Contaminate Them!

What does the word contaminate really mean to me?

According to the dictionary, contaminate means to make impure or unclean. That definition made me stop and think.

Do I contaminate the people around me? Do I poison their minds or influence them to do what is wrong? On the other hand, do I simply stand by while my loved ones are being contaminated by the values of this world without trying to help them? How can I protect them? And what can I do to make sure that I do not contribute to the world's corruption?

To be honest, I want to contaminate the world—but not in the negative sense.

God never intended His children to keep His love to themselves. Just as a sweet fragrance naturally fills a room, our lives should spread the knowledge of Christ wherever we go. As Paul wrote, "Thanks be to God... through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ..." (2 Corinthians 2:14–15).

I want to "contaminate" people with the life-giving message of the gospel. I want my faith to be contagious. I want God's love, grace, hope, and truth to spread from one heart to another, because there is life in God's Word—life that this dying world desperately needs.

Jesus said:

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

The apostle Paul also reminds us:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes." (Romans 1:16)

Sadly, many people today think that anyone who loves reading the Bible is strange or even foolish. Some believers lose friendships because of their faith. Others are avoided because they openly follow Christ. Some family members are even embarrassed to admit that they have someone in the family who reads the Bible every day.

I know this because I have experienced it myself.

I genuinely feel sorry for those who do not believe that God exists. Ironically, some people feel sorry for me because I believe in Him. Yet despite their opinions, I still choose to believe.

Because I know what God has done in my life.

The beauty of these flowers reminds me of how magnificent our Creator is.

Acts 4:20
"For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

That verse expresses exactly how I feel.

I share God's life-giving message because I have personally experienced His transforming power. Once I felt filthy, lost, broken, and worthless in the eyes of others. But God "contaminated" me with His love, His grace, and His truth. His message cleansed me, restored me, and gave me a new identity and a new purpose.

His Word became like a cleansing detergent—not for my body, but for my heart and soul.

David declared:

"How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to Your word." (Psalm 119:9)

And Paul wrote:

"...Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word." (Ephesians 5:25–26)

God's Word has a way of washing away our pride, bitterness, fear, guilt, and sin. It renews our minds, changes our hearts, and teaches us how to live.

Who wouldn't want to be made clean?

So let me ask you:

Are you contaminating the world by spreading anger, hatred, gossip, and selfishness?

Or are you "contaminating" it with God's love, hope, truth, kindness, joy, and the life-giving message of Jesus Christ?

Which will you choose?

Smyth wrote:

Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is the love of God flowing through you?
Are you telling the lost of the Savior?
Are you ready for His service to do?

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for giving me new life through Jesus Christ. Thank You for rescuing me when I was lost and for transforming my heart through Your living Word.

Help me to be contagious with Your love, Your joy, Your peace, and Your truth. May my words and my actions point others to You. Guard me from polluting this world with sin, negativity, or discouragement. Instead, let me spread hope, light, compassion, and the life-giving message of the gospel wherever I go.

May those around me see Christ in me and be drawn closer to You.

In the precious name of Jesus, I pray.

Amen.