It is a problem you know, I mean being a Christian. To others around you who maybe don’t share the same faith and beliefs it might seem, looking in from the outside, an easy job.
It’s not always easy though; oh it’s great knowing the Lord Jesus is there for you and it’s great having the understanding that your sins are forgiven if you are truly repentant. Of that there is no doubt. But what’s not too good is knowing that you aren’t perfect and that you can never be in the eyes of God. The trouble with being a Christian – well at least for me anyway – is that I am constantly aware of my failings. We all have them; all of us and we all know exactly what they are too. Maybe others do not, but we do, we are acutely aware of our failings.
If you are not a Christian, on reflection maybe I had better stop for a moment and clear that last statement up. What exactly do I mean by a Christian? Well, I mean someone who believes that Jesus Christ died on that cross all those years ago that I might be forgiven. It means being prepared to tell others about that belief also.
It means a lot more than going to church too! Don’t expect to get into heaven when God asks “Why should I let you in here?” that “I went to church every week for years” will be OK, because I would hazard a guess that it won’t do at all! I went to church every week for years too, my parents made me. I didn’t want to be there either. That was when I was 7 years old. Now I am 57 and you know, I want to be at church. Now there’s a turnaround!
So what will get you in then? What do you have to do to get the keys to the second life? It’s so easy it’s almost unbelievable! Believe, repent and make Christ the most important person in your life. Of course, you also need to try to live a life that reflects those beliefs and ethics too. Remember when I said at the beginning of this article that being a Christian wasn’t easy? Well, that’s what I meant!
Jesus Christ was and continues to be the perfect God and during his stay with us in His earthly form was the perfect man on earth. Absolutely sin free. No faults, nor any failings and bad character traits – none whatsoever. Not even just the one!
Now herein my problem lies sometimes. No matter how Christ like I try to be I know I will fail even before I have begun. I have no chance of emulating my God. I can try, but try as I may I will never be successful. Let me give you a prime example. Recently I was given some news that shocked me – it really doesn’t matter what that news was, it’s not directly relevant. Anyway, as I said the news shocked me and I reacted with an untimely and uncalled tirade of words that were completely out of order and totally uncalled for. In simple terms I lost my temper good style for around 30 minutes and then sulked for another day! Before you laugh I bet you have been in the same position before – thought so!
Well, this was Saturday and by Sunday morning I had calmed right down and thought things through. Then it suddenly hit me like a nuclear missile. Despite all my good words at church, despite the articles I had written for my church magazine (and the blog spot – whatever that is!) and despite preaching occasionally about my Saviour – yes, despite all those things I had failed again, and I mean again. I do it all the time, almost seems as though I can’t help it sometimes.
This is the hard part about being a Christian, failing because of the standards that my God sets and expects from me. I felt that bad about things that I could not make myself attend church that day. I felt ashamed for what I had done and how I had done and why I had done it. I mean how bad can things get?
I contacted a couple of my fellowship members – Ian and Gill, 2 very close friends and shared the problem with them. I got some really good advice (and I knew I would, that’s why I rang in the first place!)
What they said, for a moment, just a split second, made me feel really bad and even more ashamed! But then instantly overjoyed; I will tell you what it was in a minute or so. When I first became “born again” I remember reading on more than 1 occasion reading about murderers who became great prophets in the eyes of men because of their calling to the Lords word and goodness. Did you know, Moses killed an Egyptian who was giving a Hebrew a hard time, did you know that Saul, who later became Paul spent his early years persecuting Christians in a big way?
Then something happened, God called them for His work. God had better and bigger things in store for these two men who were to become biblical giants. And yet, when they began their activity as set out in God’s word you could have been forgiven for being a little surprised at how they spent most of their lives.
Now I am not gong to make some sort of a comparison between me and those great men of God except in one area; I am not perfect either! Oh, I have never killed anyone, but you know the bible says that you break one commandment and you break them all. Also one is no less important that the other. None of us are perfect - Let him who is without sin cast the first stone- you must have heard that quoted before today I am sure.
You may not be a Christian (Not yet anyway) but our society is guided by Christian values. Our laws are based on the 10 commandments and the 10 commandments are Gods words.
When man breaks mans laws he is punished and reprimanded. When man breaks God’s laws he is reprimanded, just as a father would reprimand his child. When the child says “sorry” to his father he usually gains forgiveness. When the Christian says sorry to God, and truly asks for forgiveness – he is forgiven, EVERY TIME.
The advice I got from Ian and Gill my good friends in Jesus?
Go and get a Bible open it at 1 John Verse 9 -
“If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”
If you died tomorrow, or the day after, and it turned out that there was indeed a God (and there is, of that please be sure) what would you be able to say when asked by God?
“Why should I let you in here”
Would your answer be based on confidence because you would you be able to say that you knew God and He knew you personally already?
Or would it be a suggestion that you had lived a good life without belief but you had been almost perfect, doff your cap and sort of hope for the best?
We have a growing fellowship for heavenly life at Ainsdale Evangelical Church and remember time for earthly life grows short. Why not come and be with Jesus today. I look forward to talking with you on Sunday or at any time that suits your needs.
The best advice I could give right now is to open your heart to Jesus, mind you I am not perfect, He is though!
God Bless Bill
