A teenage boy had just gotten his driver’s license and asked of his father when’s the earliest he could begin driving the family car. His father said, “I’ll make you a deal. You bring up your grades, study your Bible diligently, and get your hair cut, and then we will talk.” The boy thought about it for a moment, then decided to settle on his dad’s offer. And they agreed upon it.

After about six weeks, the father said, “My son, you have truly brought all your grades up, and I’ve been observing that you’ve been studying your Bible diligently every day. But I’m very, very disappointed that you still have not gotten your hair cut.” The boy said, “You know, Dad, I’ve been thinking about it an awful lot. I’ve noticed in my studies of the Bible, that Samson had long hair, that John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair, and there’s even strong evidence that Jesus himself had long hair.” To this the father replied, “Did you also notice that they walked everywhere they went?”

You know, when I was younger, even before driving, what I really enjoyed after playing football, basketball, or softball was a great cold, refreshing Pepsi, Coke, or 7-Up. What I really enjoy today after working out or jogging is a heating pad or ice. Seriously, after a good workout today and then getting that Diet Coke, or Diet Pepsi, or 7-Up, I still enjoy that. Now, this is not a commercial. However, the cold, refreshing cola is to prove my point. A newly opened can of pop tastes great, but how many of you ever tasted a can of pop after it’s been opened for several hours? It happened to me all the time when I was a boy growing up in Park Ridge. After several hours, the can of Pepsi, or Coke, whatever, loses its pizzazz. It tastes flat.

Now, can the same be said of our Christian life, about disciples of Jesus? Are we sometimes lukewarm? Can we be accused sometimes of being flat-cola Christians? Are we faithful to the demands of the Gospel today but unfaithful tomorrow? Am I a follower of Jesus only when it’s convenient, on my terms? Let’s not live lives as flat-cola Christians. Rather, real happiness is found only by living life for others in the name of the Lord. May we be filled with life and joy, reflect the presence of God. Remember the thought I found once on this bumper sticker, “If we were arrested for being Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict us?”