Indicators

If you are a chemist, acids and bases look pretty much the same.  Or if you aren't a chemist, we could say the same thing about the water in your swimming pool or hot tub.  Water looks like water whether it is completely neutral or acidic enough to ruin your swimsuit.  So to tell the difference we use indicators.  An indicator is a chemical that will change colors depending on how acidic the water is.  For a swimming pool we dip out some water, put in a few drops of indicator, then check the color to see if the water is safe enough.

According to Google, the substance that they use in swimming pool kits is called "phenol".  And while that isn't too familiar, there are many indicators in our refrigerator.  Red cabbage, blueberries and rhubarb will all change colors depending on acidity.

Indicators go far beyond chemistry.  If you are a poker player you look for indicators in the body language of your opponents.  But in poker they aren't called indicators, but rather "Tells", but it is the same thing.  The cards are hidden from view, so we look for outward signs of what is going on below the surface.  Some people might fidget or play with their chips or tap or look around more.  And this might mean that they have a good hand or a bad hand.  So a tell in poker is like a swimming pool test, they help us see what is going on in the unseen world below.

If you think about it, life is full of indicators.  We say one thing but do another.  Our actions are the tell that reveals what is hidden in our character below.  We can say that we are Christians.  We can claim redemption.  But there is no way for another human to look into our souls and find what lurks below.  Those around us see the indicators of a redeemed life.  The Bible lists the tells and calls them the "fruit of the spirit".  

Jesus used indicators too.  When Jesus was walking the Earth he preached love and forgiveness.  But he was more than a great teacher.  When they brought the paralytic, Jesus forgave him of the his sins.  But no one could tell what happened.  Jesus knew and the paralytic man knew, but the crowd around them heard blasphemy.  So Jesus provided an indicator for his divine authority.  Jesus healed the paralytic so that no one could question his authority.  The miracles are the indicator that Jesus was who he said he was.

Watch this clip from Pastor Chris.

No one can see into the depths of our soul.  If we want the world to know that we have been redeemed through the grace of Jesus Christ, and if we want the world to see the light of God through us, then we need to live our lives in a way that provides an indicator.