A couple Mother’s Days ago, my son bought me a red tee-shirt with a simple white script across the front that says, “I’m a whosoever” (John 3:16). I’m one of those people who dresses simply, avoids things that clash, goes for comfort, but hopes that they don’t look like a slob. Once I’m dressed, I don’t often think of what I’m wearing. For this reason, I am amazed at how many people read what tee-shirts have to say. This particular shirt brings out something more. People don’t just say, “What’s your shirt say?” and read it with little comment. This particular shirt has people coming up to me saying, “I like your shirt. I’m a whosoever too.”
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)
The first time it happened, things were still sketchy with going out to eat with all the Covid restrictions. My husband and I had the opportunity to enjoy a lunch at an understaffed Steak & Shake We stepped up to the host and were told it could take up to 20 minutes to seat us. With a quick look at each other we decided to wait. A couple of women were ahead of us. Next a man and his son who looked about eight. Soon the entry way turned into a crowd of people waiting. A few more women joined the first waiting before us. When the host came to seat us, I pointed out the people who were before us. He thanked me and seated them. Poor kid didn’t have a clue who to seat next. When our turn came, we were seated at a table for six, just the two of us. It did have the surreal feel with the hoops everyone had to jump through to comply. Through it all, our waitress, Chandler, did a marvelous job and served with a genuine smile.
I'm a whosoever
As we stood to leave, one of the women from the first group seated, walked over to me and said, “I love your shirt.”
With all the chaos going on around us, it surprised me. “Thank you, my son gave it to me for Mother’s Day.”
She smiled. “I’m a whosoever too.”
The knowledge of the truth connected us as sisters at that moment. We chatted about our Lord and Savior for a few minutes, and said goodbye knowing we would see each other in heaven if not before.
The most recent person to approach me about being a whosoever happened in a Buc-ee’s so crowded it reminded me of being at a theme park attraction. A woman came up to me as I stood before a wall of assorted gummies, shouting over all the noise. “I love your shirt!”
“Thank you, my son gave it to me.”
“He has good taste. I’m a whosoever. In fact I have a website.” She handed me a card. Christiantellmewhy.info. “It’s a site that answers questions about being a Christian.” We chatted among the chaos and said goodbye.
The Christian fish symbol
I thought about how the people who know Scripture are the ones who knew what my shirt meant. And when they said they were a “whosoever,” I knew that they realized Christ’s sacrifice for them, believed in Him, and received his truth.
The early church didn’t have tee-shirts, but they did have the Christian fish symbol that helped them recognize other believers. The story, as I’ve been told, is that not long after Jesus ascended into to heaven, the church grew quickly, but just as quickly the Christians found themselves persecuted by the Romans and the Jews. (Just take a look at the early part of the apostle Paul’s life story in the book of Acts. At that time he was known as Saul and was a Pharisee on a mission to arrest Christians.) And so, when two people met and thought the other might be a fellow believer, one would draw the upper half of the fish symbol on the ground. If the other person was a believer they knew to draw the second curved line to complete the fish.
While I’ve always heard this called the Christian fish, it is actually the Greek word for fish as an anagram/acronym for “Jesus Christ God’s Son, Savior.”
The thing that stands out in my stories and the story of the Christian fish is that people were able to recognize people as to be believers. For this reason, we should really think about what we are doing and how it reflects back on our Heavenly Father. We are to reflect God's love. The question is, what are we reflecting!
Remember, whether you eat, drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31)
Excerpt from The Inheritance
Here’s an excerpt from The Inheritance which relates to this very topic:
"You know Truth?" Tenderheart asked. He took another swig from the water skin and offered it to Jejune. "I wondered, when I saw you carrying that." He pointed to the walking stick.
"This?" Jejune raised the stick and tossed it to the ground to accept the skin. "Thank you."
He motioned toward the staff with a tick of his head. "That's a reward for saving Chary's sister's life in Goodeeds. It has been useful on the trip."
Tenderheart scratched the back of his neck. "Do you know that the people in Goodeeds think the notches marking their deeds get them into the Eternal City?"
Jejune stopped drinking and wiped his mouth. "What? The notches in the walking stick? They really believe that? Absurd!"
Tenderheart nodded. "They believe the more notches they earn, the better their dwelling will be within the Eternal City. And if they arrive at the gates without a walking stick, they may not get in at all."
"They will get in, even if they have the Condition, just because they are holding a piece of wood?"
"It does sound absurd, now," Tenderheart agreed, "but I grew up in Goodeeds and believed in notches with all my heart."
"I didn't understand all that," Jejune said. "I didn't stay long. I admit I heard some of that, but never really took it to heart."
"It's quite an impressive stick." Tenderheart picked up the carved stick. "It's one of the nicest I've seen. I'm happy to hear you've met Truth instead of putting your confidence in this." He handed it to Jejune in exchange for the water skin.
Jejune fingered the carvings. "I never believed in notches. In fact, I didn't really understand their ceremony at the Hall of Strokes." He tapped his chest. "Truth gave me his Light, and he gave me an inheritance in the Eternal City." He looked into Tenderheart's dark eyes. "Do you know Truth well?"