Christian or Chameleon?

Everyone knows that the chameleon can change colors as it sees fit for defense, hunting prey or protection.  Its chromatophores help to camouflage, protect or aid it for the moment. When needed the structural change of the skin cells can affect the way the light reflects off of their skin, thus, giving it a variety of color and pattern changes.  Are people any different as it relates to our personalities during specific environmental situations?

 

Romans 12:2 tells Christians, “And do not be conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”  Is it God’s will that we cave-in to our environmental temptations? Water always travels the path of least resistance. Should we? It is so easy to flow with the crowd, regardless of the crowd’s spiritual nature.  How often are we in situations where people are drinking alcoholic beverages and so we take a drink, not wanting to look like the oddball? How often are we in situations where people are sitting around using profanity and laughing at foul jokes, so we laugh along?  How often are we addictively watching specific television shows more often than we read and study our Bible?

 

Paul was right when he wrote in Romans 7:14-24 confessing that we are still capable of sinning by desire even though God has saved us by grace.  Because we will sin is not an excuse to sin. II Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are new.”  Sin is a weight that we all carry around. But do we give in to it or are we that “new creature?” Because we have a mediator and advocate in Jesus Christ when we sin does that mean we keep sinning because all is good?

 

Psalm 1:1, 2 should be a good reminder (and warning), “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in his law doth he meditates day and night.” Should we change, like the chameleon, to fit into our environment or do we hold steadfast in Christ, regardless, of the circumstance or outcome?  Are we of this world or temporarily in this world?

 

The chameleon has no soul.