The Chameleon

The Chameleon

by Wanda Ritter

Almost everyone has seen a chameleon and marveled at its ability to change color and blend in with its surroundings.  If you put one on the grass, it will turn green, or if you place it on a branch, it will turn the color of bark.  What an amazing little creature God created.  The chameleon has another incredible attribute - each of its eyes move independently of the other.  It can look down with one eye and up with the other, without moving its head.  This is great protection for the chameleon, as it can watch in different directions at the same time and scurry away quickly if an enemy approaches.

I often wondered why man was not created like the chameleon, able to change color to fit in with his environment and have independent eyesight.  Then I realized that although not physically, spiritually we do have the same characteristics.  When Christians are born again, they change from dark to light.  

I Peter 2:9  “….that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”   I remember as a new Christian, old friends and coworkers would say, “What happened to you - you look different?”  How wonderful the change was visible. 

Sadly enough, many tend to become like the chameleon, changing to fit in with their surroundings.  How could this happen?  “… Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”  (John 3:19 NIV )  They came from darkness into light, but in their weakness, slipped back into the dark again.  When they stepped into the worldly environment, they changed back to fit in with the others.

Man also has the ability to see in different directions at the same time.  They may try to keep one eye on Jesus and the other on the world and its fleshly desires.  When they do, they generally change back to darkness.  The Word of God doesn’t tell us to look both ways, but says,  “Let us fix our eyes [both eyes] on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2 NIV)  There are many ways we tend to be like the chameleon, always changing our mind, our direction, what we believe, our church and yes, even our doctrine. 

Our Mind:   James 1:8 tells us,  “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”  A double minded person is one who is drawn in two opposite directions.  He goes from belief to unbelief, from hope to hopelessness.  He is recognized by his inconsistency in prayer, faith, church attendance, and in all his ways.  Those who keep both eyes on Jesus, will not find themselves double minded.

Our Direction:   When we don’t pray for God’s direction, we often find ourselves in trouble.  In Psalms 32:8, we find one of God’s precious promises, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.  Our heavenly Father desires us to go in the direction he has planned for us and it is impossible to do that, if we are going the way of the world.  Keep both of your eyes on Him.

What We Believe:  How many church goers on a given Sunday repeat the Nicene Creed?  “I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible.  And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God, Begotten, not made, Being of one substance with the Father, By whom all things were made:  Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man; And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.  He suffered and was buried; And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father.  And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: Whose kingdom shall have no end.  And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets.  And I believe one Holy Christian and Apostolic Church.  I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.  And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the Life of the world to come.  Amen.” 

There is nothing wrong in repeating the Nicene Creed, yet many of these same people also read their horoscopes, or have their palms read.  Some may consult a medium for advice and instruction.  What then do we believe?  “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”  (Matt. 6:24 NIV)

Our Doctrine:   The Bible clearly warns us about other doctrines: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive”.  (Eph. 4:14)  There is only one way to salvation and that is the way of the cross - by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior.  What follows can be summed up in this verse from Matthew 22:37-39.  “Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

Once you believed this, but now you may be doubting because you heard being baptized in water gives you salvation.  Perhaps you’ve attended the “Circus of the Stars”, the Christian stars, that is, and all their various antics.  Maybe you think you should be perfect in all ways to earn salvation.  

Your Church:  There are those who change churches like the chameleon changes colors.  They are constantly looking for the “Right Church” and they will never find it.  While it is true, some fit in certain groups better than others, they will find wherever there are people, there are problems.  The early church had its problems and Paul wrote to the Thessalonians cautioning them, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”  (2 Thess. 2:15)  When we hear some of our missing congregation say, “Oh, we’ve just been visiting other churches” - watch out, the chameleon is showing his colors.

God did not create us to be like chameleons, always changing and looking for other ways and other things.  We have been called out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Stay in it and let your light shine for Jesus.  “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Gal. 5: 5:1)