Truth in Advertising

It’s estimated that American companies will spend 178 billion dollars this year on advertising. I don’t know how “true” that number is but I suspect that the people who work for ‘Emarketer.com’ (where I found this info) did at least a mediocre job in trying to reveal somewhat accurate information.

178 billion dollars is a lot of money. A WHOLE lot of money. And if these companies have an effective marketing strategy, we'll see, hear and hopefully be influenced by the fruits of their labor and attach a disreable value to their product; cars whizzing by - all while suggesting that we not try to attempt, guilt-free this and fat-free that, trips, trinkets and double your order, full money back guarantee if you call right now! So what will you do? You may want a pretty new car but you decline if you can’t afford the pretty new payments and insurance. Besides, the 'old clunker' is clunking along just fine. You’d love to follow the paid actor’s pleas and order 2 weeks of ready-made meals to maximize your weight loss, but you figure, “I can prepare smarter meals on my own for less.” Hmmm…..Vacation…a week away (or just a week off from work) would be great! Although you may not be able to “Come to Jamaica Mon”, a few tiki lamps, your favorite take-out and an iPod on a lounge chair on the deck will do just fine.
Thing is, these companies are spending BIG BUCKS in the hopes that much of our day is inundated with their latest great idea from the guys in marketing all in an effort to convince you that “You need this today!”
There’s a song that I love and it makes me wonder about how we ‘market’ our faith, the chorus goes like this:

People need the Lord, people need the Lord. At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord. When will we realize, people need the Lord?

Now let me make this clear; we don’t “SELL” Jesus. We preach Christ but it’s only HE who moves on the human heart to draw men to Himself – As eveidenced by His command to GO and make disciples, we can’t deny that we have been given a part in how He reaches people.

Here’s The Word;

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1 Corintians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

1 Thessalonians 2:4-6 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

Fact if the matter is this; considering all the money spent on advertising this year (and all other years combined for that matter), Christ paid a price infinitely more valuable, His life. Notwithstanding, the “world” and its ideas of what’s attractive and valuable, we are to present Christ’s free gift of salvation. And as partakers of this Gift, there's a life that should be seen and heard that proves its authenticity. There’s no ‘knock-off’ that will do in place as substitution of complete surrender to Him.

The thought I want to leave you with is this: Does your life serve as genuine advertisement for the value of Jesus? Of course, we all have problems, but do you show evidence of His peace that passes understanding? An undeniable hope that this depraved world will one day give way to Glory? Again, some people may see your love for Christ and desire to hate Him all the more. But at the end of the day, people really do need The Lord and we just want it to be said of us that when people hear the Gospel we preach compared to the lives we live – that they would say it’s “Truth in Advertising”.


In Him,
Cros