I am a twin. An identical twin. I always have been, and I always will be. It’s just who I am. And it’s who she is. We’re told we look alike, but really I see no resemblance. Our voices sound so much alike that I once mistook my voice for hers on a voicemail. We’re alike, yet we’re different. Some see the likeness, while others see the differences. If you know us, you won’t be fooled.

In the past few months, I’ve been mistaken for her twice by people I didn’t know. I was accosted by two different people in different parking lots months apart. Both thought they knew me. Yet they didn’t. They were total strangers, and they thought I was someone they knew. It was a little uncomfortable for all parties. It’s laughable. I definitely see the humor in it. But now I’m wondering if it’s safe to leave my home. And I wonder if this is how famous people feel when they’re approached by strangers.

But the thing is. No matter how much people think we look alike and no matter how often I’m mistaken for her, we’ll always be two distinct people. We have the same DNA. The same blood type. Yet, she’s right handed and I’m left handed. She’s taller than me. I’m ambidextrous. She isn’t. We’re not the same, and we never will be.

I can imitate her all I want, but I won’t be able to copy her exactly. She can try to write lefthanded, but it will be disastrous. She can try on my glasses, but she won’t be able to see clearly.

Just last week, one of the strangers I met in a parking lot recognized me in a video her husband took of their daughter at my church’s Awana program. I couldn’t figure out how she knew it was me, because she had only seen me once months ago. Yet she recognized me because I look like my sister.

What does it take for people to recognize me as a child of God? Can they see him through me in my conversations? Or in my attitude? Do they recognize him in my lifestyle or my habits? Do they know I’m a Christ follower only because they know I attend church? What is it about me that would cause a stranger to know that I have turned my back on sin and am now follow God’s leading instead of my own?

If you’re a Christian, do you ever wonder the same about yourself? What is it that sets you apart? What is it about your life that lets others know that you don’t indulge in sinful behaviors?

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A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40

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Several years ago, I was sitting in church talking to friends before the service started. Someone sat down behind us, and then they leaned forward and mentioned that they worked with me many years earlier. She said she recognized me by my voice. This woman recognized my voice after not seeing me for twenty years. Imagine that. I barely remembered her at all.

In last week’s Awana video, the leader of our game time was announcing the games and encouraging the kids. The video added closed captions which mistakenly captured a very vulgar word. When I showed it to him on Sunday, he was appalled. He knew he had not said that word, and it was obvious that it was not a part of his vocabulary. His commitment to Christ would not allow him to stoop to the level of vulgarity that word insinuates. I’m sure he would be highly embarrassed if anyone who knew him thought they heard him speak like that.

We leave an impression on others, whether we know it or not. Everyone has distinct memories of conversations from the past. We recall events and attitudes and words of those we come in contact with. What would someone’s memory from a past incident tell them about you? What lasting impression have you left on others? Do they think you resemble Christ? Or, would your rough imitation demand cleaning up your act? Oh. I know no one is perfect. But what level of work have you put in to make sure your life is mirroring Christ’s? I have to ask myself these questions, and the answers aren’t always what I like.

It’s time to do a self evaluation and ask if my light is shining so everyone can see it. Or, is it just barely flickering? What must I do to make sure my light is bright enough for others to see the love of Jesus shining through me? Looks like I’ve got some work to do. I need to trim the wick, drain some wax and make sure the flame isn’t sitting near a huge gust of wind. I want my light to burn brightly for as long as I have breath. Do you?

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16