Christianity: Why I Feel It's True.

I'm a Christian because I've tried to live my life without God and it doesn't work.

I'm a Christian because in my heart, I feel God's presence, guidance, love, and discipline.

I'm a Christian because coming to faith in the LORD JESUS, actively seeking His will, and wanting to learn from Him as an apprentice has changed my life!

This is all true and I'm living with Him the best I can. But I'm striving for more!

Too often, I dismissed the hand of God; completely ignoring His convictions or obeying His ways. The truth is, I'm still broken and always will be.

Not until the day of complete redemption and restoration, as promised through our LORD JESUS, will I be the full person God created from the beginning of time. The lessons I've learned have sometimes been painful, branding me with scars for life. But I needed to learn them. In fact, I'm still learning.

What I don't want to say is this: Since I've placed my trust for eternal salvation in Jesus Christ doesn't mean I have it all together; because I don't.

My road to sanctification is littered with the garbage of my past.

For this I was once ashamed and insecure. But because of Christ, I am now redeemed.

The devil licks his chops (if he even has them) at our shame and insecurity. God wants us to stockpile our trashed-up burdens right where they belong: at the foot of the cross. He wants His son, Jesus, to carry them for us.

I'm a Christian because I'M INCAPABLE of controlling the multitude of sin my heart is capable of. I NEED HELP!

I can't recall when I heard the following quote, but it's meaning reverberates with truth. Allow me to paraphrase.

"The greatest evidence of the power of God is a changed life." -- (Source unknown)

How true is that? Complete and unalterable.

Before coming to faith in Christ, I was somewhat of a rebel. Not a complete hoodlum constantly dodging authority, but enough of one to give my parents a few restless nights.

I played loud electric guitars, hung out with a few of the "wrong" crowd, dabbled in things I shouldn't have, viewed people in selfish ways, spoke in diminutive language, etc...

The miraculous thing was God was ALWAYS AT WORK with me. I was the clueless one.

Lovingly waiting in the middle of my youthful shenanigans, God was flooding me with common grace while I ignorantly let it flow downstream. For this I am powerfully humbled and eternally indebted.

The power of His grace is insurmountable. The purpose of His will unfathomable.

I'm a Christian because I've tried to live my life without God and it doesn't work.

Looking back, I have a deep reverence for the immutable sovereignty of God. You CANNOT escape it. When He puts His stamp on you, there's no ink remover.

We may try. But the results are typically smeared.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.... (no law basically refers to the Christian not being deterred by man-made law, rather the fear of God)

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." Galatians 5: 22,25 (NASB)

These are some of the most quoted verses in scripture and for good reason: They are the fruit (what others see in us and what we see in ourselves) of the true believer.

Our fruit is something tangible, desirable, and fulfilling.

Often, non-believers will notice the fruit and ask for direction.

"Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words." St. Augustine

I didn't have these things before Christ, nor do I have them all now... some, yes...all, no.

The difference is how I long for them ALL. This is the road to sanctification

• A considerable desire to read His word on a daily basis.
• A desire to want to make a difference in people's lives.
• A desire to pray and develop my relationship with Christ.
• A desire to worship in a way acceptable to God.
• A desire to give back.
• A desire to love my wife with every part of my being.
• A desire to love my children and give them the "food" they need.
• A desire to plant my faith in others.
• A desire to do good work wherever planted...

These are the fruitful desires of my heart... I still have far to go...Only with the Spirit indwelling us can these desires come full circle. Our hearts are too sinful by themselves...

A BRIEF ANALOGY:

A different way to picture this is the analogy of the fence.

On one side of the fence there's green pasture, clean air, and a warm sense of acceptance. On the other side, however, rests pain, abandonment, suffering, and rejection... There is, though, a delicious meal sitting in the midst of the brokenness.

The meal is sin; a temporal pleasure in a broken place. Sure it will taste good for a short time, but that's it; no more. So we continue to go back, and back, and back...

It's as though God is telling us, why do you want all the bad stuff hitching along with the tempting steak and cake.

It's not worth it. Why do you choose the brokenness?

The bedrock reality is this: Christianity offers me, the broken one who longs for the steak, to eat it yet still come to the other side of the fence where His grace and mercy will keep me (and you).

Greener pastures are waiting. Once we're there, we super glue our placemats.

I'm a Christian because I've tried to live my life without God and it doesn't work!

Period!

One of the greatest proofs of my faith rests on the fact that even if I'm wrong, and hypothetically there is no god, my conscience is at peace.

Peace knowing I tried to live my life to an ideal fitting for myself and those I interact with.

"Cease striving and know that I am God;" Psalm 46:10 (NASB)

God designed us to have rest. Rest from the burdens of life. Rest in Him. That's where I'd like to be.

It's a tough road pit-marked with obstacles and trials. I try to stay calm, not listen to the negative thoughts that creep into head, and wait... wait for the rest.

"Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS." Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB)

This is kingdom rest! Rest the way God designed you, me, and everyone to experience. It's free! It's UNBINDING!

IN FINALE:

By nature, I'm a bit of a gambler. But when it comes to eternity, I'm not gambling. I'm putting my trust in God with all my heart. And allowing Him who is who He says He is, simply: I AM... to guide me.

That's all.

This has been put on my heart to tell. You don't have to believe... I'm not a judge, nor do I wish to throw stones. To do so goes against the essence of God Himself.

For me, no other faith offers true rest like Christianity.

This is not meant to be derogatory. Every person has the right to worship the way their heart moves them.

It's my responsibility as a Christian to offer my testimony and be ready to defend it.

Being a thoughful apprentice of Christ demands such wisdom and winsomeness.

Blessings,

RJ

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