Often times I believe that people claim Christ out of some traditional obligation, a free get out of hell card that gives them license to continue to blatantly sin, or because “everyone else is doing it”. There are those however who actually know what they believe and know why they believe it. There are those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and it is evidenced by their knowledge of His Word and a heart to serve and honor only Him. These people have a zeal for Jesus Christ and seek to spread the Gospel at every opportunity…they are a living testament of the saving power of Christ. Then there are others who have no idea why Jesus is the only way to the Father and know enough scripture to use it incorrectly, or as I have heard say “know enough scripture to be dangerous”.
There are many aspects of being a Christian and the most important part is to know what you believe and why you believe it. Simply saying “I am a Christian” in our day, doesn’t mean that you are according to scripture. There are many people who “say” they are a Christian yet have never read God’s word and have no clue what He expects from them.
Christianity is not something to be taken lightly or entered into passively. Recognizing that our sin is eternally offensive to a Holy and Just God means that without His saving Grace and Mercy we would be eternally separated from Him. Understanding why Jesus Christ endured the cross is an important part of Christian Theology. Once we accepted Christ we are commissioned to go out and spread the Gospel to everyone. There are many “Christians” today who do not think that they are required to fulfill this Great Commission because they weren’t “gifted” with the ability to speak well or because they don’t know the scriptures. These are both lame excuses and in some regards show the fruit of a person’s real relationship with Christ. If you knew what the cure was for a terminal illness that saved your life, wouldn’t you be jumping at every single chance to share that cure with those who are dying? Christ’s salvation for a dying world is the very same thing! All of mankind is depraved and evil by nature. All of mankind is dying from sin and is in need of a cure. Jesus Christ is that cure! If we are in Christ this will be a heavy burden on our hearts for those who are lost and dying without Christ.
Our faith in Jesus Christ is not conditional. When we place our faith completely in Him then it should never waver or be lost when a storm comes, and storms will come. In the midst of the storm is when our faith is tested to see where it actually rests. If it is only conditional or is not grounded in Jesus Christ, then we will splash around in the waves and feel as though we are drowning like Peter did when he took his eyes off of Jesus Christ.
We will all encounter trials and tribulations. This is not the time to throw a pity party and question God’s Sovereignty or even blame the events on the enemy. These are the times that James speaks of in James 1:2, “count it pure joy, my brethren, when you face trials of many kinds”. I hear many people ask “why is God doing this to me?” James answers this question in James 1:13-15,
“When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
The reason that bad things happen in our lives is because of sin. It can be because of our own personal sin or because of sin in general. Death did not enter into this world until the fall of Adam and Eve when they disobeyed God. All the “bad” things we see happening in this world is because of sin. We can rest assured this is not how God designed us to operate, and that it is our fault that things are the way they are. Trying to play the blame game does nothing to help us when we are facing hard times. There is hope in Jesus Christ. If we are in Christ, then we should count every trial that we face as pure joy, knowing that it is to work perseverance in us which works to strengthen our faith in God.
I understand that this is not always easy to do in the midst of a trial, but it is something we must do regardless how we feel. God is all-knowing and He is Sovereign over all of creation, so He is never caught off guard when one of His children is struggling. He walks us through the fire that will refine us and burn away the impurities that can cause us to stumble. Every single trial can be used to glorify God. We don’t often think of this first because we are a people who are so focused on ourselves. We have to each day refocus our attention and efforts on pleasing the Lord, NOT ourselves.
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:22-27)
If a person claims to be a Christian they will not merely “say it” but they will live it. It will be evidenced by their fruit. A tree is known by its fruit so also is a Christian. This does not mean that we are saved by our works, but it means that if we are saved the natural evidence of our salvation will be how we live our lives. If pleasing God does not reign paramount in your life, then I suggest that you “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Serving God and My Family,
Crystal <>< (SAHM)
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