Serving One Master

I've recently asked my students to write down questions they have about God, Christianity or just life in general. The first question I will address is "How far is too far?" or more specifically in this case, "How can I not be too worldly, but still be 'cool'?"

As I consider this question the first thing that comes to my mind is a verse from the book of Matthew. In chapter 6 verse 24 Jesus says, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other."

Now I realize that the question deals with being "cool" and this verse is talking about money, but I think the principle still applies here. In the very next sentence Jesus says, "You cannot serve both God and Money." Whether you are talking about money, popularity, success or whatever God must be second to nothing in a Christian's life. If you don't think you struggle with money then look at the verse this way: "You cannot serve both God and . . ." and you fill in the blank.

Now what does this have to do with being cool? Well it's very simple, all one must do is ask himself or herself which is more important: following God or being cool? Ultimately you can't even completely control if you're "cool" or not because you can't control what people think. But you can, with God's help, follow Christ regardless of what people think of you.

Basically, the mindset of "how far is too far" just is not Godly. If you are asking how far is too far, then you are trying to make room for something besides God. If following Christ is really the most important in your life, then spend time every day finding out how you can better do it because I guarantee you that none of us have it down perfectly.

If people think you're cool for following God's commandments then so be it. But if not, are you really going to let what people think keep you from obeying the One you claim to love with your whole heart, mind and strength?

Following Christ

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:23-26.

Jesus isn't really all that vague when he tells people what it takes to follow Him; He just asks a lot. He says very clearly that those who want to follow Him must 1.) deny themselves 2.) take up their cross and 3.) follow Him.There is nothing complicated about what Jesus is saying, it's just hard for us to do. To deny oneself is to disregard his or her selfish wants and desires. I don't know about you, but when I wake up in the morning, sleep often seems more appealing than reading my Bible and praying to God. It doesn't get any easier in the afternoon or evening either. It seems I can always come up with something I should do or want to do that will keep me from spending time with God. We all guard our "free" time or "personal" time so closely that we usually leave no room for following Christ.

Jesus is not looking for casual followers. He wants those who will give up everything to follow Him, even their own lives. This is why He uses the powerful image of taking up one's cross. For a person to carry their own cross was the ultimate act of submission. Imagine being forced to participate in your own execution. But think about it, if we are going to identify with Christ and not forsake Him, we must also identify with His death.

While there are many Christians who are persecuted and face hardship and death for their faith, most of us in America don't know the first thing about suffering for Christ . . . myself included. Nevertheless, we are all called to die to ourselves. Making the decision to follow Jesus means forfeiting your entire life to Him without reservations.
When we die, we leave everything in this world behind. Likewise, when we die to ourselves we let go of all our wants, desires, ambitions, etc. and turn them over to God. I'm not saying that as Christians we aren't allowed to do any of the things that we like to do because we're supposed to "die to ourselves." But be honest with yourself think about the one thing that you want most.

I mean it, really take the time to reflect on your life and try to figure out the one thing you go after in life. If you're stuck, consider your thoughts and actions; they will usually point to what your heart really wants. If you can't narrow it down to one thing or if your one thing isn't following/loving Jesus Christ then you are holding too tightly to your life and you will eventually lose it. Those who feel they have much to lose in this life will have the most difficulty following Jesus because they are afraid of letting go.

Jesus is still calling to us: "Leave everything behind and follow me." He has far more to offer than anything we can find in this life.

Assurance of Faith

How do you know you’re a Christian?

So many times I've heard Christians wonder if they are really saved. Then they wonder if simply questioning their salvation means they were never saved to begin with. I admit, there have been times when I, myself, have wondered if I've taken my own salvation for granted. And I'm pretty sure I have.

I can't think of a scarier place to be than to "think" you've been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, but in actuality be destined for eternal separation from God. At least if someone openly rejects God and the work of His Son Jesus Christ he or she knows where they stand. To those who think it's impossible to say "I believe in Jesus" and still go to hell Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers!'" Matthew 7:21-23.

Words by themselves are not enough to save. Jesus didn't come and tell his disciples "Just say that you believe in me and go live however you see fit." He said, "unless you repent, you too will all perish." Luke 13:3. People are quick to accept a gospel of peace, love, forgiveness, mercy and I am very thankful that God is a good and loving God and that He is patient with me and willing to show His mercy and forgive my terrible, awful sins. But not as many people are willing to accept a gospel of repentance.

People do not want to think that there is anything wrong with them and they really don't like to be told what to do. They reject the counsel of health professionals who tell them they are overweight or have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, etc. and that they will die soon if they do not change their lifestyles. It only makes sense that they also reject the message of one who tells them that they are sinners and will go to hell if they do not repent and follow Jesus.

It's no wonder that our sugar-coated gospel of "All you have to do is ask Jesus Christ into your heart" leaves so many American Christians feeling empty and wondering if they really are saved. But when you try to help them dismiss that fabrication and get them back to the truth, they cling to their old ideas like a security blanket. The problem is that people will go to great lengths to believe that they are ok without actually changing who they are or what they do. They don't want to hear the truth; they want to hear that they are going to be fine.

And when I say "people" dear Lord do not let me forget to include myself in that category. For I have lived the lie of thinking that I am better than some and therefore worthy of heaven. Only men such as myself are foolish enough to believe that measuring ourselves against worldly standards will tell me whether or not I am saved.

God knows better than that. He doesn't look at humanity and choose those who call themselves Christians and never murdered or robbed or raped or cheated or used foul language or had sex before marriage etc. He chooses those who repent from their old ways and follow Jesus.

Becoming a Christian is not simply a mental adjustment. It's also a behavioral adjustment. The Bible says this over and over again, but somehow we miss it. It doesn't get much clearer than in James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS." (emphasis added). James really hits the nail on the head: we are indeed deceived and don't know it. I can't believe how far off I have been. I've thought that just because I go to church every Sunday and read my Bible everyday it means that I am following God the right way. Not that there's anything wrong with any of these practices (I wish I actually read the Bible every day) but that's not what God's asked of me.If you're wondering whether or not you're really saved all you have to do is take the Word of God and examine yourself. 1 John 1:8-10 says that "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives."
So when Jesus says, "Repent" He is not talking about a one-time thing. We are to live lives of constant repentance. God has given us His Spirit to convict us of our sin (John 16:7-11). If we take time to listen, He will tell us where we have gone astray so that we can confess our sin and continue to repent and follow.

Jesus says in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Not only is the gate narrow, but the path thereafter is also narrow. Our conversion is not a license to live our lives the way we want because God will forgive every sin anyway. It is the beginning of a life given wholly and entirely over to Him.

Paul says in Philippians 2:12-13,"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

Do you want to know if you're saved? Ask yourself what you do when no one else is looking. If God is in you, He will work through you. I must ask myself, too: Am I bearing good fruit, or on Judgment Day will Jesus say "Away from me, I never knew you."

What an utterly devastating thing to hear at the end on that day of days: to live your entire life thinking that you're a "good Christian" and going to heaven only discover that the only one you were pleasing was yourself. Please, Lord let it not be so with me!