I found this story in Favi Zacharias’ book "Can Man Live Without God?" It goes like this: Years ago, in Yugoslavia, much had gone on in the name of Christ that was a terrible affront to decency. An evangelist named Yakov came to a certain village. He asked an old man about the terrible things he had experienced and also told him of the love of Christ. The old man told Yakov he would have nothing to do with Christ. There had been plundering and exploiting and killing of innocent people by those who represented Christ. Even his own nephew had been killed by those who wore the elaborate coats and caps and crosses signifying a heavenly commission, but their evil designs and lives the old man could not ignore. Yakov, looking for a way to get the old man to change his thinking decided to ask him a question. “Suppose I were to steal your coat, put it on, and break into and rob a bank. What would you say?” “I would deny it,” said the old man. “But, they saw your coat!” said Yakov.
I thought of the wonderful - and large - collection of Valley Christian clothes I have and that I wear most of the time. I’m sure that the VC logo is easily recognized around the whole CCS region and beyond. I am very proud to be a Valley Christian coach. But, it isn’t just the shirt or jacket that makes me a coach. So, too, I praise God I’m a Christian. But how do people know that I am? Is it something that I wear or something that I am? Our fans and the fans of our opponents come to games and they see us in our coach’s “uniforms”. They judge our actions and our speech and decide if we are a “good or bad” coach. Because they see the Valley Christian label we have chosen to wear, they also judge us as Christians. Are people turned off to Christianity because, like Yakov, we’ve “stolen a coat and worn it” and others mistook us for something we weren’t?
The story above has an important ending. As Yakov continued to come to the village to see the old man, he would encourage him and share the love of Christ with him. Finally, one day the old man asked Yakov “How does one become a Christian?” Through Yakov’s gentle leading, the old man quietly bowed before the Shepherd of his soul. He turned to Yakov and said, “Thank you for being in my life.” Then he looked to heaven and whispered to Yakov, “You wear the Lord’s coat very well.”
It is the armor of God that Paul speaks of in Ephesians 6 that I’m sure Yakov wore and that the old man saw. Let’s make sure that we’ve “put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against the cunning schemes of the evil one”…and thereby be recognized as true followers of Christ.
Size 42 Long, please!
Coach Hitch
