Ichthus

"A sense of deity is inscribed on every heart." -John Calvin


Almost every day for several years I have worn a wooden necklace shaped like an ichthus (christian fish) with the word "JESUS" written on it. I prefer to wear it more than a cross necklace because of the origins of the ichthus and what it symbolizes. In the times of the early church, there was a lot of christian persecution. Jesus was sweeping the nations in secret because if the Roman government found you out, you could be killed. So christians had to be able to find a way to identify one another without showing any outward sign of their faith. Because of Jesus' "fishing for men" analogy (Matthew 4:18-22), they developed this fish sign. If a christian were to meet a stranger in the street, they would draw on the sand half of the ichthus:

And if the stranger also happened to be a christian, they would complete the ichthus with their own foot:

These pictures aren't perfectly to scale but I think you'll be able to see what I mean. Once the two found out they were both followers of Jesus, they knew they could trust each other, tell each other about secret meetings with other followers, and even confide in one another.
If the stranger didn't happen to be a christian, they would hopefully just think you were scribbling in the sand with your foot.

Hence, I prefer wearing an ichthus to wearing a cross because a cross says "This is my faith, unless I am just wearing this for decoration," whereas an ichthus says "This is my faith that I want to share with you, I want to identify with you in a meaningful way."


I was hanging out with my friend perhaps roughly a month ago when he told me how much he liked my necklace. Knowing he wasn't a believer, I told him I'd give it to him if he promised to wear it every day. (This idea came from my friend Beyan who was a camp counselor with me and gave his cross necklace to a camper who really liked it, on the grounds that the camper promised to tell everyone what the necklace meant and who Jesus was.) My friend seemed reluctant to make such a promise, so I continued to wear it daily around my own neck.

Just a few days ago, this same friend commented once again on how much he liked my necklace. I told him the same thing again and once again he seemed not-so-sure he could make such a promise. But I knew he liked it and I felt a little push from God that said, "Give it to him. He needs it and you don't." I realized I was being selfish because obviously I like this necklace a lot too, but I took it off and put it around his neck. I told him it was his now and he said pretty excitedly, "I'll wear it every day that ends in Y!" I told him Jesus looked good on him, and he told me Jesus looks good in him, which is so true.


It's true for everyone, really, and not a lot of people realize that. Many say, I am content in my own faith and where I am, or I am content not believing in a god because what has God ever done for me? or even I am content not knowing exactly what I believe, because I am getting along fine in life as is.
Etc...

But the truth is, everyone is dying and in need of a savior. There are people in this life that might save you from something bad happening, even from dying, but no one can save you from dying altogether. It's bound to happen at some point. What we need saved from is beyond this life. If you don't believe in Heaven or Hell, fine, but just remember that what you believe doesn't determine reality.

The truth is, (and I mean that phrase quite literally), Jesus looks good on and in everyone. Because, believe it or not, you and him are meant to be together. Like soul mates, like two peas in a pod, like long-lost twins.

(This is what my necklace looked like only with a black chord not a gold chain)

God bless.