People are like churches: their stained glass windows sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light within.  A weary traveler, worn with the stains of a long journey, has come in search of refuge for the night.  From the road he sees two churches perched atop two hills.  Both seem immaculately designed, stained glass windows catching the sunlight like diamond facets.  Either appears as a comfortable place which would welcome wayfarers such as he.  Choosing the nearest one, he wanders up the hill and enters in.

Several hours pass and a fierce storm blows in from the west, roiling black clouds blotting out the light, casting all into shadows.  The keepers of one church, afraid of the storm, flee the building for want of more protection.  From the windows of the other church, a light beams out, for its faithful keepers have remained to wait out the tempest. Travelers coming from afar see a beacon of light in the darkness, beckoning them on to sanctuary.
As they near the hill, they see the church with its beautiful windows and breathe a sigh of
relief.  They pass by the other church; the darkness enshrouds it so much that it might as well not have been there in the first place.

Christians are comparable to a church with stained glass windows.  On the outside, a person
may profess Christianity and for all intents and purposes, he appears as one.  One person may have a very good Christian act while another one is a genuine Christian.  The light of Christ shines within true Christians and it takes a test or a trial to reveal that light.  When the
Enemy attacks, the true Christians will remain standing as models of faith while the charlatans flee or fold under the attack.  When it comes down to doing some serious things for God, like the darkened church, if a person does not plan to live up to the name “Christian” then he might as well not become one.