To follow Jesus
You have made one of the biggest decisions of your life by becoming a Christian. So what comes next? You question your conversion because you didn’t see a bright light, here Angels Sing, or feel tingly all over. You thought when you decided to ask Jesus Christ in your heart that you would have an epiphany, or a physical sensation of something. The question is, did you decided in your head to become a Christian or in your heart to become a Christian, there lies the difference. For the Bible tells us plainly: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 10:10-11 Accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior is a conscious decision to listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts, and acting upon that conviction. The Bible also tells us: that if any man be in me he is a new creature old things have passed away and behold all things become new. Because you have made the decision in your heart to follow Jesus, you cannot be the same as you were before. The word conversion itself means to change; a change in which one adopts a new religion, faith, or belief. Something that is changed from one use, function, or purpose to another. That’s what the Bible’s talking about when it says old things are passed away.
So what exactly does that mean? How do I become a new person? It means that you want to live more like Jesus. If you do drugs, you quit. If you look at porn on your computer or telephone, you quit. If you cuss like a sailor, you quit. Reading your Bible daily will help you gain the knowledge you need to become more like Jesus. Many people say: I have read the Bible and I just don’t understand it. That is one thing about being a new creature, now you have the Holy Spirit’s guidance that will help you in discernment. If you have friends that keep you from living the life you have chosen or of following Jesus, you may have to find new friends. If after you explain to them what is happening in your life, and they think you’re foolish or make fun of you or expect you to behave the way you did before your conversion, things have to change. It’s hard to be a witness for Jesus Christ if you’re out barhopping every weekend.
This behavior also extends to your social media accounts, and what you say on them. You must understand that anything said on these accounts stays in cyberspace forever, and can make your witness for Jesus Christ have less effect. After making a decision to be saved, the first order of business is obedience. To show that obedience we are commanded to be baptized. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4 “I don’t want to be baptized I’ll be embarrassed,” is the first thing some people think when making the decision to follow Christ. It is hard for them to put away old self, old habits, old traditions, and become a new creature. But that is exactly what we are asked to do, and not be ashamed by doing it.
There is an alternative of deciding to follow Jesus, and that is to decide not to follow Him. This is also a conscious decision, and one that you will pay for with your eternal soul. I have heard some people say; oh I plan on becoming a Christian, just not right now, I want to sow some wild oats first, or make a lot of money, or follow my career, and I don’t have time right now to be a Christian. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? Luke 12:20 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15
This decision is, and always has been yours to make, of your free will, just as it is your decision to suffer the consequences of the decision you may or may not make. This is the reason God created us with free will, to choose to love him, and to live for him.
As parents it is our job to teach our children what decisions they have before them, and the consequences of those decisions. For the Bible tells us; for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. You teach your children how to brush their teeth, tie their shoes, and feed themselves. How could you not teach them the most important lesson of their lives?
We as authors make many decisions while writing a story, what the plot will be, who the heroes will be, every twist and turn the story takes, are our decisions to make. Just as it is our decision whether or not to accept Christ as our personal Saviour, and to be baptized. No one will ever force you by twisting your arm behind your back, or to hold a gun to your head, to make this decision. It is done by our free will and our conscious decision to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading of our heart to salvation.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
Proverbs 3:5-7
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
Psalms 17:5
Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Proverbs 16:3
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 8:12
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
II Corinthians 5:17