Pursuit of a Platform

Our activity - what we do - is an expression of who we are, and how we act can provide us with a platform to testify to the greatness of God within us.   Here is what 1st Peter 3 says:
10 For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."    And verse 15 shows us how we validate God's presence within us by the way we act:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;   We are called, I believe, to share Christ, in large part through the way that we act toward other people.   And, when there are achievements in our lives, no matter how large or small, they can provide us with an audience to whom we can relate the message of Christ.    Your everyday encounters, whether it's your work, your business, being respectful in a carpool line or a shopping line, your volunteer involvement or service at church - how we handle ourselves can cause people to pay attention to us, and as people are listening or watching, we can point to the God within us. 
Ephesians 5 is very instructive regarding using the opportunities God has given us, and the activity that He inspires and expresses through us to testify to His glory:
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

A letter written in German by famed scientist Albert Einstein will be auctioned off later this month - not in a high-profile, high-end auction house, but on eBay.   It's expected to garner millions of dollars.

In it, the physicist stated some of his views on God, the Bible, and the Jewish People.   Here are some excerpts, reported by The Christian Post:

"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this..."

Einstein sent the letter, which is written on Princeton University letterhead, to Eric B. Gutkind on January 3, 1954 concerning Gutkind's book, Choose Life: The Biblical Call to Revolt.

He also had some choice words for the Jewish people: 

"For me the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions...As far as my experience goes, they are also no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them."

We all know that this letter will attract some hefty bids because of who wrote it.  Einstein apparently held some views that were negative toward religion.   And, there are scores of people that hold the same views, but you'll never see their writings go for millions on eBay!  

So, it is the identity of the person who validates the views.   This reminds me about the importance of a platform.   Perhaps our achievements can provide an opportunity for our views - on the nature of God, salvation through Christ, the sufficiency of Christ.   And, no matter how insignificant our acts are, even a small token of kindness shown to someone with a need - it can give us the chance to enunciate what God has done for us.  

I think of the concept of a platform when reflecting on the work of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, who held the Fields of Faith event last night.   Here are young people that are using their platform - their accomplishments on the field, or just the way they behave in school - to testify to the greatness of God within  them.   Thousands are beginning to gather in Atlanta today for the annual Catalyst conference, where leaders are being encouraged to become agents of change in their community, testifying by the way they live their lives to the glory and greatness of God.   You may not be an Einstein, but who you are and what you accomplish as an expression of your identity can give you a platform through which you can share the truth about God.