The Real Thing

               The Coca-Cola company came out with a commercial in 1971 that they hoped would rebrand their product.  The commercial pictures 200 young people singing on a hillside a song called "I’d like to Teach the World to Sing”.  The last line of the song says: “It’s the real thing—Coke is, what the world wants today”.  This powerful ad campaign identified Coke as the real thing.

            The world is still wanting and searching for something that is real, something that they can trust and believe.  Just as in the turbulent 70’s, people today need the real thing.  Those of us who are Christians have found the real thing, and His name is Jesus.  He is the Son of God, He is the Word of Life, and He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  When we trust Him, He gives us a changed life, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life in heaven.  To a thirsty woman at the well Jesus offered Himself as the Living Water.  He said: “But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). The Bible clearly points to Jesus as the real thing.

            However, the question comes to us, are we the real thing?  Are we genuine believers or just make believers?  The world is filled with fakes and phonies.  Scams are a part of our daily lives.  Many who would be interested in Jesus have been turned off because of the behavior of “so-called” Christians.  God calls His children to be witnesses, but He also expects us to be good examples.  The apostle Paul was able to tell others to follow him because he followed Jesus.  Jesus said to let our light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16). 

We too are like an advertisement.  By our love, our lifestyle, and our character we should be advertising Jesus.  I wonder if the world can see that we are the real thing.