Over the past few weeks, I have
begun to struggle with how my life looks different as a follower of Jesus. For
the past six months, I have been surrounded by cultures that assume I am a
Christian because I am a white American. Even though I try to do good things,
there are people who have also given up years of their lives to serve the poor,
and some openly do not believe in God. Many people sit in pews on Sundays, but at
home have lifestyles that are completely opposite of the way Jesus lived. What
exactly does having Jesus in my life mean? How does the Holy Spirit set me
apart?
After wondering how “Christianity”
should be lived out, I began to ask my friends their opinions:
Joe
“Christianity is the difference between life and death…
Being a Believer is more about my soul individually; God cares about the fallen
state of the world, and how
my life can help His kingdom by following Christ.”
Amanda
“Being a Christian is about following Jesus the best way you
know how.”
Hollis
“Believers see a bigger picture; they have a hope that the
rest of the world does not.”
Life and Death
In Romans 6:23, Paul says, “the
wages of sin is death.” The unmistakable consequence of sin is evident throughout
history, from Cain and Abel to the more recent tragedies of present day
terrorism. However, God does not want me to live in this death. He provided the
sacrifice of His son so that I may have life, and have it abundantly (John
10:10). I should not avoid sin in our lives when God has provided a way of
profuse forgiveness through the Cross. While God is perfect and can have no
part in my sin, He did not abandon me to the grave (Psalm 16:10). Because of
this grace, I am called to repentance. As a Believer, I do not have to do
anything to obtain God’s mercy but turn from my sin and selfish condition to
God, and allow Him to change my heart.
“Therefore, O house
of Israel, I will judge you each according to his ways, declares the Sovereign
Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your
downfall. Rid yourself of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new
heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no
pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord, repent and live!”
Ezekiel 18:30-32
Following Jesus
Being a Believer is more than one
decision, it is a life of following Jesus and allowing Him to transform me. The
disciples dropped their nets, gave up the lives they knew to follow Christ.
This life is one of constant change and transformation. The more time you spend
with someone, the more you become like him or her. Throughout Scripture, I am
called to love as Jesus did, completely contrary to my sinful nature. By the
presence of the Holy Spirit, I am able to cling to the presence of Jesus and
allow Him to make my heart capable of His love. Life is a process, and God
promises to complete the work he began in me (Philippians 1:6). I must continue
to allow the grace of Jesus to transform me one day at a time.
“Therefore we do not
lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being
renewed day by day.”
2 Corinthians 4:16
Hope in the Eternal
Lastly, Believers hope in a world
unseen, rooted by the resurrection of Christ. Because Jesus rose from the
grave, I have no fear in death and I am promised eternity with Him. My life
should not be marked by frustration with worldly troubles, but by possessing
God’s eternal perspective. When everything seems hopeless to those surrounding
me, I am called to praise God. In the midst of death, suffering, and the
consequences of sin, I am assured of God’s promise of hope and a life with no
tears or pain. Hope in the unseen roots us in Christ and protects me from the
weight of sin in the world. (Colossians 1:5).
“And hope does not
disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy
Spirit, whom He has given us.”
Romans 5:5
Set Apart by Glory
My life is not to be marked by
the things I do, but it should reflect the glory that comes from a life with
Christ. If my life did not look different, the world will see no need for the
saving grace and mercy of the Cross. Jesus died so that the world could live,
and His followers could become more like Him in order to reveal to the dying
world that there is life and hope through the resurrection. While there is no
single action I can perform to show this love, I must spend my life walking
alongside Christ, becoming more like Him, and allowing His glory to shine
through me as a light in the dark world.
“And we, who with
unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His
likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the
Spirit.”
