What makes a Christian distinct from the world? How would you know that God is with Him?

There is a fascinating conversation between God and Moses in Exodus right after Israel sins against God by worshiping an idol. God threatens that He will no longer go with the Israelites. But Moses pleads with God not to be that way. And then he adds that the only thing that distinguishes the Israelites from all the other nations is that God is going with them!

So, what distinguishes a Christian from everyone else? That God is with Him. But how would we know that God is with Him?

Is it that everything is going well with him?

Is it that he is endowed with riches beyond imagination?

Is it that he will succeed in everything he takes on?

Is it that he becomes the most famous person on earth?

Can’t be any of those. Mark Zuckerberg has all those things and no one thinks God is with him…. What then does prove that God is going with a person?

I believe it is in rejoicing in our sorrows. The world does not know how to do that. It cannot do that – rejoicing in their sorrows. Being sorrowful and rejoicing are two mutually exclusive emotions to the world. But not to the Christians. We will have sorrows – we lose our loved one, we get sick, we lose our job, our children rebel, etc. But we can rejoice because they serve as reminders that our redemption is coming. That all will be better than well at the end and God will renew and redeem all things to us.

“We are treated… as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” 2 Cor. 6:10

Rejoice in your unfavorable circumstances. That’s the best proof to the world that God is with you.

PH