Newscaster Lowell Thomas (1892-1981) told how early in his life his father moved his family to Cripple Creek, Colorado, during the gold rush days. That western town, like many mining communities, was a wild and wicked place. In fact, Thomas made a telling comment when he said, “In this wide open atmosphere, I soon felt right at home with sin.” Many Christians are like that. They are too much at home with sin.
The Rio Negro is the largest northern tributary that flows into the Amazon River. It is called the Rio Negro because its waters are inky black. The main stream of the Amazon is vastly different in color. It has a muddy red texture. When the Black River flows into the Amazon, the colors of the water are so distinct that you can actually capture them in a photograph. I’m told that the two rivers flow side by side without losing their identity for almost 50 miles. Then bit by bit the muddy waters of the Amazon absorb the black waters of the Rio Negro and it loses its identity.
That’s what often happens with Christian people. They flow side by side with the world until eventually they lose their Christian distinctiveness. They are absorbed into the habits, lifestyles, and practices of the world until they are no different from unbelievers.
The Bible says, “Be not conformed to this world.” The world does not expect Christians to be perfect, but it does expect them to be different. Don’t ever start feeling at home with sin. Keep your Christian distinctiveness.