It’s been a long time since I’ve been a soda drinker. I’ve cut it out for two reasons: to save money (especially when eating out) and to save calories. Here in Nicaragua, however, I’ve started drinking more and more Coke. At most restaurants water is not free, so it’s the same price to get a Coke. Also, you know that Coke is always going to be safe to drink, whereas water quality can vary widely. As far as calories go, I still try to avoid them as much as possible. Here we have Coke Light (equivalent to Diet Coke) and Coke Cero (equivalent to Coke Zero). Interestingly, Coke is not called Coke regular or Coke classic (the words for each are basically the same in Spanish). Instead, they call it Coke normal. So, you have three Coke choices: normal, light, and zero.
My friend Henry recently told me that he thinks many of us choose how to act out our faith much like we choose a Coke. Sometimes we choose normal faith, sometimes the light version, and sometimes we choose not to act out our faith at all. I want us to think a bit about each of those choices.
A lot of us tend to grab for normal faith. This is the type of faith that is “just like everyone else.” We go to church, say some prayers, and speak the Christian lingo. We could certainly do more for God, but hey, at least we are doing more than many people! Good old normal faith is perfectly fine for most of us.
Sometimes we want to take it a little easier. Perhaps we want to indulge in worldly behaviors such as foul language, pornography, excess drinking, pride, or mocking others. We figure that we have plenty of normal faith days, so we can have a light day every once and awhile.
Sadly, most of us probably have experienced some zero faith days (I know I have). These are times where our sinful nature takes over, or perhaps times when grief and stress completely overwhelm us. These can be some of the most scary and difficult moments in our lives.
The thing is, God does not call us to normal, light, or zero faith. He calls us to put our faith ENTIRELY in Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 puts it like this:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Today, are you going to reach for normal, light, or zero faith? Or, are you going to truly trust God with your entire life, and live in total and real faith? Lets choose to not not partially live out our faith but, to steal another Coke phrase, always choose “the real thing:” complete faith and reliance on Christ.
