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Are You a Die-Hard Fan?
We are all fans of different things, and this fandom presents itself in varying degrees—she’s a novice indie film buff, he’s a tech geek, they’re relentless OSU football fanatics. The more devoted, immersed, and obsessed a fan is with their passion, the more you can tell by their everyday actions and behaviors.
So, Christians: how big of a fan are you of your Savior? You may be a die-hard fan of Christ if you…
Know Your Stuff. A real guitar aficionado can tell you the differences between the makes and models of instruments, and if you get them going, they’re likely to share such esoteric information with you. They know this information because it interests them—they want to know more about it, so they learn and practice and experience all they can. Is life as a disciple of Christ something we’re reading up on constantly (Acts 17:11)? Like a sports fanatic needs to check the score, a Christian should have God’s will on their mind day and night (Psalm 1:2; Joshua 1:8).
Are Always Ready to Talk. If you hold a conversation with a die-hard fan long enough, it won’t be long before that team, that hobby, or that pasttime will come up. Fans don’t need to “psyche themselves up” to have a conversation about their favorite thing; pleasure drives the desire to learn and grow and engage in dialogue. Are we ready to talk about Christ at the drop of a hat (1 Peter 3:15)?
Have No Shame. We paint our faces with team colors. We dress up in funny costumes. We stand in painfully-long lines in hours of anticipation. Even though these objects of affection are passing away, we get excited about them! Even though others may shake their head at a die-hard fan, the fans have no shame for the thing they love. How much more should we be unashamed for something as eternal and meaningful as Christ’s love and his will for our lives (Romans 1:16)?
Invite Others to Share Your Joy. If you were to ask me about a book series I enjoy, chances are I’d offer to loan you the books or invite you over to watch their film adaptations. Sports fans have parties and invite family and friends over to watch the game together. The fashion diva shares every news article on the latest trends on social media. It’s all because the fan wants to share their joy!
A die-hard Christian wants to share their passion, not just for her own sake and fulfillment, but so she can see others find joy in Christ—that they might become die-hard fans, too! It’s as Paul states to the church in Thessalonica: “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:8).
Die Hard. Nobody likes a fair-weather fan. A bad season won’t stop the true sports follower from wearing that jersey with pride. Likewise, a rough season of life should not cause us to lose our faith. Despite trials and tribulations, we cling fast to the God of all and trust that the final victory will be won (James 1:2-4).
So, how die-hard of a fan are you today? Is it easy to cover that light of yours under a bushel, or is it impossible to be in the same room with you without taking notice of Christ in you (Matthew 5:15-16)?
May God fan the flames of our affections for Him, and may we have the boldness to be wholly devoted followers of the Lamb.
