Don't fade into the crowd

One of my biggest fears has always been the fear of mediocracy, of falling into the status quo.  I fear disappearing into the crowd, of a friend failing to think of anything that makes me different when describing me.  While I'm sure many people sympathize with me, I'm equally positive that just as many people - or more - don't have any desire to stick out, don't have any wish to be recognized, don't have any need for uniqueness.  

And there's nothing wrong with that - to a point.  But when it comes to our relationship with the Lord, uniqueness is of paramount importance.  It's what distinguishes us as Christians from the rest of the world.  God has called us to be the salt and light of the earth, to be the people that stick out and act differently in the middle of a hurting, dying world.  But how can we do that if we act just like everybody else?

Amos gives a stern warning to us as Christians, that we would not become indistinguishable as non-Christians.  The first chapter and a half are spent detailing how God will punish all of these pagan nations for their wickedness - He will break down the gate of Damascus, set fire upon the walls of Gaza, consume the fortresses of Bozrah, send the king of Ammon into exile, ecetera.  But then, the rest of the second chapter details how He will do the exact same thing...to Judah and Israel, because of their unfaithfulness.

Think of it.  Judah and Israel were God's chosen people, the nation that He had protected and provided for for years, throughout thick and thin.  But they had chosen the path of least resistance.  They had become just like everyone around them, and God had no choice but to discipline them just as equally as they behaved.  God wants to love you, cherish you, and bless you.  But if you choose to live the life of a Christian that is indistinguishable from the world, then He will have to discipline you just as harshly as He does the world.  Don't make Him do that.  Don't fade into the crowd.  Let your light shine, let others taste your salt.  Be different.

Amos 2:1-5

This is what the LORD says:
"For three sins of Moab,   

even for four, I will not relent. 

Because he burned to ashes 

   the bones of Edom’s king, 

² I will send fire on Moab 

   that will consume the fortresses of Kerioth.

Moab will go down in great tumult 

   amid war cries and the blast of the trumpet. 

³ I will destroy her ruler 

   and kill all her officials with him,” 

            says the LORD.

4This is what the LORD says:

"For three sins of Judah,

   even for four, I will not relent. 

Because they have rejected the law of the LORD 

   and have not kept his decrees, 

because they have been led astray by false gods,

   the gods their ancestors followed,

5I will send fire on Judah

that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem."