Sunscreen

Yesterday, Saturday, April 25th, my husband and I decided to take a trip to the beaches of Destin, FL and get some sun on our winter coats. We both applied spf 30 before even leaving the house because we would be cruising with the top down.

We managed to find front row parking at the public beach, which is a near-miracle. We set up our little site with our large beach blanket and towels, his chair and the one item I'm proud of buying: an UV umbrella. So, finally set, he took a seat and I opened my book. We were ready.

A hundred or so pages later and a few hours into our sunning and swimming I started feeling a little toasty. We decided to leave. It was then that we both discovered just how toasty we were. Yes, I thought one application since I wasn't swimming would cover it. How wrong I was!

A couple of Baking Soda Baths and plenty of Cocoa Butter and Advil later I realized that we as Christians have a lot to learn from sunscreen and sunburn.

Many times we think that once we are saved we are covered for life, we can rock up at the Pearly Gates and just cruise in regardless of how we lived. We didn't read the parts in the Bible about taking up our crosses daily and following Christ. Nor did we bother doing anything to fellowship with the One that took our place on Death Row.

Then there are times that we go to Church every Sunday - maybe twice on that day - and think that this "one application" will carry us through the rest of the week because "we did our duty". We don't realize that Church is not an attendance roster for God; it is a place of corporate worship and connection because a single Christian cannot make up the Body of Christ. We must be connected to each other! Nor do we realize that our lives outside of Church make much more of an impact on the world and their state of grace than seeing us go to Church on Sunday.

One application is not enough for us to go out into this world and not get burned by sin and temptation. One application will not strengthen us enough to lay it all down for Christ. We must become so acquainted with the Man who stepped down from heaven and took on garments of flesh and took our place, although He Himself was innocent, that we become like Him. People must think that He has returned because His Body and His kingdom is here.

So, next time you apply your sunscreen remember: Christ must be applied daily! He is worth it, trust me.