Many people in the world claim to be Christians. They say they believe in God, and many even go to church. But how many of those people actually live their life for Christ. The bible talks about how God will turn many away who thought they knew Him. Many. Some will cast out demons and perform many miracles in His name. But Jesus will turn to them and say “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Mathew 7:21-23)
I have thought about this for many years. What is true Salvation? We say it is admitting we are sinners, believing Jesus is God, believing Jesus raised from the dead, and giving our lives over to Jesus and letting Him take control. For the most part that is pretty simple and clear. But why is it so many will believe they are Christians but not enter the kingdom of God. It is the last part that gets confusing. Dying to yourself daily and giving your life over to God. What does this really mean though?
We are human and can never be perfect. We will never be able to give 100% of our flesh to Christ as our flesh is part of being human. But where is the line there?
When have we given enough of ourselves over to Jesus to be saved. If we give 90% over to Christ, but knowingly hold back just 10%. Does that mean that 10% was more important to us then the 90%? Therefore more important to us then Jesus? What idols do we have in our lives that Jesus wants us to cast down?
We look at Hindus who openly hang idols on their front door of their house. We look down on them with a little bit of shock how they could believe what they do and have idols at their front door.
We as Americans generally don’t openly worship other gods like this. Instead we do it in secret. We worship our idols, but the devil has deceived us into thinking we have none. What exactly is an idol though? An idol is anything you have in your life, that if asked by Jesus to give up. You wouldn’t. For example, if music was to big of a distraction for you that it was keeping you from growing closer to Christ, and He asked you to give it up. You couldn’t.
If we really love Jesus, why wouldn’t we give it up? Is your television or laptop really more important to you then the almighty supreme being on the Universe? If He convicted you right now that you have put your ipod or shiny new car above Him, would you give it to the poor if He asked you to??
The rich man asked Jesus how to enter the kingdom of God?
Jesus replied saying the man must sell everything he owns, and to come follow Him. Mathew 19:16-24
Jesus then turned to his disciples and said to them. “It is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven then a camel to travel though the eye of a needle.”
Life is to easy for Americans. Jesus tells us being a Christians is suppose to be hard. And it is not hard for us. Sure we get a little ridiculed. We are not suppose to go out and party or sleep around. But is that all it means to be a Christian? Is that all we have to give up for our Jesus? Or are we just doing that so we can fake it and say we are a Christian. Jesus wants so much more from us in our lives. But it is just to “hard” for us to live our life that way. Jesus tells the rich man to sell all he owns.
I always thought, well that’s what Jesus is telling the rich man. Not everyone else.
I realized something the other day though. Guess what, America is the rich man. We as Americans are in the top 10% wealthiest in the world. I’m pretty sure that classifies us.
I’m not saying we have to sell everything we own to be a Christian.
But when Jesus was talking about it being easier for a camel to travel through the eye of a needle then to enter heaven. He was talking about us. Because life is so easy for us, and we have to many Gods to already worship it is so easy for the devil to deceive us. Those crazy people who say 90% of Americans will go to hell, might not sound as crazy now.
I’m not writing this blog to tell everyone they are not saved and going to hell.
Just look at your own life.
- Have you really given it over to Jesus. Or are you just doing things in His name?
- What idols have you put ahead of him in your life?
The most famous verse in the bible John 3:16
Who so ever believes in me shell not perish but have life.
It is not saying simply believe in Jesus and you will be saved. Satan believes in Jesus.
The Greek word used for belief here. Means to have action from your belief. “He who acts on his or her belief in Me shall not perish.”
Jesus says to sell everything you own, take up your cross and follow Him.
How come Jesus tells so many people in the bible to give everything they have away.
Is that really what He wants us as Christians to do? Honestly, I don’t know. But I don’t think so. I think for some, that is what He is saying. For many of us though, He is saying to get rid of the things you put above Him.
For me, for one, I know I put my laptop ahead of Him. I am working on how to cast that idol down. What idols do you have in your life? You may not be feeling a conviction right away about it. But ask yourself, if Jesus asked me to give it up, would I?
What do you love more? Your self and your possessions? Or Jesus.
P.S. If you do feel the need to give more. I am still $2500 short until I am fully funded. 😉 😉
