Over the last 30 years I have had the opportunity to meet a few people I call my friends. The bible says that true love is when someone is willing to lay down his life for another. That for me friends is who a true friend is, someone you are willing to lay down your life for. Over the years I have been in that position about twice, when I was willing to lay down my life for others. You don't think about it, you are just of the mindset. Jesus Christ was a true friend, greater than any other person before. He freely came to earth and suffered and died for the freedom we have as Christians. How else could we have the hope of salvation?

Over time I have also learnt that there are different types of friends you will meet along this road. There are those like sheep in wolves clothing, whose aim is to deceive and destroy. Those I do not classify as friends, but person with the objective of abuse. They seem genuine and real, but deep down their motives are evil. In my short time on this earth, I have had to encounter these persons several times. To meet people like those brings heartache and pain. Oftentimes it is people you have grown up with from birth who bring the most pain. Even in my Christian walk, I have encountered the same. People who should know better, leave you in distress like a man lost in the desert.

It seems that I had set my expectations too high. Which friend when faced with the reality of death would really want to die for me? Which friend is truly committed to loving me with all my flaws and scars? Which friend is willing to accept the pitfalls of friendship? Not many. You see we fail to understand that we must lead by example in all things. We cannot expect everyone to have our same principles and goals in this life. 1 Peter 2:2-24 tells us, "for you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." Jesus Christ laid the foundation as to what we should be. He gave us the best example of the people we ought to be. Even when he was oppressed he did not threaten or use harsh words. He was committed to doing the will of God. This is the example that I must follow and you too my friends.

When people walk on us, we must watch our tongue, we must be always representing God in all things. Too many times I have been quick to just speak without considering what God expects of me. I am supposed to be a representative of God. Oftentimes we hear the saying, "what would Jesus Christ do?". That is so true, when we utter words that are unrighteous, is that of God? Certainly not, God does not act out of anger, but out of love.

You see, we are always going to have all types of 'friends' in this life. Not everyone is going to follow our beliefs or even accept them, but our duty always is to teach them about God, by our example in righteousness. Yesterday, my brother brought a sermon on faith, there was a mention of the fact that how can anyone expect a non-christian to follow us if we say one thing and do another. How can we expect non-Christians to have any interest in God when we do not behave like a Christian? Our friends often look up to us, but what do they see?? Are we examples of Christ? Or do we just say we follow Christ? 

Many friends have come to me asking about my faith. I remember one day I went to play dominoes and my friends were just bombarding me with questions. They all believed in God, but they questioned the behavior of people who said they followed God. They said that what they have seen is that people set up 'churches' [the buildings] to make money. They use the name of God to profit themselves. But isn't that true, many people use the name of God to profit, to live high lifestyles from the collections of the poor. And said to them, true Christianity is not like that. True Christianity is about pleasing God. It is about looking at the sacrifice of our savior, Jesus Christ who was willing to lay down His life for all, just as a true friend would. A lot of our friends are searching for God, but what are we doing? I am not doing enough in my own corner. I recognize that there are things to fix about my example as a Christian.

If we all are to reach heaven we have to be friends like Jesus, to love unconditionally, not just by our words but by our actions. Also we have to be willing to follow God's commands, it is by His Word that we learn about love and righteousness. Today I choose to be more of a friend.