Driving down the streets of any town in America this time of year, you will notice a distinct feature—red, white and blue. July 4th, Independence Day, is a national holiday that brings out the patriotic side in many people.

You can't help but notice the array of American flags, decorations and everything else in red, white and blue when you step out in public. People are proud of their country and they are not afraid to show it.

On the other hand

In striking contrast to these visible symbols of loyalty to one's country is the absence of dedication to God. There is no flag of God. But if there were, how many such flags would fly?

A poll conducted by the Barna Group in 2006 found that 33 percent of people under 24 attend a Christian church every weekend, and only 32 percent are "absolutely committed to the Christian faith." Just 18 percent of adults said "completely understanding and carrying out the principles" of their faith was the highest priority in their lives. Being an example of God's way of life is not popular these days.

Living flags

God did not give us a pattern of stars and stripes to fly in honor of Him. However, He tells us that we are to be living examples—living flags, so to speak.

We can be ambassadors for Him and show our true citizenship through the way we live (2 Corinthians 5:20 and Philippians 3:20). An ambassador represents his or her native country in a foreign land. Ambassadors might be the only connection people ever have with a faraway land that they cannot visit.

Think about it this way. If you and I are the only connection, the only example of God's way of life, that some people ever see, how does that affect their opinion of Christianity? Would God be pleased to have us as His representatives—as flags to be proud of?

Not an easy task

Being a living example of God's way of life and an ambassador for His Kingdom is not a simple task. It's not always easy to explain your beliefs and resultant lifestyle to others.

I catch myself in a number of personal situations at school and at work where it would be much easier to dodge people's questions and just blend in. Often I have to remind myself that I can't be ashamed of my beliefs (Mark 8:38). It is a lot easier to say "I'm an American" than to say "I'm a Christian," but that doesn't take away the responsibility we have to be representatives of God.

When you see your nation's flag blowing in the wind, think about how you can be a banner for God. Rather than fabric in the wind that says, "I'm an American/Angolan/Austrian/Australian, etc.," say "I want to be a living flag in the world whose example says, 'I am God's.'" To see how you can positively affect others, check out "The Greatest Humanitarian Cause."

Let's let our patriotic side shine as true lights in a world of spiritual darkness. Let's not be people only dedicated to our nationality, but let's be proud to be ambassadors for our true homeland—the Kingdom of God! Let those flags fly. VT