem. The good news of the gospel doesn’t do much good in this world if it remains in the can. We are called to be ambassadors for Christ. We are challenged to be witnesses for Christ. And we are to let our light shine for Jesus. Matthew 5:14-16 tells us: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
A world that is stained with the rust of sin needs what we have. We simply need to make sure that it gets out of the can. Let’s be sure to share the good news of salvation everywhere.