I have an overhead lamp bay with a failing ballast. It works pretty well for an hour or so, and then it goes into some kind of "fail" mode. The lamps shut off, and the ballast tries to re-start them. The lamps come on for a second or so, shut off, and the ballast tries another re-start. This "on-off" process can go on for a long time!
(Someone with neurological problems would "go over the edge" under the influence of that lamp bay!)
I'm pretty sure that whoever replaces the ballast will check the name brand of the new ballast. Who wants to purchase a ballast with a bad reputation?
One uses this same kind of reasoning in making any purchase, whether it's food, an electronic device, a machine, furniture, auto parts, a car, a homebuilder, or whatever. Reputation bears heavily on your choice. Is this item reliable? Can I trust it to deliver what it promises? Will it faithfully serve me? Will its reliability be worth my sacrifice?
Actions, attitudes, or words, consistently performed create a reputation, a name. God calls us to be reliable (Rev. 2:10, eg.). He trusts us to put in a good word for His Son, Jesus, wherever we go (Acts 8:4, eg.). Reliability (another word for "faithfulness") serves the Christian with peace in his own life (Phil. 4:7, eg.).
Reliability also makes Christians believable amongst the sinners they encounter. Any slip-up in expected behavior shows a lack of self-control, and casts doubts on one's reliability. The world is watching to see if the Christian life can be led, and to see if Jesus really does make any difference in the disciple's life. Self-control is one of the first things the world notices.
Jesus spoke these words about one's reliability: (Lk. 16:10 - 12)
"He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore, if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?"
How can we convince the sinner to seek the true riches in Christ? Live a consistent, predictably good life in front of them. They will believe a reliable example of good, before they will even want to hear the reliably good words of God from your mouth.
Spreading the gospel requires reliable disciples!
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