The two previous articles served as a herald for
the conclusion on the subject - which is the crux of the topic. I felt impelled
to share on this topic as I was personally reminded of the essence of life, its
true meaning and the reality of its passing here on earth. Not just that alone
but the daunting significance of living life without Christ and its eternal
consequences. Living life without Christ is not merely relating to having not accepted
Christ as Lord and Saviour but it is also pertinent to being born-again but
still living life without the Author of Salvation. How does that happen? Could
it be possible to be born again and still be counted amongst the lost? Yes.
When most of us believers are born-again and
transmuted into the Kingdom of God’s dear son; we are usually determined,
focused and yearning for more of God but unfortunately as we continue in this
hard knock odyssey of valleys and mountains; we begin to fail, fall and give up
on God and the fullness of His promises in His word. And to be honest everyone
falls in one way or the other before God but what becomes a bulwark in our
relationship with Him is living from our fallen nature. Proverbs 24:16 states, “For
a righteous man falls seven times and rises again…” The emphasis here
is on the rising. No matter how many times a righteous man may fall, he [he/she]
is called to rise – to repent and to reconcile to God. But for some, being on
the ground becomes comfortable; ‘righteous but fallen,’ ‘righteous but living
from the ground’ yet Christ has called us to rise when we dare fall. Righteous, professing to be a born again child of God but
living in the dusty shoddy grounds of worldly standards. No one is perfect that
I know and none walks this Christian life without any hindrances or falls -
that I am sure of. But in our state of imperfection we ought to persevere that
we may be perfected in Christ. Revelation 3:14-21 is testament to the Lord’s
indignant response to living a double standard life. Verse 15 says, “I know your record of works and
what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Wish you were either cold or
hot!” 16. “So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you
out of my mouth!” The Lord is simply saying: if you choose to live from
the ground live from there but leave my name out of it. And if you are a
righteous man, when life tackles you with the trials, tribulations and
temptations; when you fall, rise again. Do not stay on the ground! 21. For
“He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My
throne…” If you are cold be cold and if you are hot for the gospel of
Christ, be hot. Never be in-between. “See, I’m just trying out this Christian
thing,” “Man, this Christian thing is hard,” “God will understand,” “I am only
human… (Aren’t we all?)” Excuses! Excuses! Excuses! To stay on the ground and
live a double standard life.
TO THE BELIEVER
1) In as much we are allowed to fall, WE SHOULD NOT TAKE GOD’S GRACE FOR
GRANTED: Since we live in the
cushion of grace, we seemingly take it for granted; offering meagre worship and
service to God. By worship and service I refer to offering ourselves, our
hearts and our being as worship before God; giving ourselves wholeheartedly to
Him. Hebrews 10:26-31 asserts
that if we keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth then what
is left for us is judgment and the raging fire (wrath and indignation). It
continues to state that the Lord will judge his people and how
dreadful it is to fall under the judgment of God. God is merciful and
that is saliently noted throughout the word but He is also just.
2) Workout your salvation: Philippians 2:12 avows, “Work out (cultivate, carry out
to the goal and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and
trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience,
watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend
God and discredit the name of Christ.)” Being born again is the
rudimentary phase; it is not all there is to the life of Christianity. Working
out one’s salvation on a day to day basis is the heart of living in submission
and fervent worship before God. Each day requires one to cultivate who they are
in Christ, be watchful and circumspect of temptation and anything that may
offend God and discredit the name of Christ.
3) We will be judged: Matthew 12:36 though referring to idle words we speak, declares that we
will have to give account before God on judgment day. I do not know about you
but the thought of standing before God and accounting for every word and deed
is overwhelming. And every time I am reminded of this I am impelled to work out
my salvation with reverence for it is a dreadful thing to fall under God’s
judgment. Rather I die to self now, crucify my flesh and carry my cross now
whilst I have the chance than to face God’s wrath.
TO THE UNBELIEVER
1) There is only one way in which you can be saved: And this way is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. It is
true that we have been given freewill to choose what we want to believe in but
there are consequences. Eternal life is found only in Christ. Acts 4:11-12
states, “This Jesus is the Stone which was despised and rejected by you, the
builders, but which has become the Head of the corner [the Cornerstone]. AND
THERE IS SALVATION IN AND THROUGH NO ONE ELSE, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER
HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN BY AND IN WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED.” There is no name under heaven in which men
must be saved except the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Simply meaning you
can choose to believe in anything you want and relegate the gospel of Christ to
be of no significance but at the end of it all whether you acknowledge it or
not; Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the only saviour!
2) Once you die there is no turning back: Hebrews 9:27 says, “And just as it is appointed for
[All] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment.” We are
all going to egress earth that is a fact. And after death, all men of every
race, stature, gender will be judged by God according to their works on earth. The
subject of Heaven and Hell is not a myth but a reality. What you choose to do
with your life now will determine where you spend your eternity, so choose
wisely. It is not enough to be a ‘nice person’ ‘do philanthropic work’ ‘be
kind’ or ‘save the planet’, that does not guarantee your place in heaven. Your
place in heaven is guaranteed by acknowledging that Jesus Christ is Lord and
the willingness to forsake your will; bringing it under His submission and
authority. John 14:6 echoes this stating, “Jesus said to him, I am the Way, and the
Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by [through] Me.”
This article is a call to both the believer and
unbeliever to surmount all obstacles holding us back from experiencing the love
of Christ in all its fullness. To the believer: Run the race to finish it. For
surely there is a greater reward on the other side of life when our lives are
lived in complete obedience and surrender to the Lord. Let us not be distracted
by temporal things (2Corinthians 4:18, for the things that are visible are temporal [brief
and fleeting] but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting).
Let our hearts be ornately filled with heaven. Let our lives be affectionately
turned towards heaven because this life here on earth is nothing but borrowed
time. Live it in complete reverence for God; cultivating your salvation each
day for the glory that waits in heaven and let it be an everyday embellishment
of who God is. When you fall, rise! For that is what a righteous man does.
To the unbeliever: The only answer to living life
and being fulfilled is through Christ Jesus. Maybe you have everything you’ve
ever wanted and you do not see the need for this Jesus I am talking about. But
you need Him for eternal life in Heaven. Your good works or money or kindness
is not your redemptive ticket into heaven but Jesus is. If you have never known
this nor heard it; Jesus loves you! And he does not want your soul to extirpate
in hell. He wants you to partake in His glorious inheritance in Heaven, only if
you acknowledge Him and permit His lordship over your life. Make the right choice!
I hope you have been blessed.
Much love.
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